The familiar front fascia is still there, but the rear end has been updated and the interior is minimalist.
Mini may have teased Cooper’s next-generation Cooper in the beginning of January, but that is all it has. wilcoblok has published surprisingly clear images of a prototype without any camouflage. These photos appear to be real and not Photoshop work. They show the hot hatch version, according to the S.
The S is finished in green and does not have the traditional dual exhaust tips. We believe that we are actually looking at an electric Cooper S, as the front grille is missing.
We are beginning to see that the rear is what surprises us most. Mini released teaser images showing a fully camouflaged prototype. We were tricked into thinking the test vehicle’s taillight shape was the same as the normal. It is completely different. It has a trapezoidal design and a black pattern that reminds us of a web spider.
The tailgate is adorned with the “Cooper S”, a thick black bar that extends across the width. The Mini logo is dark at the prototype’s front and back, unless it’s camouflage. It appears that the vehicle has all of its production parts and lights, with a rearview camera hanging from under the bar.
There’s more! The spy photos get even better when the photographer takes a peek inside to show a minimalist dashboard design. Although it doesn’t appear to have a digital instrument cluster or a head-up display, the dashboard does include a head-up display. The touchscreen is located in the center of the screen, with the large circle as its centerpiece. The bezels should be as thin as possible.
There are still some conventional controls located below the air vents. These control presumably allow for quick access to the climate settings. There is also camouflage visible on the door cards, and possibly the dashboard. The seats and armrests between them can be seen, as well as the three-spoke steering wheels and at least one stalk.
This is the hardtop model. However, a convertible was already confirmed for 2025. These spy photos show the S trim. A John Cooper Works version will be available soon. The hatch won’t be on the market until 2023 so it will take some time before it is officially revealed.