Good news for all Mini fans: Mini is on the verge of launching two new models in India. These will be the sporty Cooper S hatchback and the electric Countryman E. The launch date is set for 24th July, and if you want to, you can already book them at Mini dealerships. This is the company's first electric Countryman, so we're excited to see what Mini has packed in it. Let us look at what we know so far:
The Mini Countryman Electric
Design
The Mini Countryman Electric's underpinnings are the same platform as the BMW iX1. The front has a fresh design, including an octagon-shaped grille, rectangular headlights, and fresh LED DRLs. The rear has a new tailgate and tail lights.
Interior
Stepping inside the car, you will find characteristic Mini features like the 9.5-inch circular OLED infotainment panel and an aesthetic similar to the Mini Cooper. Instead of a regular instrument cluster, Mini has opted for a heads-up display for the Countryman.
Powertrain
Under the hood of the Countryman Electric is an electric motor that can churn out 201 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. This motor can help it reach 100 kmph from a still start in 8.6 seconds. There is also a higher power variant that can produce a power output of 309 bhp and 494 Nm of torque from two motors. In both setups, the power is derived from a 66.45 kWh battery pack that Mini claims gives a range of 462 km. It will be interesting to see if Mini opts to offer both these powertrains to the Indian market or stick to only the single-motor version.
Price and Rivals
As it will be a Completely Built Unit (CBU), we expect the Countryman Electric to be priced around Rs 79 Lakh (ex-showroom). It will compete with the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, BMW iX1, and Volvo XC40 Recharge.
Mini Cooper S
Along with the Countryman electric, we expect the fourth generation of the Cooper S to make its way to Indian shores. The changes in this generation are not very significant but easy to notice from the inside out.
Design
It retains the signature round headlights and couples them with an octagonal look on the outside. The rear gets tail lights inspired by the Union Jack.
Interior
The Cooper S takes a clean approach on the inside, with the highlight being the circular display in the centre that doubles as the instrument cluster and infotainment system. Here, you will find all the car's essential information.
Powertrain
The powertrain front does not see any changes, as the Cooper S will be powered by the same 2.0L, 4-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that was fitted in the outgoing Cooper S. It offers a power output of 201 bhp along with 300 Nm of torque, a 26 bhp and 20 Nm increase over the 3rd generation. Mated to this engine is a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The 0-100 acceleration figure of the Cooper S stands at 6.6 seconds.
Price and Competition
We expect the new Cooper S to be priced higher than the previous generation's 42.70 Lakh (ex-showroom). While it enjoys the unique position of having no direct rivals, it competes with the entry-level models of the German trio of Mercedes, Audi, and BMW.
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