The all-new, all-electric MINI Cooper could signify a brand new daybreak for the modern British model, however if you happen to miss the efficiency and sound of an inside combustion engine, don’t fear – you’ll be able to nonetheless get the basic three-door hatchback with petrol energy with this newest mannequin.

There’s a catch, nevertheless. This will appear to be the electrical mannequin proven in September – developed in partnership with GWM, let’s not neglect – however it’s something however. Actually, the petrol model (codenamed F66) is constructed on the bones of the present F56 MINI Hatch, albeit closely revised to suit the brand new MINI design language. That is really the third such facelift for the mannequin.

Regardless of this, the designers have accomplished a exceptional job transplanting the EV’s minimalist appears. The petrol MINI Cooper sports activities that automobile’s simplified LED headlights (with horizontal daytime working lights as commonplace and customisable variations with an illuminated outer ring on the non-obligatory upgraded items), giant hexagonal body-coloured grille and triangular “matrix” LED taillights. MINI has even eliminated the facet “scuttles” and visual exhaust pipes which have hitherto been key options of the hatch’s design.

However look intently and also you’ll be capable to spot the variations that time to this being a warmed-over F56. These embrace the clamshell bonnet (the electrical mannequin makes use of a traditional one), the rings surrounding the headlights, the reasonably outdated pull-style door handles and the continued use of plastic physique cladding. Nonetheless, it’s a profitable redesign in our eyes – one which papers over the excesses of the overwrought 2021 facelift.

Inside, the petrol MINI Cooper continues to borrow closely from its electrical sibling. It’s been cleaned up, with a lot of the automobile’s features (sure, together with the instrument cluster and the local weather controls, sadly) now grouped into the 9.4-inch OLED round centre touchscreen. It runs on the newest Android-based MINI Working System 9 and options Spike, a 3D virtualisation of the automobile’s “Hey MINI” voice management.

You additionally get a fabric-wrapped dashboard; the non-obligatory MINI Expertise Modes provides two projectors behind the infotainment show that initiatives totally different graphics on the sprint relying on the mode chosen. Under the touchscreen sits the toggles for the gear and drive mode selectors, together with the twist-style engine starter. The traditional gear lever has as an alternative been changed by a Qi wi-fi charger.

Other than the revamped upholstery decisions and the brand new steering wheel (with a cloth centre spoke), the petrol MINI Cooper continues to be recognisably the identical automobile. It’s nonetheless a strict four-seater and the boot nonetheless measures a tiny 210 litres, though you’ll be able to fold the 60:40-split rear seats to get a complete cargo capability of 725 litres.

Beneath the bonnet, you’ll discover the identical (however uprated) selection of 1.5 litre B38 turbocharged three-cylinder and a pair of.zero litre B48 four-cylinder engines, badged the MINI Cooper C and MINI Cooper S respectively. The previous produces 156 PS and 230 Nm of torque, will get from zero to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and delivers a gasoline consumption determine of between 5.9 and 6.5 litres per 100 km.

The MINI Cooper S, in the meantime, pumps out 204 PS and 300 Nm, sufficient to see off the century dash in 6.6 seconds; gasoline consumption is rated at between 6.1 and 6.7 litres per 100 km. No particulars on the gearbox however it’s possible the 2 fashions retain the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission of the earlier automobile.

Elsewhere, the petrol MINI Cooper can now be had with Stage 2 semi-autonomous driving capabilities as a part of the Driving Assistant Plus package deal, due to a radar sensor (the smallest ever fitted to a BMW Group automobile) on the brand new grille. Important, Basic, Favoured and JCW trim ranges will probably be supplied, with choices together with a Spray-Tech graduated three-colour roof on the Favoured mannequin.

The three-door hatch received’t be the one physique type made accessible on the newest petrol MINI Cooper. It’s already been confirmed the automobile will spawn five-door and convertible variants, similar to the present automobile.

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