Coming soon: all-new MINI Cooper electric

Here at DriveElectric HQ we've been big fans of the all-electric MINI for years so we're super-excited to learn about the next generation model which will be coming out in 2024.

The 3-door model is now in its fifth generation. Not only are we being promised cutting-edge technology, but they're also addressing the biggest issue of the current MINI electric: the battery size. Perfect as a city runaround, the MINI electric 4th gen features a small 29kWh battery pack which is good for around 110 real world miles. So we're delighted to read that the 2024 MINI Cooper is set to get a more practical 54.2 kWh pack, which will roughly double the range of the car, for the Cooper SE model and a 40.7kWh battery in the Cooper E version.

And while we always say that vehicle range isn't everything, having the flexibility of a 200 mile real world range for most people will add an extra layer of desirability.

Another improvement of the outgoing model is the maximum DC speeds the car can handle when using rapid chargers - the existing model maxes out at a now pedestrian 49kW. While the new models are capable of handling 75kW for the Cooper E and 95kW for the Cooper SE.

Visually, the new model is still unmistakably a MINI, but the design is a simpler interpretation of the iconic look. The designers and the brand have moved away from the previous ubiquitous plug icon and bright yellow colouring accents, which denoted electrified MINIs.

Inside the EV, things are again unmistakably MINI, with the circular info screen still the most dominating aspect. It certainly is one of the things which sets MINI apart from all other car makes. For the 5th gen Cooper, MINI is using an OLED screen, so everything will be ultra crisp and sharp. There's also a new operating system, developed by parent company BMW, which will be used for the first time for this model. MINI Operating System 9 will allow occupants to access all vehicle functions via the touchscreen or using voice control. "Hey MINI" is set to be one of the most common phrases in the not-too-distant future!

That's not the end of the new technology on display either, with the MINI Cooper electric featuring some neat driver assist tools - our personal favourite being the self parking function, great when space is at a premium.

MINI fans in attendance at the Goodwood Revival 2023 are in for a treat as well, with the all-new EV gettings its UK premiere at the show. Running between the 8th and 10th September.

We're expecting the first MINI Cooper electric cars to hit UK roads in the first half of 2024. Keep a look out for great value electric car leasing deals on this very website.