New Mini Cooper S bookings open

Mini India has started accepting bookings for the new Cooper S, whose launch is expected in the coming weeks. Customers can book the 2024 Mini Cooper S on the company’s official website by paying Rs 1 lakh as the token amount.

1. New Cooper S bookings open, launch likely in coming weeks
2. The 2024 Cooper S gets an industry-first circular touchscreen infotainment system
3. All-electric Cooper EV to be launched later this year

New Mini Cooper S: exterior, interior design

While the design is unmistakably Mini, the new Cooper S looks slightly more angular. It retains the iconic round headlamps, but the LED pattern is new. The front grille is less curvy than earlier. The hatch also gets new diamond-cut alloy wheels and brand-new tail-lamps with arrowhead LED elements, connected with a black trim that features the car’s name.

Inside the cabin, the new Cooper S retains its minimalistic approach. However, it has a larger, round touchscreen infotainment system that’s 9.45 inches in diameter, a more modern-looking steering wheel with the new Mini emblem, and a new dashboard that ditches a dedicated instrument cluster altogether. 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.

New Mini Cooper S: powertrains, price, rivals

The new Mini Cooper S will have the same 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine as its predecessor, but in a higher state of tune—it now puts out 204hp and 300Nm of torque, an increase of 26hp and 20Nm. The power is fed to the front wheels via a standard 7-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox. Mini claims that the Cooper S sprints from 0–100kph in 6.6 seconds.

The outgoing Cooper S is priced at Rs 42.70 lakh (ex-showroom) and the new model is expected to be slightly more expensive. Mini will initially launch the hatch with a petrol powertrain only. The next-gen all-electric Cooper EV will go on sale later this year. The Cooper S will have no direct rivals, but will give competition to entry-level luxury cars and SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Limousine, Audi Q3, and BMW 2 Series, among others.