All-New 2024 MINI Cooper EV Subcompact Car Exclusive Review

2024 MINI Cooper next-generation will debut as a three-door electric hatchback, perhaps without the chrome. The next-generation Mini Cooper EV 2024 prototype is already being tested in the Arctic Circle, where frigid temperatures are the perfect test for Cooper’s new electric drivetrain.

This is Mini’s third trip in an all-electric hatchback, following the 2008 Mini E pilot program, and the 2024 MINI Cooper SE EV is currently on sale now. Luckily for us, the brand isn’t too shy about what we can expect from the upcoming fifth-generation Mini.

While several other brand models promise to retain the combustion alternative in the US, the next-generation 2024 MINI Cooper will be all-electric but will take a different approach from the current electric 2024 MINI Cooper SE which has been on sale for several years already.

Stefanie Wurst, Head of the MINI brand, promises “The iconic 3-door Mini maximizes the experience for our customers through the thrill of an electric go-kart combined with digital touch points—and a clear focus on sustainability with a minimal environmental footprint.”

The company has been testing its new EV in the Arctic Circle, exposing new equipment, including high-voltage batteries with updated charging capabilities, to freezing conditions. Despite the rather tough testing conditions, Mini still promises the car will embody the concept of “urban driving fun”.

2024 MINI Cooper Electric Review

• Developed as an EV from the ground up, the new MINI Electric has become much more efficient
• To be smaller on the outside but wider than the current model
• Expected to be lighter, more comfortable, and more fun to ride
• Arriving in 2024, with a possible starting price above USD 30,000

The iconic MINI Hatch will enter its fifth generation for MY2024 in 2023. Preparations for a lifecycle change are underway, with MINI has revealed the first details and allowing select journalists to travel in prototypes.

The line-up will include the 2024 MINI Electric (2024 MINI Cooper SE), the second generation of the 2024 MINI Cooper Electric.

2024 Mini Cooper Redesign

The next-generation MINI Electric (code name: MINI J01), like its predecessor currently sold in the US, retains the 2-door hatchback format. MINI has released images and videos of the disguised prototype, and spy shots hint that the car has received several revisions from its previous iteration, one of which leaked from China.

The 2024 MINI Electric will retain its much-loved charm, as well as its road-friendly dimensions. The main changes at the front will include a new circular headlamp design, a new octagonal grille, and a new hood with sharp crease lines.

The scooped hood on the current model is for aesthetic purposes only, and next-generation models will likely include the same for a similar effect. The windshield appears to have been brought forward to improve aerodynamics which should have a positive impact on the range.

It can also increase the sense of spaciousness, which is especially important in a car with such footprints.

The 2024 MINI Electric will be smaller but wider than the current model. Our 2024 MINI Electric rendering incorporates design details about the grille, projector headlamp, DRL, sensors, hood, bumper, track width and ground clearance from images of the latest prototype. Prototype Image 

According to an Autocar report dated July 14, 2022, the next-generation 2024 MINI Cooper SE will not have some of the design cues of the classic MINI model. It will be the first MINI without a clamshell hood since the BMW Group revived the brand in 2001.

A source familiar with the development of the next-generation MINI Electric told the British publication that it was expensive to manufacture a large hood press that included a thick chrome ring around the headlights.

To simplify production, MINI has decided against the clamshell hood, which also means it can avoid chrome trim around the headlights. Chrome usage will be reduced to almost zero on next-generation models as part of the company’s sustainability efforts.

The side profile of the MINI Electric 2024 looks more or less the same. However, the dimensions will be very different. As a bespoke EV, which is not the case with the current model, it will have a longer wheelbase and shorter front overhangs.

According to a report from Autocar, the wheelbase will be extended by about 40 mm/1.6 inches (current model: 2,495 mm/98.2 inches), and the track width will also be increased, as reflected in our renders.

Starting in 2024, the BMW Group plans to use only sustainably produced aluminum alloy wheels in all MINI (and BMW) models. Producing these wheels with 100% green energy will save up to 500,000 tonnes of CO 2 per year.

The BMW Group begins supplying aluminum made using only electricity produced with solar energy from Dubai (UAE) in 2021. The company processes this aluminum at a light metal foundry at its Landshut plant, in Germany.

The all-new electric MINI back will make it instantly recognizable from a distance, thanks to the newly designed taillights that will be slimmer and almost triangular. The thick trim strip will cross the width of the tailgate and connect the taillights.

There may be an LED backlight behind this strip, although there is no supporting evidence for that speculation at this time.

2024 Mini Cooper Specs

The new EV platform should open up more cabin space and new packaging opportunities, and we expect interior passenger and cargo volumes to grow above the current 2024 MINI Cooper and SE.

A prototype test photo at the Arctic Circle reveals a new angular approach to the taillight design, and a spy photo at MotorAuthority may have revealed a new single-panel display screen for the driver and dashboard in the interior.

With the introduction of the 2024 MINI Cooper SE Resolute Edition 2023, the automaker has hinted that it is avoiding using chrome as a trim treatment on the interior and exterior of its future models.

