Few automotive brands seem more ripe for electrification than Mini. The UK automaker's unique lineup of small, nimble vehicles would benefit greatly from the switch the electric motors, which provide instant acceleration at city speeds. Though the Mini Cooper SE is an affordable electric vehicle, it only packs 181 horsepower and a 110-mile range. We'd like to see an electric John Cooper Works model, but based on the latest spy shots, such a model is still far away.
Our photographers recently spotted what they believe to be the 2024 Mini John Cooper Works Hardtop. It's unclear if this will be an all-new model based on the upcoming next-generation Cooper or a further facelift of the existing model. One thing is clear though; it will have an internal combustion engine.
Mini is currently developing two Cooper models. One will be a heavily modified version of the existing car built in the UK and powered by gasoline, diesel, or electricity, while the other will be manufactured in China with electric motors only. This new JCW version exists in the former camp, likely using the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in today's model. We'd expect a power increase over the current model, which produces 228 horsepower.
The test mule is clearly not electric, as it features a gas cap and exhaust pipe in the back. This prototype looks more like the current Mini Hardtop than the leaked next-generation model, though that could just be the camouflage playing tricks along with some pre-production body panels.
The exterior will retain the same overall size, but we expect more significant changes inside. Mini will add a new round screen in the dashboard and replace the shifter knob with buttons in the automatic models. This new model will be more minimalist inside with fewer physical controls. The new Mini Cooper will likely debut later this year as a 2023 model year vehicle with the JCW model arriving next year as a 2024 model. If that doesn't float your boat, then Mini is now offering classic Mini owners the chance to electrify their rides.