Mini has officially revealed the fourth-generation Cooper petrol 3-door hatchback, marking the culmination of the combustion-engine era for the iconic brand. With visual cues from the original 1959 model, the new-gen Cooper comes in 3-door, 5-door, soft-top convertible, and John Cooper Works variants, embodying the spirit of Mini’s evolution since its relaunch by BMW in 2000.
Evolution in Power and Platform:
While resembling the Mini Cooper EV, the fourth-gen petrol model sits on a distinct platform, showcasing a design evolution inspired by its electric counterpart. Unlike the EV version, which boasts a bespoke EV platform, the petrol variant is a heavily updated version of the outgoing model.
Under the hood, Mini offers two turbo-petrol engines, with both receiving power upgrades. The entry-level Cooper C, equipped with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, now produces 156hp (a 20hp increase) and accelerates from 0-100kph in just 7.7 seconds. The Cooper S, featuring a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, sees a 25hp boost to reach 204hp, maintaining its 0-100kph time at 6.6 seconds. Both variants are available exclusively with automatic gearboxes.
Innovative Interior Design:
Inside, the new 3-door Cooper petrol showcases a minimalist dashboard with a central OLED infotainment display. This marks a notable industry-first, presenting a round OLED touchscreen in a production car. The display provides critical information such as road speed and fuel economy, along with a menu bar at the bottom. Climate functions are primarily operated through the screen, while essential features like front and rear defoggers retain dedicated buttons.
The interior layout undergoes a shift, relocating the gear selector from the center console to a panel below the screen. This space now accommodates the handbrake button, turn-key starter, driving mode selector, and audio control dial.
India Launch Expectations:
Currently retailing the third-gen Cooper hatchback in India with both petrol and electric options, Mini anticipates introducing the fourth-gen Cooper range later this year. Meanwhile, the fourth-gen Cooper EV is confirmed for an India launch in Q3 2024, further expanding Mini’s electric lineup in the country.
