Mini has revealed the fourth-gen Cooper petrol 3-door hatchback as the final combustion-engined iteration of the Mini. Taking visual inspiration from the 1959 original, the hatch has been the mainstay of the Mini line-up since BMW relaunched the brand in 2000. The new-gen model will get a 3-door, 5-door, a soft-top convertible and a John Cooper Works version.
Mini Cooper petrol platform, powertrain highlights
The fourth-gen Cooper hatchback looks almost identical to the Mini Cooper EV, but sits on a different platform and is completely unrelated mechanically with the EV iteration. While the electric car is based on a bespoke EV platform, the petrol is a heavily updated version of the outgoing model.
Indeed, it will offer the same two turbo-petrol engines as the third-generation hatch, albeit with a rise in output. The 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol in the entry-level Cooper C gains 20hp for a total of 156hp, making it 0.4 seconds quicker from 0-100kph (taking 7.7 seconds).
The 2.0-litre four-cylinder in the Cooper S, meanwhile, is boosted by 25hp to 204hp. Its 0-100kph time remains the same at 6.6 seconds, but that is still quicker than the range-topping electric Cooper SE (6.7 seconds). Both variants get automatic gearboxes only.
Mini Cooper petrol interior highlights
On the inside, the new petrol 3-door features a minimalist dashboard, with the main focus being the OLED infotainment display in the centre. Mini claims that this is the first round OLED touchscreen in a production car. It shows critical information such as road speed and fuel economy at the top, and a menu bar at the bottom. The screen is also used for the bulk of the climate functions, but thankfully front and rear defoggers get their own buttons.
The gear selector has been relocated from the centre console to a panel below the screen, alongside the handbrake button, turn-key starter, driving mode selector and audio control dial.
Mini Cooper petrol India launch timeline
Mini currently sells the third-gen Cooper hatchback in India with petrol and electric powertrain options, and we expect the fourth-gen range to make its India debut sometime later this year. Meanwhile, the fourth-gen Cooper EV has been confirmed for an India launch in the Q3 2024.
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