Mini Cooper revealed the next-generation electric version of its iconic car, featuring a larger battery, updated operating system, and new voice assistant.
"With its electric drive and purist design, the new Mini Cooper is a perfect fit for an urban lifestyle," says Stefanie Wurst, head of Mini Cooper. "In the fifth generation of the Mini Cooper, we combine the traditional Mini DNA with innovative, future-oriented technology."
Parent company BMW has not yet revealed the price and range for the Mini Cooper SE. The previous generation is relatively affordable for an EV at $30,900, but its 114-mile range is among the lowest on the market. The new version comes with a much larger battery pack—58.4kWh compared 28.9kWh—that could get it closer to a 200-mile range with more power.
A new, sporty "go-kart" mode helps the Mini zip around city streets, though it goes from 0-60mph in a slow-for-an-EV 7.3 seconds (slower even than the Tesla Model 3's 5.8 seconds). Still, the vehicle has a uniquely low center of gravity and a low drag coefficient, at 0.28, which the company says is "outstanding for the small car segment and makes the Mini extremely efficient."
The brand's first "fully fledged voice assistant," dubbed the Mini Intelligent Personal Assistant, activates by saying "Hey, Mini," or by pushing a button on the steering wheel. In addition to fielding requests from the driver, it also learns from the ongoing dialogue to anticipate what the driver needs.
"During the dialogue between customer and vehicle, the Mini Intelligent Personal Assistant continuously learns on repetitive routes," Mini says. "Drawing on geo-based data, for example, the vehicle can learn to automatically open the window when entering a car park. This makes day-to-day routines more convenient and personal."
It runs on the new "Operating System 9," developed in-house by BMW and built on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) software stack. "Operation is intuitive and follows the standards familiar from consumer electronics," Mini says. Swiping up from the bottom of the screen reveals a customized menu screen, for example, which is more dynamic than the fixed, clunky dash screens of the past.
Design-wise, it preserves the classic Mini look while removing details for a more minimalist look. "For the first time, the model appears without a circumferential Black Band," Mini says. "Reducing the number of components places the body color more at the center of interest, thereby ensuring a powerful presence." Mini also removed the chrome accents on the headlights, added flush door handles, and a new octagonal front grille.
Mini Cooper plans to transform into an all-electric brand by 2030, 71 years after its 1959 debut. It's a "new chapter" for the brand, says Wurst in the launch video below, part of the new "Mini family" of vehicles to come.