Mini Cooper: on board the new generation of electric city car

Busy program for Mini at the Munich show! The German-British brand is unveiling two major models: its electric city car renamed Mini Cooper and the third generation of the Countryman. The SUV, to discover here, borrows the platform of the BMW X1 and has thermal or electric engines, to choose from. The new generation of Mini leaves no choice, and only offers 100% electric versions.

This fourth generation of modern Mini (since the takeover by BMW) has Chinese origins, since it is designed by Spotlight, a joint venture between BMW and the Chinese group Great Wall. It therefore offers itself a new platform dedicated to electricity, shared with the future Aceman SUV. Nevertheless, the design remains quite close to the previous version, with many winks. The proportions are close, and the city car has only three doors like its elder in the electric version. The three-door and five-door thermal variants as well as the convertible remain valid, but will be based on the previous generation, reworked for the occasion and produced in England.

The body of the Mini swells slightly, with a more imposing mostly closed grille, and bulging headlights near the hood. The mirrors have grown in size, as have the fenders and the rear bumper. On the other hand, the new Mini loses its wheel arches marked in black plastic, yet characteristics of the brand for years. The profile also loses its large door handles, replaced by flush handles. Completely flat, the contrasting roof remains available in the catalog to add a bit of pep, unlike the chrome which disappears completely. The material is replaced by “Vibrant Silver” inserts pulling towards bronze. At the rear, a wider black band on which the name of the version is inscribed connects the new triangular lights. These can change their light signature according to three modes, on the theme of the famous Union Jack.

The simplified and modernized cabin

The interior of the new generation of the city car is already known, since Mini had chosen to present it upstream. No surprise then, for this simplified dashboard and recycled polyester fabric. It is adorned with a central round OLED screen 240 mm in diameter. This brings together most of the features, whether driving information placed on the upper part, navigation or audio in the center, or air conditioning in the lower part. Mini also offers a head-up display on the windshield for those who put off the center speed reading. The multimedia system works under the new Mini Operating System 9, very fluid and customizable. In particular, it allows you to choose a theme from those offered (the Experience Modes) or to create your own with one of your photos, the ambient lighting matching the background of the photo in question.

The set is rather qualitative, with customizable fabric elements, a little rough in places. Mini, on the other hand, no longer uses any leather, highlighting recycled materials that are more respectful of the environment. Some specific interior fittings distinguish the chic city car from the others, such as the start by a rotary button evoking a key in a neiman or the storage in the form of a box with a strap. This is placed under the armrest, directly connected to the seat. Mini obliges, habitability is not the strong point of the car. Four passengers will be able to board, the two in the back seeming a little better off than before thanks to the new architecture. On the trunk side, the volume fluctuates between 200 liters and 800 liters when the rear seat (in 60/40 configuration) is folded down. It’s barely better than the old Mini Cooper SE, which carried 211 liters and up to 731 liters with the seats folded down.

Two more efficient electric variants

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Mini Cooper (2023)+25

Only electric, this new Mini has two variants: the 184 hp Cooper E allowing 305 km of autonomy thanks to a 42 kWh battery, and the 218 hp Cooper SE, sportier and more versatile thanks to its 53 kWh battery. kWh. According to the manufacturer, it would offer up to 402 km of theoretical autonomy. This is much more than the previous 184 hp Mini Cooper SE, whose 32.6 kWh battery (28.9 kWh net) offered a range limited to 234 km of autonomy.

The new electric Mini will be marketed in the fall of 2023, at prices that we do not yet know. Nevertheless, they could be higher than the €37,400 required for the previous generation Mini Cooper SE currently.

Photos : DR.

Also read on Auto-Moto.com:

Munich Motor Show 2023: dates, practical information, brands and models expected… everything you need to know

Mini tells us more about its new round central screen and its soundscapes

Mini Countryman: meeting the third generation of the SUV

To sum up

Mini officially lifts the veil on its new electric Mini, available in two Cooper E and Cooper SE variants for the occasion. First meeting.

Editor