Mini Cooper Electric brings retro delight in new interior teaser

The new generation Mini EV boasts a centre-mount circular touchscreen and small toggle panel, echoing the original’s 1959 design.

Mini’s embracing a blend of retro with the digital modern for its next generation Cooper Electric cabins.

Images of the EV’s interior have now been shown, following the release of official pictures of the electric hatchback’s exterior in April.

The Cooper Electric isn’t set to go on sale until 2025, but the long tease is in full flow, and traditionalists will have much to cheer as the new cabin dips into Mini’s heritage for its design.

2023 Mini Cooper EV interior screen — A look inside the new Mini Cooper EV

1950s design with a futuristic twist

Back in 1959, the original Mini’s spartan interior’s most striking feature was its speedo mounted dead-centre in the dashboard.

In homage, the 2025 Cooper Electric will also use a central display, although of far greater proportions to the 1950s effort.

Large centre screen reminds us of an over-sized watchface

This 9.4-inch diameter circular touchscreen dominates the dashboard, housing all the vitals such as speed, electric range, navigation and audio.

As per the 1959 original, a central toggle panel at the base of the dashboard will be used. This houses climate control, audio volume and what appears to be a proper twisty starting key.

There are no gauges directly behind the steering wheel, but a head-up display is in line with the driver’s view.

Mini Electric Resolute 2022 interior dash — The current screen setup in the Mini Electric Resolute

The rest of the dashboard is coated with a funky fabric material and built-in LED lighting elements, likely to embrace Mini’s love of customising.

New Mini Electric: what can we expect?

The new Mini Cooper Electric will have its official unveiling at the IAA German car show in Munich this September.

The new generation car will see a marked improvement on the current Mini Electric and its disappointing 203km (WLTP) electric range.

2023 Mini Cooper EV front 3/4 static — We’ve already seen the outside of the upcoming Mini Cooper EV

Its 28.9kWh usable battery pack will make way for, it appears, either a 40kWh or 54kWh unit depending on grade. The latter would mean an expected range closer to a more palatable 400km.

As Chasing Cars previously reported, power for the new generation Cooper Electrics should be 160kW, while a higher power John Cooper Works (JCW) variant would likely follow.

The Cooper Electric will be built in China, its platform a joint development between BMW and Great Wall Motors.

For now, combustion engine Minis will continue to be built at the brand’s Oxford plant in England.