Mini announces the end of manual gearboxes, focusing on electric vehicle development and racing.
· Mini will no longer offer manual transmissions in future models.
· The company introduces electric versions of the Cooper and Countryman.
· Stefanie Wurst, Mini’s boss, expresses interest in joining electric motorsport.
Mini has declared that manual gearboxes will be absent from their forthcoming products. This significant decision was confirmed by Stefanie Wurst, the head of Mini, during an interview with Top Gear. While details about future combustion models remain under wraps, there are reports that all these vehicles will feature mild-hybrid assistance, aiming at emission improvements.
2025 Mini Cooper EV | Photo : Mini
Mini’s dedication to the electric vehicle movement was further showcased at the IAA Mobility show in Munich, where they unveiled the electric iterations of the Cooper and Countryman models. Wurst’s interaction with Charlie Cooper, a descendant of John Cooper, has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to motorsport. In light of this, Mini is keen on venturing into electric motorsport. The uncertainty lies in choosing the right platform, as not all electric motorsport forms have found success. Mini is optimistic about finding and joining a promising platform in the future.
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August 2023 marked Mini’s tribute to its manual performance models with the launch of the John Cooper Works Bulldog Racing Edition. This powerful model boasts a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and several high-performance features.
MINI Cooper Bulldog Racing Edition | Photo : MINI
On the electric front, the recently introduced Mini Cooper EV comes in two versions: E and SE. While the E model offers a range of 189 miles and can accelerate to 62 mph in 7.3 seconds, the SE variant, with its enhanced features, provides a range of 249 miles and can reach 62 mph in just 6.7 seconds. This EV innovation is a result of a partnership between BMW Group and China’s Great Wall Motor, with some production taking place in China.
