MINI Cooper and Countryman EVs debut at IAA Mobility 2023

author: FutureCar Staff    

This year's IAA Mobility event in Munich will feature two world premieres from MINI, both of which are electric vehicles (EVs). The fourth-generation MINI Cooper and third-generation MINI Countryman have been teased over the past few months and will be officially presented at the event.

Starting with the Cooper, the carmaker has already revealed the exterior styling of the hatchback. The design has been simplified compared to the outgoing model, with notable design cues including a mostly blanked-off front grille with an octagonal shape and round integrated headlamps. At the rear, there are triangular taillights connected by a trim piece running across the tailgate.

Inside, the redesigned Cooper takes inspiration from the original Mini, with a centrepiece being a circular OLED touchscreen display that measures 9.4 inches in diameter. The display features a thin bezel and includes the speedometer displayed within the centre circle, along with additional information like the current gear and remaining range. The Cooper also includes a head-up display for crucial driving information.

The outgoing Cooper had a panel of toggle switches beneath the physical air-conditioning controls, but the new model omits this feature. Instead, the panel has been relocated higher and redesigned to house the gear selector switch and controls for select vehicle functions.

The fully electric Cooper will likely be known as the MINI Electric and will be offered in two variants. The first variant, the E, comes with a 40.7-kWh battery and a front-mounted electric motor rated at 180 hp. The second variant, the SE, features a 54.2-kWh battery and 215 hp. These battery capacities exceed that of the outgoing MINI Electric, providing an expected range of between 300 to 400 km.

Despite being an electric vehicle, the new Cooper will also be offered with combustion engines, likely with some level of electrification. The BMW Group, which owns MINI, has a partnership with Great Wall Motor to manufacture MINI EVs in China. It is expected that the upcoming MINI Electric will be made in China, while the combustion engine Cooper will be built in the United Kingdom.

As for the Countryman, details are more limited, but it is confirmed to be longer and taller than its predecessor. The new Countryman will be produced in Germany and offered with both all-electric and combustion engine powertrains. The electric options include the E variant with a front electric motor rated at 191 hp, and the SE variant with an all-wheel drive setup and 313 hp, thanks to a second electric motor at the rear. Both options feature a 64-kWh battery with an estimated range of up to 450 km.

The IAA Mobility 2023 event in September will provide a more complete picture of MINI's next-generation lineup, including the Cooper and Countryman. The event will also showcase other models and debut the latest G60 5 Series' plug-in hybrid variants and the Vision Neue Klasse.

GALLERY: 2024 MINI Cooper

GALLERY: 2024 MINI Electric prototype testing

GALLERY: 2024 MINI Countryman prototype testing

GALLERY: 2024 MINI Cooper and Countryman teased together

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FutureCar Staff