Mini’s electric portfolio is about to mushroom from one single model to a whole fleet of EVs. We’ve already met the new Countryman and Cooper hatch, and spy shots prove the Aceman crossover won’t be far behind. But combustion power isn’t about to disappear from Mini showrooms, at least not yet. These pictures give us our clearest look yet at the revised version of the ICE-engined John Cooper Works hot hatch that will be sold alongside a JCW-branded version of the new electric Cooper hatch. Unlike today’s electric Mini, which is an adapted version of the combustion car, the new EV destined for Europe for the 2025 model year, and the U.S. 12 months later, is built on a dedicated electric platform. So the two cars – ICE and EV – will be totally different under the skin.
But the facelifted gas-fuelled Mini is
borrowing some of the EVs’ styling cues to ensure the two strands of the Mini
hatch family do at least share a family resemblance. Most obviously, the
combustion Mini adopts the EV’s front and rear light units, which we can see
here undisguised on an ICE model for the first time.
To mimic the EV’s clean lines, the
range-topping JCW also appears to have dropped the central bonnet intake, a
styling cue that’s been part of the S and JCW packages for over 20 years. And
we expect the interior to borrow parts like the new circular OLED infotainment
screen. But this car still has the old-style arch extensions and pull-style
door handles, whereas the EV has sleeker, unadorned flanks and flush handles.
Where the ICE JCW could get one over on
its EV namesake is under the hood. Mini’s recent electric JCW announcement
revealed that the sportiest EV would in fact have exactly the same 215 hp as the SE. But the combustion JCW currently makes 228 hp from its 2.0-liter turbo four and there’s a good chance that Mini will squeeze
a few more ponies from the powertrain for the revised car in time for its
launch this spring.
