Core car now purely a battery baby, bigger family model keeps petrol alternates.

REINTERPRETING the famous MINI look still doesn’t seem to be too much of a challenge to brand stylists.

The covers have come off the latest new family members, the Cooper and Countryman, both revealing sharper looks as they more fully embrace the electric age.

BMW New Zealand has already confirmed intent to take these models but has yet announce release timings.

Going into its fifth model generation, the Cooper has shown in its three-door format in E and SE variants but the name is not bespoke to just that. Cooper refers to the five-door models as well, plus the Convertible. It is no longer used as an engine specification.

The 135kW electric motor in the Cooper E generates torque of 290Nm and accelerates the vehicle from standstill to 100kmh in 7.3 seconds. With an output of 160kW/350Nm, the Cooper SE sprints from 0-100kmh in 6.7 seconds. Respective ranges determined in the WLTP test cycle are 305 and 402 kilometres, the latter the benefit of it having a a larger capacity battery, rated at 54.2kWh.

When it comes to charging, the Cooper Electric E gets 11kW AC and 75kW DC capability. In the case of the SE, that DC charging rate increases to 95kW, meaning that a charge from 10 to 80 percent can be achieved in under 30 minutes for both cars.

With an additional six centimetres in height and 13 centimetres in length, the Countryman has grown noticeably compared to its predecessor. The base format takes a 150kW/250Nm electric motor, with 0-100kmh in 8.6 seconds cited, while the ALL4 dual motor type has 230kW/494Nm, and a 0-100kmh time of 5.6s. WLTP ranges are  determined at 462km for the entry E and 433km for the ALL4.

Both plainly evidence a huge amount of styling revision, with a lot of fresh twists that bring cleaner looks and more aerodynamic efficiency. One example of the latter on the Cooper are new door handles sitting flush with the bodywork. An extended wheelbase boosts interior space and enhances that car's proportions as the wheels appear further towards each corner than before.

MINI says it has made the interiors feel more homely through the use of textiles, many from recycled materials, on the doors and dashboard. 

Both take the same instrumentation design, comprising a circular OLED display in the middle of the dashboard while the MINI Operating System 9 adds more voice control and personalisation. 

That extends to the system's graphics that change according to the chosen mode. Owners can even upload and set their favourite photos as the home screen background. An optional 5G connection brings always-online features to the car, including information about chargers, traffic jams and even games that can be played while the vehicle is charging.

Those trademark chunky toggle switches remain; one now represents as a drive selector for the automatic transmission, selectable driving modes and the start button.

Interior ambient lighting appears beneath the dashboard and on the doors, and it can also project patterns of light onto the top of the dashboards via projectors hidden behind the OLED screen. 

The Cooper’s boot space measures 200 litres, expanding to 800 litres when the rear seats are folded down, but of course the Countryman is the space ace. 

Adding further practicality to this model is an adjustable rear seat bench. Capable of sliding forward or back over 130 millimetres, it can provide either more legroom for passengers in the rear or increased boot volume. Furthermore, the backrests of the three rear seats can each be adjusted in six positions covering 12 degrees. The boot volume is 460 litres and can expand to 1450 litres when the rear seats are folded. An optional electrically retractable towing hitch is rated to pull up to 1200kg.

Charging the Countryman's battery shouldn't take too long, thanks to 22kW AC and 130kW DC maximum charging rates. The latter means that a 10 to 80 per cent recharge can be done in under 30 minutes in ideal circumstances. A linked navigation system that can optimise the battery temperature when it is navigating to a fast-charging station.

For those not yet ready to go electric, Countryman will also continue with petrol engines, including a 126kW Countryman C with front-wheel drive and two all-wheel-drive 'All4' versions - the 162kW Countryman S and the 223kW Countryman JCW.