The manufacturing methods required to produce chrome parts make the material less sustainable, according to Andrew Cutler, Mini’s Head of Communications, so the brand will look to better alternatives.

2024 Mini Cooper Design

Mini specifically chose to introduce its next-generation car in a three-door body style for tradition, despite introducing several variations of the five-door Mini over the years, so that’s what we’ll get to first.

Some images of the early development test car have been released, and, well, it’s another 2024 MINI Cooper with classic hatchback proportions and compact once again.

2025 Mini Electric Convertible

MINI is also developing an all-electric convertible version. The company launched the one-off Cooper SE Convertible on July 14, 2022, an offshoot of the current Cooper SE, which packs the same drive components.

The series production version, arriving in 2025, will be a derivative of the next-generation 2024 MINI Cooper SE using a new design language and powertrain. A one-time model was created to measure the demand for electricity conversion.

2024 Mini Cooper Interior

Taking from the spy shots that hit the web in 2021 (via Twitter), the interior of the next-generation 2024 MINI Cooper Electric will have a layout familiar to MINI owners – but with some major design changes.

MINI designers have adopted a minimalist approach and give the car a sleek, clean and classy feel. This will especially benefit tech-savvy customers, as we expect more controls to go digital.

A spy image has revealed the sleek, horizontal central air conditioning vent under the compact control panel with retro-styled switches that are possible for temperature and audio control, a wide head display, and a large floating touchscreen in the form of a vanity mirror.

2024 Mini Cooper Platform

Underpinning the next generation of 2024 MINI Cooper Electric will be a dedicated EV platform co-developed with Great Wall Motor China. Thanks to the bespoke platform, it will likely offer more interior space on the smaller exterior compared to the current model.

 

Thomas Geiger of the YouTube channel ThomasGeigerCar drives a rifle in a prototype where he says the car feels bigger from the inside. The motor will be smaller, while the wheelbase, as mentioned in the previous section, will be longer, all of which contribute to space efficiency.

According to the Autocar report, two new MINI variants will be available. The base variant will have a 40 kWh battery pack, and the higher-end’ S’ variant will have a ~50 kWh battery pack.

According to an Express report released on September 4, 2022, Dr. Thomas Becker, Vice President – ​​Sustainability and Mobility Strategy, at BMW Group, advises companies not to worry about the short range of the MINI EV.

He said that many MINI customers live in urban and suburban locations and do not have to travel thousands of kilometers. They use their MINI to travel. In addition, there is a high probability that these customers already have long-haul models as their primary vehicle for long-distance travel.

The 40 kWh battery pack can provide around 185 miles of range, while the ~50 kWh battery pack will likely allow for nearly 250 miles of travel on a full charge. EPA-est. range should be lower. The MINI may not offer the base variant in the United States due to its low range.

Both variants may have one motor driving the front wheels, with a tuned power output of around 181 hp for the base variant and around 221 hp for the top-end variant.

Top speed

Geiger says that the electronically limited top speed of the next-generation electric MINI will be higher than the current model, which reaches 150 km/h (93 mph). We expect the redesigned model to do around 180 km/h (112 mph).

Lower Center of Gravity

MINI engineer Klaus Bramer told Auto Express that the redesigned MINI Electric has a lower center of gravity, making it possible to make cars more agile and fun. The new MINI is also lighter, which can only make things better down the road.

The high-output, long-range variant, which is likely to make its way to the US, will have a sportier set-up. According to a report from Autocar, the all-new model will have a slightly backward weight distribution.

More Driver Cars

The suspension system will be the same, a combination of MacPherson struts (front) and a multi-link system (rear). During its prototype ride, the Autocar felt less bouncy, and drivers would really appreciate its quietness.

Bramer told the British publication that the electric power steering will also offer more feel to the next-generation model.

The all-new traction control should contribute to better handling. The traction control system will integrate the new motor controller, and with the two components closer together, it will function more quickly and actively than passively, reducing understeer and steering torque.

At least on the prototype, it feels that the new setup provides more traction than the current gas-powered MINI Hatch brought in for comparison.

2024 MINI Cooper SE

MINI is currently testing its next-generation electric Hardtop on snow and ice in Swedish Lapland at its test site in Arjeplog to fine-tune the chassis and steering to deliver the signature go-kart feeling customers expect from the brand’s core models.

To mark the occasion, the automaker has released a massive photo gallery of the upcoming electric city car, including a series of exciting images showing a development prototype of the 2024 MINI Cooper SE alongside all previous generations of the MINI Hardtop, including the original Mini from the 1960s.

It’s interesting to look at the previous four generations together as it allows us to see how the core MINI model has evolved with each iteration.

Keep in mind, the fifth generation makes an exception as it is slightly shorter and lighter than the current 2024 MINI Cooper SE.

This is largely due to the fact that it uses a custom electric vehicle architecture jointly developed by the BMW Group and Great Wall Motor, as opposed to the current generation sharing the platform with ICE-powered models.

While the new EV architecture will allow the new electric MINI to offer more compact exterior dimensions, the interior will be more spacious thanks to a 40 mm (1.6 inches) longer wheelbase and wider track.

