Although its exterior and interior design and most of its technical characteristics had already been revealed a few weeks ago, today the new MINI Cooper, the smallest electric car from the English firm, has been officially presented. This premium utility, which loses the Hatch name of the previous three generations, will be built in China for the whole world.
From an aesthetic point of view, it is the most groundbreaking MINI since the relaunch of the brand at the beginning of the century. It loses characteristic elements such as the shell-type bonnet, the black wheel arches, or the rectangular pilot lights, which give way to triangular ones with a light signature that evokes the Union Jack, the national flag of the United Kingdom.
The chrome on the bodywork has also been removed, so the circular daytime running light is the one that acts as a visual fence for the headlights. The octagonal grille is partially blinded and now encompasses the lower air intake. The door handles are recessed, and the selection of tires goes from 16 to 18 inches.
In the passenger compartment, the evolution is even greater, since the instrumentation disappears in favor of a Head-up Display. The nerve center of the vehicle is its new circular OLED touch screen. The interior is approved for four seats, while the trunk has a meager volume of just 200 liters.
The initial range of the MINI Cooper will be made up of two versions
The MINI Cooper sits on an electric platform developed jointly with the Chinese group Great Wall. The initial range will consist of two versions: Cooper E, with 184 CV (135 kW) and 40.7 kWh; and Cooper SE, with 218 PS (160 kW) and 54.2 kWh. The first can complete 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds, a figure that stays at 6.7 seconds in the top model.
The approved range is respectively 190 and 250 miles, a notable improvement over the 145 miles of the current MINI Cooper SE. In terms of charging, the Cooper E reaches a peak of 75 kW in direct current and the Cooper SE at 95 kW, taking less than 30 minutes to recover 70% of its range (10-80%).
Later on, this offer will be completed with a high-performance JCW (John Cooper Works) variant, which will be distinguished by more aggressive aesthetics, more radical tuning, and a more powerful powertrain. The new electric MINI Cooper will arrive at dealerships in spring 2024.
