Mini has recently shared additional information regarding its forthcoming electric vehicle lineup. The German automaker is planning to introduce the new Countryman in February 2024, followed by the Cooper hatchback in the summer of the same year.
Mini has decided to adopt a dual-fuel strategy for the Countryman. Reports suggest that production is being prepared in Leipzig, Germany, with the aim of commencing later this year. The automaker has yet to confirm whether the factory in Leipzig will produce both the electric and petrol versions of the Countryman from the outset. However, it is now evident that the battery-electric Countryman will not be completed before 2024. Although details of the vehicle are not yet available, it is expected to be based on the BMW iX1 platform, potentially as a high-end model with all-wheel drive.
See also: All-Electric MINI Countryman To Be the First MINI ‘Made in Germany’
As for the electric Mini Cooper, it is a significant step forward for the brand, according to the new BMW executive, Stefanie Wurst, who described the hatchback as “the beginning of a new era.” The Cooper hatchback will be released as an EV first in May 2024 and is being developed in collaboration with Great Wall from China. The car has been undergoing testing for quite some time now, but the fifth-generation Mini has yet to make its official debut. Media outlets report that the vehicle will have power levels ranging from 135 to 160 kW and two battery options with 40 and 54 kWh. This would be marginally lower than the Great Wall Ora Funky Cat, which has net battery options of 45.4 and 59.3 kWh. The petrol-powered Cooper will not be introduced until July 2024 and will likely be the final Mini model to feature an internal combustion engine.
The next vehicle in Mini’s lineup is the Aceman, which was previously a concept but now has a scheduled release date of January 2025. Unlike the Countryman, which will be available with all-wheel drive, the Aceman will only be front-wheel drive. Its output will be between 130 and 160 kW, and it will measure around 4.10 metres in length, positioning it between the Mini Cooper (at approximately 3.90 metres) and the larger Countryman (4.43 metres).
See also: 2024 Mini Countryman EV Set to Impress with Two Battery Options and 268-HP AWD Variant
Mini has set a goal of achieving a 50% share of electric vehicle sales by 2025, compared to 15% currently. By the start of the 2030s, the automaker reportedly plans to offer purely electric vehicles only in its lineup.
Despite the forthcoming premieres of the Countryman and Cooper (which may take place at the IAA Mobility in September), prices have yet to be confirmed several months ahead of the launch. The current price of the Mini Cooper SE is around 37,000 euros, but this model only features a 29 kWh battery. With 40 or 54 kWh, even the electric three-door model is expected to cost more than 40,000 euros, while the larger Countryman as an iX1 derivative is likely to start at 50,000 euros.
