2024 electric Mini Cooper gets drastic range improvements thanks to redesign
Recently, Mini released some of the details surrounding the 2024 Mini Cooper E and SE electric vehicle refresh. Instead of being an electric drive train crammed into an ICE chassis, the new Cooper lineup was designed around a battery and electric motors.
This electric-first design has made for some impressive range numbers for the Cooper Electric and Cooper SE Electric. The 2024 Mini Cooper E will be fitted with a 40.1kWh battery, while the Mini Cooper SE will have 54.2 kWh at its disposal. Mini expects the new electric Cooper lineup to deliver "between 300 and 400 km" (186 to 248 miles) of range. Based on the battery specifications, the Mini Cooper SE will be the one with 248 miles of range, and the Mini Cooper E will have the shorter 186-mile rating.
Another benefit of being designed around an electric system is the space savings. One big criticism of last year's electric Mini Coopers was the small interior volume and cramped rear seats. For 2024, Mini has managed to increase the interior volume of the Cooper E and SE by putting the battery in the floor, somewhat alleviating the cramped feeling. More importantly than the interior space, though, is the driving experience. By lowering the centre of gravity of the 2024 Cooper E and Cooper SE, Mini should be able to deliver an even more fun and engaging driving experience that the Cooper family is already so well known for.
The 2024 Mini Cooper E and larger Cooper SE come with similar power figures to last year. The Cooper E will put down 135 kW (181 hp), while the Cooper SE will deliver 160 kW (214 hp) to the front wheels. Interestingly, Mini saw a 25.5% increase in sales of the the Cooper SE in 2022 — and that was when it had much less range. Mini hasn't announced the exact pricing of all the trims just yet, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect it to start somewhere close to the outgoing US$30,900 Cooper Electric.
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