New Mini Cooper Electric gets fresh new interior and exhaust note
Last week Mini unveiled the new interior look for its upcoming 2024 Cooper EV, with the inside of the new machine heavily inspired by the original car first launched in 1959.
And now the firm has released more details of its new minimalist cabin, with the electric Mini set to gain its own exhaust note and several new ‘experience modes’.
The all-new Mini will arrive next year with a completely refreshed look that is a clear evolution of the current model, featuring a wider track, longer wheelbase and bigger wheels.
It will be the successor to the Mini Electric but has regained the Cooper nameplate that has been used over the decades for a range of sport and performance models.
And it’s not just on the outside where the electric Mini has changed. The electric hatchback will sit on the all-new Spotlight electric platform, which has been co-developed by Mini and venture partner Great Wall Motors.
The entry-level Cooper will use a 40kWh battery giving a range of around 240 miles, which is a huge improvement on the 150 miles of the current model. The Cooper SE will feature a 50kWh battery, so that range on that will likely be close to 300 miles.
Inside the new Mini is dramatically different to generations of the past, but draws many parallels with the first BMC Mini which launched over 60 years ago.
The steering wheel is a modern interpretation of the one used in the original Mini, while the sleek, circular touchscreen harks back to the speedometer that has featured on every Mini Cooper since 1959.
Mini has added new “immersive experience modes” to its new EV with Core, Green and Go-Kart coming as standard. The modes, which work in unison with the drive modes, adjust the car’s systems and colour theme, interior lighting and driving characteristics,
‘Go-Kart’ mode sharpens the car’s throttle response to deliver a more dynamic drive. Inside, the Mini’s interior theme, head-up display and speedometer are all changed to black and red to reflect the sportier feel of the ‘Go-Kart’ mode.
‘Balance’, meanwhile, is based on noises from a forest and displays a woodland theme with a rippling stream, wind and crickets. Now that is different.
There is also a ‘Timeless’ mode, which – wait for it – mimics the exhaust note of internal combustion engine Minis, which the brand describes as a “futuristic interpretation of the Mini’. ‘Core’ and 'Green' modes adjust the accelerator to promote economical driving.
Now featuring the firm’s ninth-generation operating system, the new Mini Cooper Electric will get what the marque claims to be the first OLED display ever fitted to a car.
The large touchscreen is capable of hosting various graphics but predominantly house the car’s infotainment system.
Intriguingly, the new Mini doesn't get a digital instrument cluster, with Mini opting for a more minimalist head-up display, which will show information on speed and directions.
Buyers can opt to add a light project which displays colours on the dashboard, depending on which mode is selected. Mini will also implement 5G compatibility, remote over-the-air updates, games, video and music streaming applications.
Specifications and pricing details are yet to be confirmed, but we expected the new Mini Cooper Electric to cost between £32,000 and £35,000.
