Hey Mini! New petrol-powered Cooper gets a personal assistant    

Mini enthusiasts might still be gnashing their teeth after the launch of the electric Mini Cooper and Countryman last year. But the BMW-owned brand has a balm to soothe those wounds: it’s new Mini Cooper with a petrol powertrain.  

Available with a choice of engine; the four-cylinder, 204 hp Cooper S gives a zippier ride with 0-62 mph in just 6.6 seconds, and 220 lb/ft of torque.  The Cooper C houses a little less power, the 156 hp, three-cylinder engine, capable of 170 lb/ft torque, reaches 0-62 mph in 7.7 seconds. Both models have been complemented with powerful brakes and a suspension and damping system designed for precise handing. Ultimately, notes Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI, the new model is “ideal for all those people who want to drive a classic MINI 3-door and appreciate the traditional performance and characteristic sound of a combustion engine.” We’re sold. 

This definitely feels like a Mini for the purists, and this is echoed in Mini’s modern update on classic colour lines: the all-new Sunny Side Yellow and Ocean Wave Green. There’s no shady business here when it comes to naming the tones either, they feel like something out of a Farrow & Ball brochure, unlike the marketing spiel in these five car colour names. 

If you’d rather not have the same paintwork as your neighbour, the exclusive trim includes British Racing Green exterior paint paired with Nightshade Blue interior in Vescin (vegan friendly leather). Those who opt for the exclusive package can upgrade the 17” U Spoke Silver wheels to one of two 18” wheel designs.  

Buyers looking to bring the fiesty back into the mini might plump for the Sport Trim, with Sports Transmission through shift paddles on the steering wheel and rear spoiler with airblades. For a little extra fire, owners can adorn the roof in Chili Red with red and black bonnet stripes – at least you wouldn’t lose it in the multistorey car park. 18” JCW Lap Spoke 2-Tone Alloy wheels come as part of the package alongside JCW-marked brake callipers.  

“Hey Mini!” triggers Mini’s first-ever Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA) on its 24cm OLED display, where all car functions are controlled. Once activated, drivers can use the IPA to control navigation, phone connections, and entertainment. 

Sitting with a £22,300 price tag, it’s a healthier number than the electric Cooper, which sits between £29,000 and £37,000 depending on model – and packages. We feel the electric Cooper managed to give the iconic, go-kart feeling, but we’re not against a choice of powertrain. How do you feel about the new petrol-powered Mini Cooper? Are you pleased Mini returned to its roots?