The next Cooper come as a petrol from the United Kingdom, and an electric from China.

AN $11,000 pricing gap is far from being the sole differentiator between petrol and electric editions of  the next-generation Mini Cooper - it’s now two distinct cars, from different parts of the world.

Because? The electric Mini is a ground-up new model built in China, on a new electric-car platform developed with Great Wall Motors (GWM). 

Whereas the petrol version is…? A facelift of car which has been on sale since 2014 – and already been restyled twice, in 2018 and 2021 that is sourcing from the United Kingdom.

Cannily, the incoming revision is more comprehensive than any facelift before it, with an all-new interior, and revised exterior styling to match the electric’s look, which is of course highly generic.

Overseas’ reports say developing another heavy update – rather than an all-new car – reduces costs, and allows Mini to focus its investment on new electric cars, before going electric-only after 2030.

Announcement of spending sight points allows potential customers plenty of time to sort their particular kind of the smallest car from BMW’s British brand, as supply of both doesn’t start until at least June.

If you need to go by badging, then the Cooper C and S are the petrol types, the Cooper E and SE the battery-wed formats. 

Alternately, you can pick the electric from the petrol from styling differences, including that the battery car has recessed door pulls whereas the petrol keeps the traditional protruding kind.

Key design cues spanning both include the front bumper design, distinctive triangular tail-lights, new wheels, and less rounded side mirrors.

The base petrol runs an inline three-cylinder engine making 115kW and 230Nm of torque, in marriage to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

The C comes in two trims, $49,990 Classic and Favoured. The first is the factory base line and delivers adaptive cruise control, augmented reality navigation, heated front seats, a panorama glass roof, and an interior camera. 

The latter comes with a $4k premium and takes a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system, electronically adjustable John Cooper Works seats, plus trim options including silver trim highlights and an Ocean Wave Green paint finish option.

The Cooper S kicking in at $56,990, has a 150kW/300Nm four-cylinder petrol, promising 0-100kmh in 6.6 seconds.

The S Classic has a six-speaker stereo system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and sport seats. A $5k Favoured enhancement  and $7k JCW Sport lift is available. The latter brings a bespoke steering wheel, upgraded brakes, sport stripes, hand shift paddle and adaptive suspension.

Prefer to be in ohm land? The Cooper E is the starter at $60,990. It has a front-mounted single electric motor fed by a 41kWh battery and outputting 135kW/290Nm. Mini cites a range of 305km of range,.

The E and $66,990 SE are basically also Classic and S trims.