2026 Mini Cooper Redesign, Specs, Features – Due to their tiny size, limited range, and slow charging speed, the new Cooper E and SE seem more suited for city dwellers than road warriors.
The historic British automaker and BMW subsidiary Mini took another big stride forward into the electrified era today with the launch of the brand-new, all-electric fifth-generation Mini Cooper hatchback. The new battery-electric Cooper has been totally redesigned as an EV and will soon be on the road. It has a high-tech cockpit, electric performance and range tailored for city driving, and a modern take on the famous Mini look.
We have already seen other electric Minis. As part of the automaker’s plug-in hybridization trials, which started with the Countryman PHEV in 2018, the 114-mile Mini Cooper SE was unveiled in 2020. However, the route the business plans to go is evident in its decision to design the new Cooper from the ground up as a totally electric car rather than a conversion of a combustion car. 2026 Mini Cooper Redesign
2026 Mini Cooper Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior & Interior
Like the four previous generations, the new Mini Cooper is a small hatchback. Although precise specifications were not revealed at launch, the new Cooper doesn’t appear to have grown significantly in height or length. It is substantially wider, though, and has a bigger wheelbase.
By creating this new generation as an electric vehicle from the bottom up, Mini’s engineers were able to better integrate the battery and e-motors into the car’s design, which, in my opinion, helped to reduce overall size.
Mini’s designers want to emphasize the broad strokes of the brand’s more than 60 years of design while removing and simplifying details. The Cooper’s exterior is no longer chrome, and its grille and headlights have been simplified to geometric shapes. The larger wheels help communicate the small vehicle proportions, even with a slight scaling increase. Furthermore, although they may still be configured with a Union Jack pattern, the Cooper’s rear LED matrix tail lights can now be personalized.
I spent a lot of time exploring the new Cooper’s interior, exterior, and sheet metal during an exclusive BMW preview event in Munich earlier this year.
Even though I’m not sure I love the Mini’s extremely basic appearance, I do like its extraordinarily compact size and dimensions. Most importantly, it is definitely and readily recognizable as a Mini.
I’m especially impressed with the Cooper’s new interior, which features a high-tech version of the large, round center speedometer and the same basic dashboard layout as the original Mini from the 1960s, complete with physical switches and toggles beneath.
(Physical switches in 2023! How endearing! We have previously seen the interior of the Mini Cooper and the new Mini Operating System 9 that powers its dashboard. The first-of-its-kind circular OLED panel in the new infotainment suite is powered by 5G internet-connected services, a cartoonish animated digital assistant, and the newest Mini navigation software. 2026 Mini Cooper Redesign
2026 Mini Cooper Specs
Engine & Performance
At introduction, the electric hatchback will come with two engine options: Cooper E and Cooper SE. The Mini Cooper E will be powered by a single 135-kilowatt (184 horsepower) electric motor and a 40.7-kilowatt-hour high-voltage battery.
With its 214 pound-feet of torque, the Cooper E is said to be able to sprint from 0 to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in 7.3 seconds. On the more lenient global WLTP test cycle, Mini expects this specification to cruise for around 190 kilometers between charges.
The sportier Cooper SE upgrades to an electric motor that can produce up to 160-kW (218 horsepower) and 243 lb-ft of torque. With the extra power, the 0-62 mph hustle only takes 6.7 seconds. With a larger 54.2-kWh battery, the range is enhanced to WLTP-estimated 250 miles between charges. Even with the reduction in our more rigorous EPA test cycle here in the United States, that’s a significant improvement over the current Cooper SE’s 114 miles.
Built on a wider track and somewhat longer wheelbase, the Cooper promises grounded handling by highlighting the low center of gravity created by its underfloor battery pack with firm stabilizer bars and larger, wider wheels and tires. This new Cooper is definitely heavier than the four versions that preceded it, but Mini’s engineers are certain that the hatch is still a hot one and will deliver the “go-kart feeling” that drivers have been used to.
2026 Mini Cooper Fuel Economy
Overnight recharging is possible with the Cooper EV’s 11-kW internal charger. At a fast charging station, the Cooper E can only manage up to 75 kW of DC current, but the SE can manage up to 95 kW. Either way, it should take you less than 30 minutes to charge from 10% to 80% at a DCFC station.
Cross-country rallies are inappropriate for the Mini Cooper EV because to its short range and slow charging speed; at most, you could go 175 miles between 30-minute charges, which would make for incredibly exhausting road trips.
Rather, the Mini seems to be better suited for city dwellers or commuters who want a long enough range to drive around town and maybe charge once or twice a week. The E could be too tiny to be competitive or cost-effective, but it’s still unknown, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the more potent, longer-range SE is the sole engine that travels across the Atlantic to reach US cities. 2026 Mini Cooper Redesign
2026 Mini Cooper Release Date & Price
The fifth-generation Mini Cooper debuted on Friday with the third-generation Mini Countryman, which was also developed as an electric vehicle. The EV duo will make a three when a production version of the Mini Aceman concept joins them during an event in April 2024. These are the most recent noteworthy developments in the Mini brand’s journey to produce only electric cars by 2030.
We expect to find out more about the US pricing, availability, regional specs, and range of the all-new 2026 Mini Cooper E and SE when manufacturing gets underway.
Note: The details included in this blog post are derived from pre-release material that was accessible when the article was written. If you want the latest information, you should check official sources or call your nearest dealership.
Read Also:
- 2026 Mini Countryman Specs, Changes, Redesign
- 2026 Mini Countryman Price, Redesign, Performance
- 2026 Mini Countryman Features, Specs, Review
- 2026 Mini Cooper Electric Specs, Price, Interior
- 2026 Mini Cooper Countryman Specs, Price, Release Date
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