This is because the EV-only platform allows the wheels to be pushed further toward the extremities of the vehicle.

That’s what Autocar has learned after first driving the new 2024 MINI Cooper SE, a full 18 months before the model will go on sale. T

he publication also reports that the model 2024’s more efficient packaging allowed engineers to install a larger battery compared to the current 32.6-kWh EV unit (of which 28.9 kWh can be used).

Obviously, this means driving distances will be higher than the EPA-rated 2023 Cooper SE 114 miles (183 kilometers).

With regards to styling, Autocar has been able to confirm that the leaked images from late last year are the real deal. The new model features a familiar front, a bold rear with radically revamped taillights, and a minimalist dashboard dominated by a large circular touchscreen in the center.

Interestingly, while the petrol-powered MINI Hardtop will look similar to an EV, it will be completely different under the skin, driving the updated FAAR architecture that the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer also uses.

Furthermore, the EV will be launched as a three-door hatchback while the ICE variant will continue to be offered in three or five-door hatchback and convertible body models.

Another major difference between the EV and the ICE MINI is where they are made. The electric model will be built in China from 2023 by Spotlight Automotive Limited, a joint venture between the BMW Group and GWM, while the ICE variant will continue to be made in Oxford, England.

2024 MINI Countryman

The appearance of the prototype for the redesigned Mini Hardtop comes a fresh spy shot of the premium small car brand Countryman’s next.

Both redesigned vehicles are due in 2023, possibly as the model year 2024.

The Countryman prototype in our latest spy shot is for a performance-oriented model, as evidenced by the large wheel and brake package, and quad exhaust tips. We’re likely looking at the Cooper S class, as the more powerful John Cooper Works class has traditionally been unavailable at launch.

We can see that the redesigned Countryman will be longer than the current generation. The extra length is mostly in the wheelbase, which should result in more cabin space. Speaking of the cabin, there’s a glimpse of the dashboard showing what appears to be a heads-up display unit in front of the driver or maybe just a screen.

The larger size of the redesigned Countryman is to increase the vehicle’s appeal in more markets, particularly the US. It’s also to make way for a smaller crossover, a concept coming this year.

This one will be a custom electric vehicle developed by Spotlight Automotive, a Chinese joint venture between Mini and Great Wall Motors that was founded in 2019. It will also be due in 2023 and there are rumors it will revive the Paceman name.

Around 2024, Mini will add a third crossover. This one will be bigger than the Countryman to target buyers in the US. The potential name for this crossover is Traveler.

The redesigned 2024 MINI Cooper Countryman. Mini is developing it on the BMW Group’s FAAR platform for front-wheel drive cars. It will be a close cousin of the redesigned BMW X1 2023, with the two vehicles sharing the production line at a factory in Leipzig, Germany.

The current generation has been in production since 2016 at a factory in the Netherlands operated by independent vehicle manufacturer VDL Redcar.

Mini has confirmed that it will offer an electric version of the redesigned Countryman. There will still be a gas-powered version, as well as a plug-in hybrid. Expect the base 2024 MINI Cooper to continue with the 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-3.

A 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 should be featured in the 2024 MINI Cooper S and possibly at John Cooper Works, although we know Mini is already working on a high-performance electric powertrain for future JCW models.

Note, this will be the last generation Countryman with internal combustion power. Mini has confirmed that it will only introduce electric vehicles in 2025.

2024 Mini Cooper Release Date

Production of the next-generation 2024 MINI Cooper Electric will take place at the Spotlight Automotive Limited plant in China, a joint venture between the BMW Group and Great Wall Motor. Located in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province, the plant will have an annual production capacity of 160,000 units.

 

The next-generation electric MINI is about a year away from entering production (September 2023), according to an Autocar report filed on 22 March 2022. The next-generation 4-door MINI and next-generation MINI Convertible will be launched from the BMW Group Oxford Factory. The latter is confirmed to receive an electric drive.

The new 2024 MINI Cooper Electric will start arriving at dealerships in 2024. A US launch will follow shortly after Europe. Like the current hatchback, the next-gen model is supposed to be one of the cheapest electric car models on the US market.

Handelsblatt published a report on June 11, 2022, claiming that US MINI dealers received a secret preview of the next-generation model in May 2022. The report shows that they were so impressed with the product that they were willing to pay the import duties that would be imposed on it because of its Chinese origin.

In its internal discussions, the company may be concerned about the complexity of trade and geopolitical factors between the two countries.

However, this may be the only way to keep the 2024 MINI Cooper Electric in dealer showrooms until the second generation, as production at the BMW factory in Oxford will be discontinued.

2024 Mini Cooper Price

The BMW Group sold 12,007 MINI models in the US in the first half of 2022, 23.2% less than H1 2021 (15,625 units). The German automaker has yet to release specific sales data for the all-electric 2024 MINI Cooper SE.

The current MINI Cooper SE retails for $29,990 before government incentives are factored in, and it’s likely that Mini will try to keep its next-generation model around that price point.

We can expect to see more of the fifth-generation 2024 MINI Cooper later this year, and it will go on sale in 2023, likely as the 2024 model year.

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