The New Electric MINI Compared to Previous Generation

MINI has released a slew of new photos showing the new electric MINI testing alongside previous generation cars as it wraps prototype testing of the new model. While MINI hasn’t given us dimensions or even photos that show the cars next to each other, they do show a car that has subtly altered proportions and a few surprises.
The first thing you notice is that it looks like a MINI. Even on small, winter tires and wheels the proportions feel right and there’s clearly less front overhang than we’ve seen in the recent F56 generation. But there are changes. The overall width looks to be greater, especially as the body seems to flare outward quite a bit more below the belt-line.
It also appears to be lower overall with a front hood that appears to have a lower profile. While it’s hard to get a feel for the length of the new car, it appears to be slightly shorter overall. But crucially it also appears MINI has brought the windshield forward decreasing the length of the hood and likely increasing interior room. This would be key to creating more space inside (which MINI has quietly nodded to) while decreasing the size of the car itself.
While this isn’t the diminutive Rocketman that we all fell with almost a decade ago, this looks to be (finally) the smaller MINI we’ve been clamoring for. But that’s our take. We want to know what you see and uncover in the photos below.
61 Comments
The new electric MINI looks amazing to me. Can’t wait to see some stats (fingers crossed for double the range of the current MINI Cooper SE). Is there just one daytime running light bar bisecting the headlights now? I prefer this to the two bars of the previous leak. Still not sure what I think of those triangular brake lights. Super excited for the interior. Looks like a mix of old and new.
I like the look of it. Still think its a shame that it’ll be produced in a country where human rights are non existing (China) – I know my phone is produced in China, but we do have facilities to produce cars in Europe. I am sure it’ll look and drive very well. Probably not going to buy one, as I already own an SE (which I am very happy with). Do we know if these cars are keeping the multi link rear suspension from BMW or are they set up like the ORA cars?
China’s persistent diplomatic support of Russia’s butchery in Ukraine would give a reasonably sensible person qualms about hitching the future of your company to Chinese manufacturing.
The suspension on the all-new MINI Electric, will retain MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link system at the back. MINI’s engineers reckon that the added sophistication afforded by a multi-link defines the MINI’s character, making it worth the additional expense.
Any chance of a 4WD JCW electric Mini? Not interested in countryman. Something that is small, fast and fun ?
According to this journalist there will be two motor choices this time around coinciding with the Cooper S and JCW monikers. Apparently two battery sizes as well. I’m not sure what his sources are, but he did drive in the prototype: <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D13obgzCaFE" rel="nofollow ugc">https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D13obgzCaFE</a>
That’s not quite right. There will be two models at launch but he’s not quite right about how MINI will market them.
It’s going to be the Cooper S and Paceman, isn’t it?
Is this the model that will be produced in China?
I hope they bring zesty yellow to the electric mini.
Agreed. Silly that they’ve brought it to the hardtop, but not the Cooper SE, especially when the color of “electric” for MINI is a similar color.
The circular interior display is intriguing — I’ve never really been a fan of the rectangle screen stuck in the round console. Also hoping for better range — and ??they bring back orange as a body color!
I think I’d trade in my Tesla Model 3 for that. I miss driving a MINI.
Now the 2nd most important factor: the weight
220 hp and a 250-mile range…. I could live with that :-).
“we no have some clues”
“between 180 and 200 miles depending on it’s measured.”
Congratulations to MINI and Motoring File. Here’s hoping for 20 more amazing years and beyond. I’ve already contacted our local MINI dealer and I’m ready for the next generation. Life is too short. Drive a MINI. And check out Motoring File for all of the latest MINI news.
I remember seeing articles thinking I loved the idea of a small premium car. The dealer in the Detroit area had few if any cars even two years later when I turned up to test drive one on a Saturday after work (the joys of IT doing weekend upgrades). One 10 minute test drive confirmed what I already knew. They had one car inside the showroom, a Dark Silver White roofed dealer JCW with 800 miles on it. Odd spec, spot pack, cold weather pack, with auto climate control, lapis blue leather ( blue carpet ). So no cruise control. Not sure who ordered it that way, or why it had 800 miles on it. Kept that car 11 years (should’ve kept it forever), I’m 5 MINI’s in now with another R53 JCW ( work in progress ) in my garage and a F54 JCW for daily duties. I’ve strayed to some other interesting cars in the last 18 years but come back because there isn’t anything else like a MINI. Thanks for helping feed the fever Gabe. Oh and I’m off to drive that R53 on the Dragon next week, hoping for empty roads.
