New electric Mini Cooper coming to South Africa – More power and better range

Mini has announced that South Africa will receive the new version of the all-electric Cooper SE in the second quarter of 2024.

The Cooper SE is the fourth model that the automaker has confirmed for the tip of Africa between April and July next year, having previously stated that the Countryman S, the electric Countryman SE, and the flagship Countryman John Cooper Works will all arrive in the same timeframe.

What’s in store

The current-generation Cooper SE consists of two options, a standard and a “Resolute Edition” spec, both relying on a 32.6kWh battery pack which pairs to an electric motor with 125kW and 270Nm and delivers a driving range of 215km.

The new version landing next year, on the other hand, is much more capable.

The incoming SE will be made available in the brand’s range-topping John Cooper Works (JCW) trim level and features a larger 54.2kWh battery, letting it travel for up to 402km before needing a top-up.

Furthermore, it uses a more powerful electric motor that raises its power cap to 160kW and 330Nm, which has the added benefit of reducing the hatchback’s 0-100km/h acceleration time from 7.3 seconds to 6.7 seconds.

Charging the SE can now be done with a 95kW DC cable, which allows it to achieve a 10-80% recharge in just 30 minutes.

Other aspects of the new Mini worth highlighting include the styling details brought about by the JCW treatment, which entails new model-specific logos, a black, red, and white colour scheme with a checkered flag pattern on the front grille, 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels in a Lap Spoke design, red brake calipers, and new bonnet stripes.

Diffusers have been added to both the front and the rear, the radiator grille and logos are finished in high-gloss black, the contrast roof and door mirrors are painted Chilli Red, and the front daytime running lights have been made to look more minimalist with a simple two-horizontal stripe look.

Inside, the Cooper features synthetic leather upholstery with red contrast stitching and multi-coloured knitted materials for the seat shoulders.

A similar theme can be seen on the 2d-knit dashboard, which also features a JCW checkered flag pattern on the front passenger side.

Dominating the centre console is a 240mm circular screen which can be used to access the navigation, media, telephone, and climate settings, and this display can be customized with a JCW-inspired Go-Kart mode that changes the screen and cabin ambient lighting to an anthracite red theme.

A total of 12 ultrasonic sensors and four surround cameras are also included, which enables the use of a Parking Assistant Plus function that can identify free parking spaces. Furthermore, an advanced Explore mode lets the car park itself through a smartphone companion app without the driver needing to sit inside.

More information on the new Mini Cooper SE, including its local pricing and equipment, will be revealed closer to its launch date in the second quarter of next year.