MINI is kickstarting its next generation with the MINI Cooper Electric, the now iconic 3-door that prioritises electric driving fun. 

Originally launched in 2020, growth in sales saw the all-electric MINI Cooper SE becoming by far the most popular MINI model, with over 43,000 units being sold worldwide last year.

One out of five MINIs on the roads globally is now electrically powered. This was recently demonstrated too by the production anniversary of the one-millionth MINI 3-door of the current fourth generation.

Two variants will be available at launch. The base MINI Cooper E will punch out an output of 135 kW (180 bhp), while the faster MINI Cooper SE bumps that figure up to 160 kW (214 bhp). The lithium-ion battery is packed underneath the floor, enabling a lower centre of gravity that influences optimum road holding and weight distribution, while also increasing the vehicle’s stability and agility.

MINI is known for its hallmark go-kart feeling, and the MINI Electric continues that trend. Continuous advancement in the areas of technology, efficiency and power delivery reflects the careful handling of the popular MINI model’s tradition-steeped history.

Prospective customers can rejoice too, as the battery capacity in the MINI Cooper E has now increased to 40.7 kWh, while the MINI Cooper SE makes do with an even bigger 54.2 kWh capacity. This gives the new models a predicted range of between 300 and 400 kilometres, a big bump from the current generation.

The new MINI Cooper Electric built in the same BMW Leipzig Group Plant together with the MINI Countryman. 

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“Maximum interior space on a minimum footprint”. This was what Sir Alec Issigonis did in 1959 with this simple yet ingenious vehicle concept, giving birth to the original MINI we know and love.

Back in 2013, MINI presented the current reinterpretation of the compact 3-door for the first time, which has been available worldwide since 2014. Now, in 2023, the one millionth MINI 3-door has just rolled off the production line at the MINI plant in Oxford. This model in particular is the all-electric MINI Cooper SE.

Fittingly, the tradition-rich British plant is also celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. In addition to the British production site, the MINI 3-door was also produced for a time in Born, the Netherlands.

Unmistakably MINI

The MINI needs no introduction. Characterised by dynamic lines, clear shapes and short overhangs, the agile four-seater is the ideal companion for dense cityscapes. But while automobiles in almost all other vehicle segments have become increasingly similar, the MINI 3-door has remained true to its original icon over all these years.

Signature bulbous headlights make up the purist front and, together with the Union Jack combination rear lamps, bonnet stripes and stylish side scuttles, all culminating in a smorgasbord of expressive design. 

Cannot beat the original

Since going into production, fans have been able to choose between numerous configurations of the 3-Door MINI. From the MINI One with its modest 75bhp to the more powerful MINI Cooper with 136bhp, and even the racing-inspired MINI John Cooper Works models, the MINI 3-Door impresses with inspiringly agile driving characteristics, setting the standard for modern compact cars.

Since 2020, MINI even introduced the Cooper SE, a new electrified variant. In 2022, MINI recorded a significant increase in sales of electrified models, with one in five MINI models now electric. In addition to providing fun for MINI fans, the focus of MINI is also on minimising its ecological footprint. 

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