Detail of electric trapdoor made in China

Mini’s next-generation electric hatchback will offer more range and more power than the current model.

car reports that it will launch in May 2024 and will be badged Small cooperativeremoved the Hatch moniker that punters don’t usually use.

The unrelated internal-combustion-powered Cooper will be launched in July 2024, with two small German-made cars countryman (due February 2024) and Chinese-made electricity Ace cross (January 2025).

The electric Cooper will be built by Great Wall Motor and underpinned by the new Spotlight EV platform, while the combustion Cooper will continue to be built at Oxford in the UK.

The latter will also be offered as a five-door hatchback and two-door convertible, although a next-generation droptop EV is planned. The special edition EV convertible of the current model thus serves as a prelude.

The electric Cooper is said to have a wider track, shorter front overhang, larger wheels and a longer wheelbase than the current three-door Mini Hatch, though it will still be 3.8m long.

The E will reportedly offer a 40kWh battery and a 135kW electric motor, and the SE a 54kWh unit and a 160kW electric motor, with a range of up to 386km.

That’s a huge leap from the current car’s 233km, which also has a 135kW/270Nm electric motor and a 32.6kWh battery.

There are no plans for a dual-engine all-wheel drive variant, although a hot JCW version is coming.

It will be launched in mid-2025 with a larger 54kWh battery and potentially a more powerful electric motor with a capacity of 186kW, while also serving as a rival to Abarth 500e and the Alpine version of the Renault 5.

Mini has developed a “background music” for the next-generation EV, but Stefanie Wurst, the head of Mini said car it will not use the soundtrack composed by Hans Zimmer as in recent BMW EVs. It will vary based on the drive mode.

According to the report, the company has also developed a new engine control unit with a built-in traction control system, which is said to improve handling.

The exterior styling will be improved, but the interior will have a more drastic change. There will be no instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, while the circular screen in the center will be combined with an edge-to-edge OLED display.

Mini is also said to be focusing on physical switches, integrating an actual ignition key even on electric models, and will use “fun” projections of information such as time and speed. levels on the dashboard for passengers.

For the internal combustion Cooper models, they will offer a petrol powertrain choice but are unlikely to offer a manual transmission option. Instead, an eight-speed automatic transmission will be standard across the range.

Mini is aiming for 50% of its sales to be electric by mid-2025. They currently account for 15 percent of its sales.

car reports that the company is also not pursuing volume at all costs, instead expecting its total production output to be “better than” Land Rover and Porsche.

It also intends to continue to offer personalization options, including the classic Union Jack roof as well as regional customizations.

THAN: Everything Mini Hatch