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Mini has unveiled the revamped Cooper Electric at the 2023 IAA auto show in Munich, Germany. The two-door hatchback is new for the 2025 model year and features updated styling, a more premium interior, and a larger battery pack than the previous-generation model.A gasoline-powered variant is expected to debut later wearing the same look but with a turbocharged engine under the hood.Fresh-faced and with improved eco-friendly street cred, the 2025 Mini Cooper Electric hatchback has debuted with more power, more range, and more dazzle. Unveiled alongside the Mini Countryman Electric, the two new models mark the start of a new generation for the brand. The hatchback’s styling is distinctively Mini, but with clean lines and neater proportions. The real improvements are just beneath the surface. Its interior is layered with upgrades too, and the mechanicals underneath promise to make it more competitive in the EV marketplace.Cheerful CabinWhile we don’t expect to see much more passenger space than the current-generation Cooper, the new car features a more premium interior. A simplified design removes clutter from the center console and dashboard, while richer materials are used throughout for a more upscale ambiance. Mega Details on the New Mini CooperThe centerpiece of the Cooper Electric’s cabin is a large, circular display screen, which runs Mini’s next-generation infotainment interface. This OLED panel provides crisp graphics and a customizable appearance. For example, users can upload their own photos to the system to create unique backgrounds.A fabric-lined dashboard hides LEDs that provide ambient lighting that change based on which drive mode the car is in. Of course, Mini’s signature toggle switches remain on the dashboard, but these too have been pared down with simplicity in mind. Overall, the interior is a nicer place to spend time, a good thing considering drivers will likely need to utilize public charging infrastructure. And if you’re sitting inside waiting for the car to charge, the Cooper Electric can entertain you with downloadable video games to play using that center-mounted display.Mended Mechanicals The Cooper Electric will be offered in two strengths: E and SE, with the entry-level version getting a 181-hp electric motor and the upgraded model getting juiced to 215 horsepower. Both are front-wheel drive and it’s not clear yet whether the U.S. market will get both, or just the more powerful SE. We’ve had a chance to drive a prototype, and the Cooper’s playful handling is retained in the new model. Mini says the E is capable of hitting 62 mph in 7.3 seconds and the SE will complete the same task in 6.7, but we managed a 6.1-second run to 60 mph in the current model—which makes 181 horsepower—so we think both of those estimates are conservative.Our biggest gripe about the current Cooper Electric is its disappointing driving range, which comes in at an EPA-rated 114 miles per charge. This new version benefits from far larger battery packs. The current Cooper SE that’s sold in the U.S. has a 28.9-kWh battery pack, but the new version gets a 58.4-kWh unit. That should boost the driving range to about 200 miles per charge, which is still less than other EVs such as the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the Tesla Model 3, but brings the Mini closer to contention.While Mini is focusing first on launching the EV variant of its new Cooper hatchback, the company told Car and Driver that gasoline-powered models will continue to be part of the portfolio. Mini has even confirmed plans for a revived John Cooper Works performance edition. We expect the turbocharged three- and four-cylinder engines used in the current generation car to carry over to the redesigned 2025 models, but we’ll find out more closer to the car’s launch in North America. That timing, we suspect, could be as early as next spring.Managing Editor, Buyer’s GuideDrew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson. He has dreamed of becoming a Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream that was realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a born-and-raised Michigander and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and luxury SUVs.       More

Mini’s next-generation Countryman SUV debuts as an electric crossover with a range of up to 240 miles per charge. The new Countryman Electric wears a sharper exterior design, more minimalistic interior styling, and drops “Cooper” from its name. While a gasoline-powered version is said to be on the way. Mini is focusing first on the launch of the electrified model.Debuting alongside a redesigned Cooper hatchback, the 2025 Countryman SUV marks a turning point for the Mini brand. Not only is it the first time that the company has released EV models ahead of their gasoline-powered counterparts, but it’s also the start of a model year where every Mini model is essentially all new. Not to mention it’s the first time the model will not wear the Cooper name, with the company opting this time around to simply call it the Mini Countryman. That simplification is part of a larger minimalist strategy with the revitalized Mini lineup, as both the Countryman and Cooper—the brand’s two core models—have received design makeovers that are less visually cluttered than before.Mechanical Minutiae A longer wheelbase and larger exterior dimensions stretch the definition of what we’d consider Mini, but the Countryman isn’t jumping up into the mid-size-SUV class. Two models will be offered—although we aren’t sure if both will make the trip across the Atlantic to our shores—with the front-wheel-drive E model coming with a 201-hp electric motor and the all-wheel-drive SE All4 version coming with two motors that combine for 308 horsepower. As before, the Countryman remains primarily an on-road vehicle, although, with more ground clearance than its Cooper sibling, it’s the one to choose if you do need to traverse anything more than a dirt road. With the more potent powertrain, Mini says the Countryman SE will hit 62 mph in 5.6 seconds but its range estimate is an estimated 225 miles per charge. The E is pokier, with a 62-mph time of 8.6 seconds, but its range is slightly higher at an estimated 240 miles. More on Mini’s Fresh New LineupRange Is Just OkayIf those range times don’t seem particularly impressive, it’s because they aren’t. Rivals that are already on the market can offer even more driving per charge. The Kia Niro EV, another