2023 was an eventful 12 months for MINI because the Oxford-based marque renewed its Cooper hatchback and launched the next-generation Countryman crossover as nicely. The electrical hatchback is as soon as once more being supplied solely with three doorways however a five-door mannequin with combustion engines is coming in 2024. In the meantime, the zero-emission hatch has been filmed up shut and private in Germany on the BMW Welt.

Painted in Blazing Blue, this electrical Cooper has two-tone wheels and a contrasting white roof to match the aspect mirror caps. We’re coping with the stronger SE variant that includes an e-motor good for 218 horsepower and 330 Newton-meters (243 pound-feet) of immediate torque. It’s sufficient electrical punch for a 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) run in 6.7 seconds. Feeding the motor is a 54.2-kWh battery pack with sufficient juice for a most vary of 402 kilometers (250 miles) within the WLTP check cycle.

As one would anticipate from a MINI, the outside styling is evolutionary however there’s an actual revolution inside. The BMW-owned model has revamped its cabin for the brand new wave of fashions by adopting a minimalist format. The inside’s point of interest is now a 9.4-inch spherical OLED display mounted within the middle of the dashboard. You continue to have a handful of quick-access controls mounted beneath the show however most features are accessible solely via the big touchscreen.

Initially, MINI will produce the electrical Cooper E/SE solely in China at a brand new manufacturing unit owned by Highlight Automotive – a 50:50 three way partnership between BMW and Nice Wall Motor. From 2026, the three-door hatchback and not using a combustion engine will start to roll off the meeting line on the Oxford plant within the UK. Those that need a greater and extra sensible different to the electrical hatchback must wait till April 2024 when the Aceman crossover is ready to debut. It too shall be constructed at first solely in China earlier than getting the “Made in UK” label in 2026.

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