At the Munich Motor Show this week, Mini is showcasing the first two models that it claims will be part of a comprehensive lineup of electric vehicles.
The pair making their debut at the fair includes a redesigned version of the Mini Cooper hatchback and the first all-electric version of the Mini Countryman crossover. Both are expected to arrive in the U.S. for the 2025 model year.
Unveiled in May, the redesigned Cooper brings an updated version of the styling found in previous Mini models developed under BMW ownership. It still features short front and rear overhangs and large headlights, but Mini has ditched the chrome edges for a cleaner appearance. The grille has also been reshaped; it’s now octagonal instead of hexagonal.
The Cooper also gains flush door handles and loses some of the side detailing from the previous generation, such as fenders, for a cleaner appearance and better aerodynamic properties, contributing to a drag coefficient (cd) of 0.28, according to Mini.
The Countryman goes for a more rugged look, retaining flared fenders that blend with the matching lower panel and protrude from the flattened sides of the body. Despite these additions, the crossover has a lower drag coefficient than its Cooper sibling (all relative to frontal area). The Mini’s 0.26 cd also represents a significant improvement over the outgoing Countryman’s 0.31.
The total length of the Countryman has increased to around 174 inches, 5.1 inches more than the previous generation, while the height has increased by about 2.4 inches to 63.5 inches.
Mini plans to offer two versions of each new electric vehicle. The Cooper E has a 40.7 kWh battery and a single electric motor producing 184 hp and 213 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to go from 0 to 62 mph in 7.3 seconds, according to Mini. The Cooper SE has a 54.2 kWh pack and a more powerful motor with 218 hp and 243 lb-ft, reducing the 0 to 62 time to 6.7 seconds.
Following a similar pattern, the Countryman E has lower power, in this case, 204 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to go from 0 to 62 mph in about 8.6 seconds. The Countryman SE ALL4 has an all-wheel-drive powertrain with a dual-motor delivering 313 hp and 364 lb-ft, with an acceleration of 0 to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds. Mini did not mention the battery sizes, but it is believed that the Countryman uses a 64.7 kWh pack.
Range estimates for the European WLTP test cycle are 189 miles for the Cooper E, 250 miles for the Cooper SE, and 280 miles and 269 miles for the Countryman E and SE ALL4, respectively. EPA range ratings will be lower, but the new models should offer more range than the current Mini Cooper SE’s 114 miles, the only electric vehicle in Mini’s lineup at the moment.
The maximum AC Level 2 charging power is 11 kW for the Cooper and 22 kW for the Countryman. The Cooper E can fast charge DC up to 75 kW; the Cooper SE increases that power to 95 kW, and the Countryman has a maximum charging power of 130 kW. A minimum estimate of a fast DC charge from 10% to 80% will take 30 minutes in all cases.
Both the Cooper and Countryman feature a new dashboard design that removes the traditional instrument cluster, leaving a large round central screen as the sole display. The 9.4-inch screen runs the new Mini OS 9 operating system based on Android, which includes a voice assistant. A head-up display is also available.
The two models also get the expected range of driver aids, with the highlight being a hands-free system that, according to Mini, works in single-lane highway driving but only at speeds of up to 37 mph, with driver monitoring.
Mini aims for its lineup to be fully electric by 2030 and has confirmed that the electric Cooper and Countryman will be followed by the smaller Aceman crossover in 2024. Mini is also making a convertible version of the outgoing electric Cooper SE, but it’s unclear if that will continue.
