Mini’s upcoming next-generation electric model is set to offer increased space and potentially extended driving range, as revealed by the brand in a recent announcement.
The redesigned Mini Cooper Electric, slated for a 2025 release, will not only serve as a replacement for the current Mini Cooper SE but will also include a Cooper E model, featuring different battery packages and power outputs for both variants. Mini USA declined to comment on the product’s future in the U.S. market.
As the base model, the Cooper E delivers 181 horsepower, identical to the current Cooper SE. The next-generation Cooper SE, on the other hand, boasts a power output of 214 horsepower.
The battery capacity is rated at 40.7 kWh for the Cooper E and 54.2 kWh for the Cooper SE. Mini is targeting a range of 186 to 248 miles, likely measured using the European WLTP test cycle. For reference, the 2023 Mini Cooper SE has an EPA-rated range of 114 miles.
While the electric models will once again be based on the two-door hatchback body style, BMW claims more cargo volume and the retention of four seats. Although not exactly “mini” compared to the original 1960s version, interior space remains a precious commodity in the modern Mini.
BMW states that the current Mini Cooper SE has become the brand’s most popular model since its launch in 2020. Global sales increased by 25.5% in 2022, surpassing 43,000 units. This means that one in every five new Minis is electric, according to the automaker.
The Cooper SE is one of the five cheapest electric vehicles in the U.S. market and one of the few truly small cars offered widely as a fully developed electric vehicle, rather than a compliance car. However, in the past model year, Mini has faced challenges in manufacturing the base version of the SE due to supply chain issues.
A convertible version of the Cooper SE is now a production reality, albeit for the European market and in limited quantities. Mini also has an entire family of electric crossovers, coexisting with gasoline and diesel models for several more years. The brand indicates plans to transition completely to electric vehicles in the early 2030s.
