- The 2025 Mini Cooper Hardtop family has been revealed with a more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and a base price under $30K.
- The Mini Cooper S hatchback now makes 201 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque; details about the base engine will be released later this year.
- Mini is also waiting to drop details about the convertible body style and the hi-po JCW model, but it says there are no plans to offer a manual transmission.
UPDATE 3/26/24: Mini today revealed the North American version of the 2025 Mini Cooper S Hardtop before the New York auto show. Its styling is nearly identical to the European version, however, U.S.-spec cars are split between Classic and Favored trims that have different paint colors and interior options. Mini also confirmed a special three-tone roof will be available later this year, and it will be exclusive to U.S. customers. Production of the 2025 Cooper S started this month, with first deliveries scheduled to arrive at dealerships in May.
The quirky Mini Cooper Hardtop is the British marque’s most iconic model, and for 2025 the two-door hatchback enters its fifth generation. We’ve already seen its new design, which looks like an even more modern take on the car’s classic shape. The company has also revealed details about the electric Mini Cooper that makes up to 215 horsepower and should have an estimated range around 200 miles. Folks who want to avoid any EV-induced range anxiety can opt for the new gas-powered variant, which today has been revealed with a mightier engine.
Gas-Fed Mini Coopers
The Mini Cooper Hardtop will be sold in the U.S. as a base model and a sportier S variant. Both will feature a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, however, the company has only announced power figures for the Mini Cooper S hatchback. It now makes 201 horses and 221 pound-feet of torque, which represent increases of 12 and 14, respectively, compared with the outgoing version. Mini estimates the S will accelerate to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.
Car and Driver reached out to a Mini spokesperson regarding power figures for the non-S model, who said that information won’t be released until later this year. Of course, it’s safe to assume that since the company will no longer offer the turbocharged three-cylinder in the U.S. market, the newly standard turbo four should at least exceed the 134 horses produced by the previous generation’s base engine. Plus, there’s a new 154-hp turbo three that will be sold overseas on the Mini Cooper C. So consider that the bogey.
Mini also confirmed to us that the seven-speed automatic transmission will be standard on the front-wheel-drive hatch. Unfortunately, we were told that the six-speed manual option that returned briefly for the 2024 model year on Hardtop models is currently not in the plans for the next generation of Mini Cooper models.
We were told to expect more information on the upcoming convertible body style and the high-performance JCW model to be released this October. That will be about a month after the 2025 Mini Cooper and Cooper S Hardtops hit dealerships in early September. The former will have a starting price of $29,945 (up $3150 from last year’s base model), while the latter will see its starting price rise from just over $30K last year to $33,195.
Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.
Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
