Mini has lifted the curtain on the final combustion-engined iteration of its three-door hatchback, now designated the Cooper saying it has prioritised "agile handling, driving pleasure, safety and comfort".
Taking visual inspiration from the 1959 original, the hatch has been the mainstay of the Mini line-up since BMW relaunched the brand in 2000.
The fourth-generation model is all but identical to the new electric three-door visually but entirely unrelated mechanically.
While the electric car is based on a bespoke EV platform, the ICE car is a heavy update of the current model.
Indeed, it will offer the same two turbocharged petrol engines as the third-generation hatch, although with marked rises in output.
The 1.5-litre triple in the entry-level Cooper C gains 20bhp for a total of 154bhp, making it 0.4sec quicker from 0-62mph (taking 7.7sec) but 3.5mpg less economical.
This story is from the February 07, 2024 edition of Autocar UK.
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This story is from the February 07, 2024 edition of Autocar UK.
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