The new-gen Mini Cooper has been in the works for a long time; spied sans camouflage during a photo shoot in Los Angles
In the latest round of spy shots, the next-gen Mini Cooper has been revealed in full flesh. The luxury hatchback was spotted on the streets of Los Angles, totally undisguised, probably for a TVC shoot. This hints at an imminent debut in the near future, most likely by early 2024.
While we wait for the Mini to make an official announcement, let’s have a look at what the new-gen model has to offer. For the record, this specific model in the spy images is believed to be the all-electric Cooper SE, however, the other models will carry more or less the same design language.
Taking a quick look at the design, it is no less a Mini Cooper and follows the same iconic design direction, but with a more modern touch. The upcoming two-door hatch sports round headlamps, however, these units seem to have grown in size as compared to the previous generation model.
Being an EV, the front design features a minimalistic appeal with a blanked-off front grille and a subtle air vent at the lower end. Moving towards the sides, the silhouette is quite familiar, however, the hefty side body cladding has been given a miss this time around. The rear profile sports the most prominent change in the form of new triangular tail lamps, skipping the rectangular units in the previous generation models.
The Union Jack inside them is retained; however, the units are now considerably smaller in size and are connected by a blacked-out horizontal strip running across the boot lid. The new generation model of Mini Cooper will spawn both ICE and electric powertrain options, so there will be visible design changes to distinguish between the two. However, the design direction will remain the same by large.
Talking about the powertrain, some media reports claim that the electric hatch will get two battery pack options, a smaller 40 kWh and a top-spec 54 kWh unit. On the other hand, the ICE version will be powered by a mild-hybrid petrol mill.