God speed my friend!
Just to clarify, in the forthcoming new generation all-electric MINIs there will be more variety. The current MINI SE is positioned as the battery equivalent of the Cooper S, but for the next generation, there will also be a dedicated all-electric Cooper.
The battery size will be tied to power output, so the 181bhp Cooper will have a battery capacity of approximately 40kWh. That is already a lot more than the current car’s usable capacity of 28.9kWh. As a result, it is projected to have a theoretical range of around 185 miles.
The range-topping Cooper S all-electric model, meanwhile, will come with 221bhp and a battery capacity of around 50kWh for a range of approximately 250 miles. MINI is believed to be working on an even more powerful version of the electric Cooper S to carry the JCW performance brand into the electric era.
Despite the bigger battery, the new electric hatchback is expected to be slightly lighter than the current Electric, thanks to its dedicated EV platform. In addition, it will benefit from a lower center of gravity and slightly rear-biased weight distribution.
It is worth mentioning that the suspension will retain MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link system at the back. MINI’s engineers reckon that the added sophistication afforded by a multi-link defines the MINI’s character, making it worth the additional expense.
Thanks for all you do for the MINI community Gabe! I’m now on MINI #19 (a 2022 MINI Cooper Clubman JCW), and have been a believer since the beginning. I too finally felt at that moment I had finally found a sports car that not only fit my wacky and sometimes eccentric personality but it truly defined me as a car enthusiast I’ve always felt I’ve been ever since my very first car at the age of 19 – a 1983 VW Rabbit GTi.
Fast forward 20 years and I am honored to still be part of this community and am blessed to be working in the car industry. Further blessings start next week where I will be starting my new role as Finance Manager for Flow MINI of Raleigh. I cannot wait to help spread the word to anyone who will listen to me about how unique and awesome these MINIs still remain 20 years later.
When I first met someone more than six years ago and we were rabidly discussing MINI Coopers and then lost touch for five years I didn’t know that this person who I remet on a blind date remembered me as MINI Guy and is now my partner. He know owns his own F56 MINI Cooper S and is as rabid if not more rabid than I am about the brand.
We’re still waiting on our base manual (only two options, 2022 MINI Cooper JCW that is black with heated seats) – that will be three MINIs in the driveway and probably the last gas powered ones we’ll own. I hope the electric MINIs will be as much fun as I’ve had for the last 20 years!
At the time I fell in love with my Chili red/w R50 too !
I bought a MINI a few years later when I found a new lightly optioned ’06 R50. I sold it a few years later but had an opportunity to buy it back. I hope I’ll never make the mistake of selling it again. The R50 is truly special (I often think of it as a FWD e30) and it is especially a blast around town and during the winter months in Spokane.
Congratulations to MINI USA for reaching this milestone, and for their ongoing support of the owner community. Here is to the next 20!
<blockquote>Cooper S with a 50kWh battery with 215-220 hp going through the front wheels. That will give the car roughly a 250 mile range</blockquote>
50kWh will probably result in substantially less than 250 miles EPA range. Maybe ~250 miles in the inaccurate measurement that China uses, but not EPA. A 43kWh i3 gets ~150 miles EPA, for instance.
If the current Cooper SE went from 32.6kWh to 50kWh, it would go from 114 miles EPA to ~175 miles EPA, assuming the efficiency wasn’t affected by the bigger battery.
If 50kWh is the usable capacity rather than total capacity, that would get somewhat closer. And maybe the new one will be more efficient, but I don’t see it getting near 250 miles EPA (or real world) with 50kWh.
Any chance of a four door version?
Yes, an all-new 4-door electric-only compact Crossover, to be built on the same production line in China, and will share the same dedicated scaleable platform underpinning the all-new 2-door MINI EV, albeit with a longer wheelbase.
Rumored to be called MINI “Paceman”, it will bridge the gap between the all-new 2-door MINI EV and the next generation all-new Countryman.
The “concept study” announced on March 23 in a BMW press briefing, for a premiere in the coming months, will be the showcar previewing the production model which is expected to go on sale in 2024.
200 miles is the sweet spot. Getting that in a compact car would be perfect. Honda E for example is 137 which just doesn’t cut it.
I love it! I will be first in line to order one!
I will be coming back to the MINI family when this comes out. I so want to wait for the Electric Countryman but I don’t think I will have the patience!
