The standard version will keep the same 181 horsepower output as the current model.
The new model will benefit from 145 kilometres of additional range.
The launch of this model will take place in May of 2024, following the Countryman to be launched in February.
MINI released a few more details about its new electric 3-door Cooper, including power and range figures.
The traditional MINI 3-door is due for a major refresh and the new model will arrive in 2024 with a new design and a revised electric powertrain.
Indeed, the brand wants to modernize its most iconic model by tweaking its appearance and giving it more tech features.
The outside appearance of the new car hasn’t been revealed yet, but we know the round headlamps and the front grille will be much larger than the current model.
Inside, a large round center screen could be the only display installed in the car but the company says it doesn’t want to integrate all of the controls in the infotainment, going so far as to include a physical key to start the vehicle.
As a sign of changing times, the new 3-door Cooper will be launched as an EV in May 2024 before being joined by gasoline-powered versions the following month, including the 5-door and the convertible.
This model will be the direct successor of the current MINI SE which is the only EV in the brand’s lineup at the moment.
Like the current version, the new electric Cooper will deliver 181 horsepower in standard form and 215 horsepower in SE grade, both via a single motor acting on the front wheels.
Two battery sizes will be offered: 40 kWh and 54 kWh. The smaller of these two units should give the new Cooper around 240 miles (386 kilometres) of range instead of the current version’s 150 miles (241 kilometres).
Keep in mind these figures are determined using the WLTP cycle, which means EPA and real-world figures are likely to be lower, as is the case with the current model which is only rated at 114 miles (183 kilometres) of range in the U.S.
Nevertheless, the new electric MINI 3-door should have substantially more range than the current model in base form and the second battery pack should push its range even further.
Of course, this will come at a price and the new version is expected to be more expensive than the model it will replace.
Drivers who want more performance may want to wait until 2025 to get their hands on a new MINI, however, since a sporty JCW version using the larger battery and upgraded motors will join the lineup with an expected 250 horsepower output.
2024 will be a busy year for MINI since before the electric Cooper can make its entry, the gasoline and electric versions of the all-new Countryman will also have to be launched in February.
In addition to this, the company’s engineers will be busy putting the final touches to the Aceman, the brand’s first EV-only model, which will launch in 2025.
According to MINI’s CEO, this new model will be its best-seller, especially in China, due to its practicality and its slightly rugged appearance.
Source: Autocar