Minimal Design, Massive Round Screen

1 min read

Mini has unveiled the new Cooper cabin, including featuring a start-up animation for the infotainment system. It adopts an aesthetic that updates the original Mini for the modern world.

The new Cooper has a radically simplified dashboard compared to the existing model (see comparison below). There are no more instruments behind the steering wheel, but a head-up display. The central circular display in the center includes the speedometer and infotainment tasks. The oval-shaped panel below the screen holds the physical controls.

Mini Cooper Interior Disclosure
Interior of the 2022 Mini Cooper Hardtop

The new steering wheel has a thicker grip at 2 and 10 o’clock. The multifunction button also looks more prominent.

The fabric on the dashboard has a gray gradient pattern on the driver’s side and transitions to a houndstooth pattern on the other end. Narrow gap holding HVAC vents.

When the Mini is turned on, ambient lighting illuminates the underside of the dashboard. The screen shows the brand emblem, then a yellow ball and a yellow ball that rotates before launching the screen.

Mini has already revealed the exterior of the new Cooper (above). Like the cabin, the body is simpler than the current model. The wide octagonal element is at the front, with a trapezoidal grille at the bottom. There are LEDs around the headlights and two horizontal bars.

Its profile is reminiscent of a revived BMW Mini from the early 2000s. However, the windshield has a steeper rake. The front and rear overhangs are quite short.

The rear has triangular taillights stacked on each side. A bar through the hatch has a model name. While the exhaust pipe is hidden on this car, spy shots of the Cooper S show it with a central outlet.

The new Mini Cooper comes with both electric and combustion powertrains, and they use different platforms. That The EV will come as the entry-level Cooper E with a front-mounted 181 horsepower electric motor and 40.7 kilowatt-hour battery offering an estimated range of 186 miles in the European WLTP test cycle. The Cooper SE has a 215-hp motor and 54.2-kWh package that provides 249 miles in the European evaluation.

Despite looking at the interior, exterior, and having details about the electric powertrain, Mini hasn’t said when the new Cooper will debut. Not much remains to be known.