Ahead of a third quarter 2024 Australian release, the petrol-powered 2025 Mini Cooper has been revealed. Unlike the electric Cooper revealed last year, the ICE version rides on an upgraded version of the current shape model’s platform but it looks almost identical from the outside with the new model’s exterior and interior largely carried over to the petrol model. However, the platform and drivetrains have been upgraded from the current Cooper, while the interior is also new.
“At Mini, ‘Power of Choice´ means that in addition to all-electric Mini models, we also offer models such as the new MINI Cooper with a petrol engine.”
“The car is ideal for all those people who want to drive a classic MINI 3 door and appreciate the traditional performance and characteristic sound of a combustion engine,” says Stefanie Wurst, head of Mini.
Using the same platform as the current model – but heavily updated – full dimensions for the 2025 Mini Cooper are yet to be revealed. The electric Cooper is 3,858mm long – or 11mm shorter than the current three-door model – for reference, but it’s not yet known if the petrol models will share the EV’s dimensions. However, the exterior and interior styling are largely identical, though the petrol model carries over the current model’s door handles versus the EV’s flush units. It’s boot space ranges from 210-litres with the seats up – 10L larger than the electric model – to 800L with them folded.
Under the bonnet of the 2025 Mini Cooper range are two familiar turbocharged petrol engine options: a 115kW/230Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit in the Cooper C and a larger 150kW/300Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit in the Cooper S. Both engines are more powerful than their equivalents in the current Mini and like that car, use a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that sends power to the front wheels only. Unlike the previous model, there is no manual transmission globally, unfortunately.
As with the electric model, the petrol 2025 Mini Cooper has earned an all-new interior with a very minimalist and – from the pictures supplied, at least – high quality layout. At the centre is a new 9.4-inch OLED central screen with Mini’s new Operating System 9 infotainment software, which features shortcut buttons towards the bottom of the screen for easier use, as well as a new voice assistant through the prompt “hey Mini”. It also features an inbuilt eSIM for live services and over-the-air updates.
Elsewhere in the cabin of the 2025 Mini Cooper is a new steering wheel, while the typical Mini toggle switches have been redesigned and reused as the drive modes, the gear selector, a “key” to turn on the engine, a volume knob and buttons for the demisters and hazard warning lights. There’s a wireless phone charger at the bottom of the dashboard as well, while there are graphics on the dashboard that are illuminated by two projector units for cool looking ambient lighting.
The 2025 Mini Cooper’s active safety equipment has been expanded as well thanks to the use of both a camera and a radar, with new features including lane keeping assistance (in addition to the warning of the current shape model) and safe exit assist, which delays unlocking the doors if traffic is detected.
Carryover safety kit includes auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and auto high beam.
The 2025 Mini Cooper C and S are due to go on sale in Australia in the third quarter of 2024, with local pricing and specifications to be confirmed before then. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.
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