The new-gen 2025 Mini Cooper has just been unveiled in Munich, Germany. Here’s all you need to know about the newcomer, codenamed J01.

We’re live today from Munich, Germany as guests of Mini South Africa as the brand reveals the new-gen Mini Cooper. Spanning three generations in the modern era and let’s not forget the classic icon either, the Mini is a symbol for a fun, premium urban hatchback.

The clean and sleek new face

What’s Changed?

The design of the new-gen Mini Cooper has been given an overhaul, without radically changing the visual philosophy. It’s still unmistakably a Mini Cooper, which will please the purists. Keen-eyed spotters will notice many of the typical creases and kinks have been ironed out, presenting a smooth and refined look. The rear light design is quirky, but we think customers will get used to it over time.

The cabin gets a big makeover too, with the iconic central infotainment system adopting a minimalist frameless look. The level of detail and playfulness that has gone into the operating system is impressive. On top of your three normal driving modes, there are a further four that focus on personalisation.

“The new Mini Operating System 9 is characterized by simple, emotional touch operation that is specific to Mini. Together with the new cloud-based Mini Navigation for particularly precise and fast route calculation, high-speed connectivity, and optional 5G capability, the new Mini Cooper takes a giant leap into the digital world, thereby underlining the brand’s charismatic heritage,” said Stefanie Wurst, Head of Mini.

We had a chance to play with the new system and the clean user experience and vivid colours will win it many fans. We also liked how neat the circular screen looked and how it was integrated into the minimalist dashboard. The cabin trims are also worth mentioning as many elements are sourced from either recycled materials and sustainable options.

Engines and performance

As far as powertrains are concerned, the new-generation Mini Cooper will feature internal-combustion power as well as electrification. Right now, this reveal is all about the electric models with the petrol derivatives earmarked for debut in early 2024.

There are two electric models to start with and both are a huge leap forward for electrified Minis. As a reminder, the outgoing Mini SE could only muster around 185km of range in the real world. The all-new Mini Cooper E claims a 305 km range from a 40.7 kWh battery. Outputs of 135 kW and 290 Nm driving the front wheels is good for a 7.3 second sprint time to 100 kph.

Opt for the Cooper SE, and you get 160 kW and 330 Nm resulting in an even quicker 0-100 kph time of 6.7 seconds and a large battery of 54.2 kWh means a claimed range of 402 km. Charging rates of 75 kW and 95 kW are claimed respectively, meaning you’ll need around 30 minutes to get from 10 to 80%.

The new Mini SE is a collaboration between BMW Group and Great Wall Motors. This agreement was signed a few years back and is essentially an agreement to work together on compact electric vehicles. Known as Spotlight Automotive, the venture will see an array of vehicles using a common electric platform rolled out over the next few years. The new Mini Cooper will be assembled in China.

Old vs New

When is the new-gen Mini Cooper coming to South Africa?

According to a BMW Group representative, the all-new Mini Cooper’s retail operations for South Africa will commence in April 2024. Pricing and specifications for our market will be released closer to the time.

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