Does JCW have too few sales to be included in the data?
They don’t break out models or sun-brands.
Thanks for letting me know.
Gabriel,
Thanks for writing and posting this article. MF has and continues to be a valued resource to MINI enthusiasts, including of course 1st Gen variants such as highlighted by this article. My own 2006 R53 is quite the unicorn as outlined in my related North American Motoring (NAM) thread topic posted under forum username MCS4FUN. Thankfully, my R53 is 100% rust free and pristine. With just 5.3k total miles as of today, it had a few blemishes when purchased May 2021, including dented driver side aluminum door sill cover and also a dimple dent in same side door card – both which greatly bugged me. A replacement new door sill was easily sourced however not so much the same with the door card. Ultimately, I scored one of just 2 remaining in worldwide BMW inventory (Germany warehouse via a MINI USA dealer) but with a significant price penalty, i.e., increase in MSRP nearly 2X from that previously. I bit the bullet and reached for my credit card knowing if not then likely never, before becoming NLA.
This series of MINI are becoming highly coveted with resale prices rising for examples in nice condition. I’m in full agreement with the suggestion to BMW management that production of high wear items such as that door card be resumed.
Yes, miss this stuff.
MINI USA SALES IN Q1 — 2019 – 2020 – 2021 — 2022
Cooper/S Hardtop 2 Dr – 1,896 – 1,435 – 1,772 – 1,843
Cooper/S Hardtop 4 Dr – 1,422 – 0,965 – 1,032 – 0,723
Cooper/S Convertible — 0,852 – 0,580 – 0,810 – 0,736
Cooper/S Clubman ——- 0,743 – 0,583 – 0,509 – 0,577
Cooper/S Countryman — 3,159 – 1,674 – 2,162 – 2,997
MINI brand total sales — 8,072 – 5,237 – 6,285 – 6,876
Q1 2022 sales for both the Hardtop 2 Door and the Countryman are now almost back to pre-Covid Q1 2019 levels.
On the other hand, Q1 2022 sales for the Convertible, Clubman, and in particular the Hardtop 4 Door, are struggling.
By the way, about a month ago, J.D. Power released its annual Vehicle Dependability Study, showing 173 problems per 100 MINIs and 187 issues for the same number of BMWs. Based on their less-than-impressive scores, the two brands ranked 11th and 15th, respectively.
Now, the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study is out and it’s looking significantly better for the two brands. MINI took the number one spot among mainstream brands with 873 points. As for BMW, it too performed decently by grabbing fifth in the rankings for luxury car manufacturers with 866 points.
MINI USA annual sales reached their peak in 2013. That year, the Hardtop 2dr @ 40.5% and the Countryman @ 32.1% accounted for 72.6% of total MINI USA sales. Interestingly, in Q1 2022, the Countryman @ 43.6% and the Hardtop 2dr @ 26.8% accounted for 70.4% of MINI USA sales.
In fact, since 2013, Countryman and Hardtop 2dr combined sales have accounted for more than 70% of MINI global annual sales. Little wonder, therefore, that the all-new MINI EV range will have just three models: Hardtop 2-door, Countryman SUV and a compact Crossover 4-door.
I love the design aesthetic (Rebel Green, bronze trim, etc.), but I just don’t see the point of a convertible (or a sun or moon roof either). My Mom bought a convertible once and it sucked 99% off the time. Unless you like breathing exhaust in traffic, getting wind whipped on the interstate, or rushing out in the rain to quickly put up the roof before the interior is ruined. The 1% of the time it was tolerable was driving in nice weather on back country roads with little to no traffic. A daily driver it is not, unless you commute to work in the country or keep the roof up most of the time, which kind of defeats the purpose.
I posted this before, but it seems to have been taken down. Maybe because I included a video link? Uploaded 2 weeks ago to MINI’s official YouTube page there’s a video showing the new all-electric MINI Cooper prototype testing in the Arctic Circle (the one referenced in this article). The title of the video says, and I quote “EXCLUSIVE look at the new all-electric MINI Cooper. Arriving 2024.” Arriving 2024!!! That’s basically 2 years away (9 more months in 2022, 12 months in 2023, then 2-3 months in 2024 when it releases in the Spring). How disappointing. I was ready to purchase one next year. I guess it’s the 2025 MINI Cooper SE then. Bummer…
Almost 20 years on my 2002 Cooper and still enjoying it!!
Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm with the MINI community!
Wow, this is pretty exciting!
Wow, this is pretty exciting!
Our 2010 VW Tig had to be laid to rest. Being down a car, we borrowed the SiL’s 2007 Cooper S Convertible – w/Manual. While the shifting required concentration, the thrill of driving a little rocket couldn’t be denied. I immediately started searching and found a 2006 Cooper S Convertible – w/Auto in Costa Mesa, CA. It wasn’t on a lot and it wasn’t private party. It was being offered by a sketch broker, with a noticeable limp. It was Pepper White, with Chrome details and a Midnight Blue and Burnt Orange custom seats. It was a busy summer Monday and a part of me didn’t feel like driving 90 minutes through SoCal traffic to see a car that we probably wouldn’t buy. I tend to be the ‘paralysis through analysis’ type and I hadn’t researched this car. She had 60K miles on it, and a few minor scratches. And after driving it for only a mile or two, we shrugged our shoulders and said ‘We’ll take it.’ Crazy. But it was only $4900, so not too much of a risk. With the C19 lockdowns that soon followed, our idea of entertainment was hopping in and driving up and down the coast. We get at least 1-2 complements on it every time we take her out. It’s a glorified golf cart. And a mobile tanning booth. And we let our visitors use it to get the full California experience during their stay. To this day, we only use it to go to the beach. Given that, the dividends that it’s paid have been tenfold.
Well, that’s one way to accelerate the transition to all EVs.
I would never buy a MINI with an automatic transmission, period.
Mini’s lack of communication is frustrating. I really hope they will honor the orders placed before the news but it’s not looking good. For a company that prides itself on community and an enthusiast brand, it’s disappointing how they have been handling this. What they should have done was at least let the community know and offer a “last call” for manuals.
Someone on Reddit got notification that his manual order was now in production. His order is several months old, but it wasn’t “in production” until a few days after the announcement. Hopefully, they have the necessary manuals for those that ordered up to the announcement.
Welp… I did it. After 8 years with Fiats… Abarth, X and a Jeep Renegade I’m back with a 2019 Countryman S. The Fiats were fun but the Abarth was extremely uncomfortable, the wife hated it so I bought a X. Lovely car, loved it but totaled it. Bought the Renegade and was happy. All 3 were nice vehicles, for me, but in the back of my head Always missed the 2004 MINI S.
I took my 1st test drive in the 2019 Countryman S today and loved it right off. It just felt good compared to the Abarth and Renegade, it’s so quiet and comfy. I was looking at 2, a 2018 Chili Red JCW and a Pepper White, I think that’s what its called. The Red one was fully loaded with options but no warranty but the white one had an extended.
I see MF has changed quite a bit since my last visit. Lots of ads space and I found that a bit confusing for navigation but I will be back and as always I enjoy Gabe’s posts.
I may even brake out a TwistyBitz Shirt or 2! MOTOR ON! The web address on the T is no longer.
<a href="https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/26ab440084c6fbc8c509e7dabba5d8ee74f17a2bf8faa6ed6a6acbc158641d88.png" rel="nofollow ugc">https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/26ab440084c6fbc8c509e7dabba5d8ee74f17a2bf8faa6ed6a6acbc158641d88.png</a>
Welcome back!
I can’t believe how great this Countryman is!
Do you have the link to the rest of the models? I’m curious where the JCW and Clubman are on the list.
Great pics! I love the display on the passenger dash! It would be great if that made it into future production models.
This hurts my soul. The only way I will ever drive a gas powered car is with a manual transmission. EV will be the only way to go if manual transmissions go away. I so hope they bring manuals back.
Watching the lap charts I could tell something was amiss but could find no updates anywhere. Thanks for clearing this up. Hope MINI gives this effort another shot. What happened to your finger?! Errant German beer tab? Also, were those Goodyear condoms that fraulein handed you? ?
Well let me deal with the rumors first from the quick paddock <a href="https://youtu.be/iAQfymOX5ss">video</a> – they were gummies in the shape of cars however i wouldn’t have been surprised if they were condoms! The finger problems are due to a torn ligament playing basketball and I’ve had that splint on now for a month which is much less cool than a German beer injury.
OK MINI – Time to send our intrepid MF reporter over to Goodwood. Gotta watch this beast climb Lord March’s driveway!
Just get a Ford, and paint a mustache on the grille. MINI? Not anymore.
Wait for the solid state battery.