Mini is making ready the fourth era of its fashionable lineup, and among the many first members to reach will probably be a redesigned Hardtop, a prototype for which has been noticed.

The automotive will debut later this yr as a 2025 mannequin, and Mini will revert to calling it a Cooper. At the moment, Cooper is the identify of the Hardtop’s base grade.

There will probably be each fuel and electrical variations. The electrical 2025 Cooper has already been proven in mid-range Cooper SE guise (proven beneath), and now now we have spy pictures of a prototype for the gas-powered 2025 Cooper.

This time round, the electrical Cooper is predicated on a devoted electrical automobile platform developed by BMW Group and Nice Wall Motors in a Chinese language three way partnership often called Highlight. Manufacturing of the electrical model can even be dealt with in China. Manufacturing of the fuel Cooper will probably be dealt with at BMW Group’s plant in Oxford, U.Ok., the place the present Hardtop is constructed.

2025 Mini Cooper

With the arrival of the devoted EV platform, Mini will supply extra electrical choices. At launch we’ll see a base Cooper E with a 40.7-kwh battery and a single electrical motor rated at 181 hp. There can even be a Cooper SE with a 54.2-kwh battery and a single electrical motor good for 215 hp. Mini has additionally hinted at a high-performance John Cooper Works EV.

The fuel Cooper is about to be a heavy replace of the outgoing Hardtop somewhat than a real redesign, which is mirrored within the spy pictures. This is sensible as Mini plans to go the full-electric route later this decade, and has even locked in 2025 because the date that its remaining fuel mannequin will probably be launched.

2025 Mini Cooper S spy pictures – Photograph credit score: Baldauf

Whereas the outside design will not change a lot, the inside ought to undertake a brand new design shared with the electrical Cooper. Search for the signature spherical ingredient within the middle stack, although now with a round display screen spanning the entire part.

Underpinning the fuel Cooper will probably be BMW Group’s FAAR platform for front-wheel-drive automobiles. It is an evolution of the UKL platform underpinning the present Mini vary, which suggests plug-in hybrid energy will probably be attainable, although it hasn’t been confirmed. The newest spy pictures present the Cooper S grade, which is able to seemingly proceed with a 2.0-liter turbo-4, although maybe with elevated efficiency from the present mannequin’s 189-hp score.

2025 Mini Countryman spy pictures – Photograph credit score: Baldauf

The approaching years will probably be busy for Mini because the model renews its lineup and provides new mannequin strains. A redesigned Countryman is due for the 2025 mannequin yr, and also will supply each fuel and electrical choices. It debuts later this yr and will probably be in-built Germany, a primary for a Mini. The present Countryman is constructed within the Netherlands.

Additionally due for the 2025 mannequin yr would be the Aceman, an electrical crossover smaller than the Countryman. It was previewed by final yr’s Aceman idea and can fill in for the Clubman which bows out after the 2024 mannequin yr.