MINI Cooper and Countryman EVs debut at IAA Mobility 2023

author: FutureCar Staff    

This year's IAA Mobility event in Munich will showcase 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 in the past few months and will be presented at the event.

The exterior styling of the MINI Cooper has already been revealed, showing a simplified design compared to the outgoing model. The front grille is mostly blanked-off and has an octagonal shape, accompanied by round headlamps that are integrated into the body. At the rear, triangular taillights are 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. The display measures 9.4 inches in diameter and has a thin bezel. The speedometer is displayed within the centre circle, along with additional information like the current gear and remaining range. There is no conventional instrument cluster, but a head-up display will likely show crucial driving information.

The panel of toggle switches beneath the air-conditioning controls has been relocated higher and redesigned in the new Cooper model. It now houses 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 E variant comes with a 40.7-kWh battery and a front-mounted electric motor rated at 180 hp, while the SE variant gets a 54.2-kWh battery and 215 hp. These battery capacities exceed that of the outgoing MINI Electric and should provide an expected range of between 300 to 400 km.

The new Cooper will also be offered with combustion engines, in addition to electric powertrains. The hatchback will be manufactured in China through a joint venture with Great Wall Motor, while the combustion engine Cooper will be built in the United Kingdom.

The upcoming Countryman, on the other hand, is confirmed to be longer and taller than its predecessor for improved headroom. It will be produced in Germany at BMW Group Plant Leipzig and will also be offered with all-electric and combustion engine powertrains.

The all-electric Countryman will come in two variants. The E variant will have a front electric motor rated at 191 hp, while the SE variant adds a second electric motor at the rear for an all-wheel drive setup and 313 hp. Both options will 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 line-up. It will also feature the debut of other models and the showcase of the latest G60 5 Series' plug-in hybrid variants and the Vision Neue Klasse.

FutureCar Staff