BMW-owned MINI has unveiled its new all-electric range of cars, which includes the MINI Cooper and the new Countryman. In addition, the company will premiere MINI Aceman in April 2024 as a crossover in the premium small car segment.
On the design front, the new models share a purist design that takes equal account of the urban character of the vehicle and the innovative spirit of its community, the company said.
Both vehicles feature short overhangs, a short bonnet, a long wheelbase, and big wheels. While the visual three-part division into the vehicle body, the surrounding window area and the contrasting roof ensures the new models are instantly recognisable.
Flush door handles, the absence of fender flares and side scuttles underline the clear and modern overall impression are also a part of the exterior design language.
The vehicle's character is reinforced by new daytime running light elements for the LED headlights and the Matrix LED taillights with three different settings on all new vehicle models. These individual light signatures each support different aspects of the car body design and interact with the environment by means of a special welcome and farewell light animation.
Stefanie Wurst, Head, MINI Brand, said the continued high demand for locally emission-free vehicles confirms the company’s path to a fully electric future.
“It demonstrates the openness of our global MINI community to electric mobility, and I am confident that the new generation models will inspire even more people,” he added.
OG MINI Goes Electric
As an all-electric vehicle, the new MINI is available in the Cooper E variant and the Cooper SE, featuring higher output and range. Within the new models, “Cooper” refers to all 3-door and 5-door models and also the Convertible. It is no longer used as an engine specification.
The Cooper E's 135 kW/184 hp electric motor generates 290 Nm torque and accelerates the vehicle from a standstill to 100 kmph in a claimed 7.3 seconds. With an output of 160 kW/218 hp, the Cooper SE sprints from zero to 100 kmph in 6.7 seconds, as claimed by the carmaker, with a maximum torque of 330 Nm. The range determined in the WLTP test cycle is 305 kilometres for the Cooper E and 402 kilometres for the Cooper SE.
On the inside, the vehicle gets MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant, which can be activated by saying “Hey MINI”. Being able to control numerous functions with voice control increases comfort, facilitating greater concentration on driving.
The newly designed reduced toggle bar with five switches includes all driving functions and is ideally positioned for the driver below the circular instrument. The gearshift has been eliminated to create additional storage space between the front seats. In the wireless charging area in this storage space, mobile devices can be charged and conveniently accessed at any time.
Additionally, the new interior experience is mainly created by the textile surfaces. A specially developed knitting process is used to create the easy-care, versatile structure of the two-colour textile.
Optionally, up to seven Experience Modes bring the dashboard to life. Special light projections extend the colours of the round instrument across the dashboard, expanding the overall experience of the user interface in the interior. The new cockpit customisation options add a personal feel-good factor to the new model's interior.
Countryman Goes Bigger In EV Form
In the new avatar, the Countryman grows an additional six centimetres in height and thirteen centimetres in length. The vehicle has four trims – Essential, Classic, Favoured and JCW.
The 150 kW/204 hp electric motor in the car generates a torque of 250 Nm and accelerates the car from a standstill to 100 kmph in 8.6 seconds.
With 230 kW/313 hp, the electric motors of the all-wheel drive Countryman SE ALL4 generate a combined torque of 494 Nm in total and accelerate the vehicle from zero to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. The range determined according to the WLTP test cycle is 462 kilometres for the Countryman E and 433 kilometres for the Countryman SE ALL4.
The clearly designed dashboard and the door panels are covered with woven textile surfaces on the inside. Their design is coordinated with eight different MINI Experience Modes; these maximise the options for individualising the interior by means of light projections, a customisable user interface and new engine sounds.
The vehicle gets the MINI Operating System 9, which has been optimised for touch and voice control, together with the central OLED display with a diameter of 240 millimetres and many new, digital additional functions in the Connected Package. Compared to the MINI Cooper, the air outlets in the cockpit are arranged vertically and, together with the upright dashboard, emphasise the character of the new Countryman.
As in the exterior, the vertically mounted door handles in the interior are integrated flush with the surfaces. The vehicle gets a tinted panoramic glass roof and reduced front and rear seat shapes.
Moreover, the increased body size provides additional headroom and legroom, expanding the space options in the compact premium crossover.
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