Yes, it was SE. It’s not fully-electric.
It’s hard to miss the Mini in spy photos of the new Mini. This Cooper five-door is the result of a gradual evolution in brand design direction over the years. The Mini, like the three-door, is receiving minor cosmetic changes. This one might be able to offer something more. We’ll get to that later.
On June 29, we saw three-door test cars, though only one of the five-doors was in that fleet. This was a head-on shot, so it didn’t give us a good view of the vehicle in profile. Expect a modified front fascia, with a larger grille. Vertical vents will be located at the corners. This could possibly house LED driving lamps. The familiar rear-exit exhaust is still there, but the mesh insert is higher up on the fascia. The reflectors have been moved, and that’s it.
These changes are only for the Cooper S model. But is it a Cooper S? The Cooper S badge can be clearly seen on the rear hatch. However, our spy sources think that there is more to it than meets the eye. This prototype may not have the turbocharged four-pot of 189 horsepower (141 kW) but could instead be equipped with the plug-in hybrid powertrain from the CountrymanSE. This could mean that the engine can produce 220 horsepower (164 kW) from gasoline or electric power.
This is our first glimpse of the hybrid powertrain. Mini could be able to offer this electrified configuration in a performance package, which could allow Mini to meet strict WLTP regulations. The five-door might also provide more practicality for efficiency-minded buyers. The PHEV could also retain the Cooper S designation on the tailgate. This could be a typical Cooper S.
Mini may be able to go public with the updated lineup in any event.