Mini Cooper SE 2024 spy shots: updated electric hatchback spotted

A redesigned Mini hardtop will be available in 2023 as a 2024 model, and a prototype has been spotted.

This prototype is a redesigned version of the Cooper SE electric variant, but prototypes of the redesigned Cooper and Cooper S versions with internal combustion engines should also be out testing.

The design of the new fourth-generation hardtop appears to be a clear evolution of the modern Mini design from earlier in the century, but the tailgate design, which features sharp cutouts framing the taillights, differs significantly.

Another important design departure is the cabin, where a single panel appears to house the screens for both the instrument cluster and the infotainment hub. Mini has hinted that a new digital dash will replace the current hardtop's separate instrument cluster and round center display.

It is not clear what Mini plans for the powertrain. The current Cooper SE is powered by a 181-horsepower motor and a 32.6-kilowatt-hour battery, and the EPA claims a range of 110 miles. Expect these figures to improve for the new model. Interestingly, Mini has confirmed that it is working on an electric powertrain for the sporty John Cooper Works variant, but the timing is unknown.

Supporting the redesigned hardtop should be BMW Group's FAAR platform for front-wheel drive vehicles. This is an evolution of the UKL platform that underpins the current generation and should be the last platform to support the internal combustion engine used by Mini. Like many automakers in the premium segment, Mini plans to go fully electric by the end of the decade.

Production of the new hardtop will take place at the BMW Group plant in Oxford, U.K., where the current hardtop is produced; a four-door hardtop is a possibility, but Mini has yet to confirm its plans. A related convertible is also a possibility.

The next few years will be busy for Mini as the brand refreshes its lineup and adds a new model line developed by Spotlight Automotive, a Chinese joint venture between Mini and Great Wall Motor established in 2019.

The Countryman, which will be redesigned in 2023, will offer both internal combustion and electric vehicle options, as will a new hardtop. We also know that two more crossovers will join the lineup. One will be an EV-only vehicle similar in size to the Countryman, to be developed by the Spotlight joint venture, scheduled for release in 2023 and possibly reviving the Paceman name. The other is expected to be larger than the Countryman and offer internal combustion and electric options. This model should appear in 2024.