Mini gets serious about electric power for 2025 with the release of all-new EV versions of the Countryman and the Mini hatch, which has been renamed the Mini Cooper. It’s all part of the brand’s push towards going EV-only in 2030. But the end of the decade is still years away, so Mini is also refreshing today’s combustion-powered two-door hatch to sell alongside the new EV.
We’ve scooped the facelifted ICE cars a few times, but now that we’re potentially only a few months away from the 2025 model-year launch, the R&D team is using newer, more finished prototypes that effectively peel back the disguise to give us a clearer look at what’ll be on the menu for diehard petrol fans next fall.
Until recently, all of these prototypes had a simple drilled placeholder panel fastened to where the grille should be, but last month we spied a five-door in what looked like lowly Cooper-spec, with multiple thin horizontal slats in the upper and lower grilles. Judging by the latest spy shots seen on this page, we’re now looking at high-performance John Cooper Works variants of the hatch and convertible, and they have a different design at the front.
Related: Electric 2025 Mini Cooper SE Gets John Cooper Works Looks, But No Extra Grunt
Instead of two slats in the upper section of the grille, the JCW cars have a single, fatter one that, together with the boxy lower air intakes, gives the nose a tougher demeanor. Other JCW styling details include the rear diffuser with a single, centrally-mounted exhaust tailpipe and a large roof spoiler on the tin-top car. But neither car features the non-functional hood scoop from today’s Cooper S and JCW.
Although the facelift borrows the new EV’s triangular rear lights and circular OLED infotainment screen, the ICE and electric cars are entirely different underneath, and run on different platforms. The gas-powered JCW is likely to feature the same basic 2.0-liter turbocharged engine as the 2024 version, though Mini will probably liberate a few more horses than the 228 (231 PS) the current car sends to the front wheels. Sadly, it seems like the only method of sending it will be via an eight-speed automatic transmission because Mini is killing off the manual option after 2024.