high-style small SUV, offers an estimated range of 253 miles per charge, and the Tesla Model Y offers up to 330 miles of range.At a preview event in Germany, Mini told Car and Driver that the SE All4 model will come with a 64.7-kWh battery pack that will be able to accept DC fast-charging at up to 130 KW. The Countryman Electric will also be able to charge on a home AC connection too, at speeds up to 22 KW.Details on the gasoline-powered Countryman haven’t been announced yet, but we suspect it’ll receive the same powertrain options as the previous-generation Countryman. That would mean a 134-hp turbocharged three-cylinder engine or an 189-hp turbo four on the S trim. The plug-in-hybrid variant isn’t likely to return given the availability of the Countryman Electric.Fashion Forward The Countryman’s revised styling is both fresh and instantly recognizable as a Mini, with a bold frame around the front grille, trapezoidal headlamps, and taillamps sporting the Union Jack flag. The S E trim shown in the photos here combines pale green paint with rose gold accents for a pleasing, upscale effect. A floating roof design mimics that of the Cooper hatchback, but a chunky-looking C-pillar dips down almost to the lower window line and sports a bold All4 logo on the show car. Body surfacing is more sharply creased than before, and there are more rugged design cues such as faux skid plates on the lower parts of the front and rear bumpers. Big chrome letters spell out Countryman across the rear liftgate, which is a holdover from the previous model, but the font size and spacing emphasize the new Countryman’s width. Big wheels with rose gold spokes complete the look, and overall, the new styling is more upscale than the previous generation model.The cabin design mimics that of the Cooper, with a minimalistic take on Mini’s traditional styling. The focal point of the interior design is sure to be the large, round display screen that serves as both infotainment and gauge display. Like the Cooper, the Countryman benefits from Mini’s new software interface and provides a ton of opportunity for personalization.A bank of toggle switches remain on the dashboard, but they’ve been simplified, and the dashboard itself is adorned with a fabric trim panel that is backlit at night by ambient lighting elements. Those elements, by the way, can change color and shape depending on which drive mode is selected.More fabric trim pieces can be found on the Countryman’s door panels, and in the show car the doors feature a pattern of gold fabric that blends with teal in a sort of ombre pattern that looks quite nice, especially offset against rose gold metal accents. Mini says more sustainable materials have been utilized this time around, including recycled polyester for interior upholstery and carpets. Furthermore, the electric motors that power the Countryman use no rare-earth minerals.On-Sale Dates Still ApproximateMini hasn’t announced when the Countryman Electric will officially go on sale in the U.S. but we suspect it’ll launch here in 2024 as a 2025 model. The first models could reach Mini dealerships as early as next spring. The gasoline-powered Countryman, as well as the new Cooper hatchback, should go on sale around the same time. A third model, the upcoming Aceman electric crossover, will join the lineup as well. Mini says the Aceman will debut in April 2024, and we suspect it will get the same electric powertrains as the Countryman. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Managing Editor, Buyer’s GuideDrew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson. He has dreamed of becoming a Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream that was realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a born-and-raised Michigander and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and luxury SUVs.       More

Tesla surprised Europeans tonight with the reveal of the refreshed Model 3 electric sedan.Sleeker exterior styling, a luxed-up cabin, and more standard features are all coming to the popular electric car.While European buyers are said to be receiving the first deliveries in October, Tesla buyers in the U.S. are likely to see the revamped Model 3 appear on the company’s ordering website next.Consider this the summer the Tesla Model 3 turned pretty. The 2024 Model 3 has made its debut in Europe, and it’s sporting a sleeker front end, a quieter cabin with fancier materials, and desirable new features. Gone is the fish-like front end. In its place is a pair of squintier headlamps and a smoothed-out front bumper that’s free of foglamps. TeslaThe rear end receives updated taillamps with bright LED elements, and the Model 3’s wheel designs are all-new as well. While the changes aren’t drastic—this is a mid-cycle refresh, not an entirely new design—the improvement in the styling is noticeable. On the InsideInterior changes are more thorough and include a redesigned dashboard with integrated ambient lighting, a full-length vent tucked into the center, and a revised steering wheel that has dropped the blinker and transmission stalks. A minimalist mindset was again taken in the redesign of the cabin, but the interior material quality is said to be better than before. Tesla has also added more sound-deadening materials throughout the cabin and has introduced more acoustic glass, both of which should keep out more road noise.Check out the 2024 Tesla Model 3’s updated interior design.’ Two smartphone charging pads have been squeezed into the center console design and the 14-speaker stereo that came on last year’s model has been swapped for a 17-speaker one. The faux-leather upholstery has been upgraded throughout the cabin too, and now features perforations in the material; heated and ventilated front seats are now offered as standard.The Latest Tesla NewsThe central infotainment/gauge display screen remains the focal point of the cabin, but a smaller, 8.0-inch touchscreen has been added to the back of the center console for rear-seat passengers. That screen allows those in the back to make changes to the climate control and entertainment system and also can double as a screen for watching movies.TeslaWhere’s the Performance Model?Both a single-motor rear-wheel drive model and a dual-motor all-wheel drive variant are listed on Tesla’s European consumer website while the Performance model that’s currently offered stateside is suspiciously missing. Despite the changes to the Model 3’s styling and interior features, the Model 3’s driving range is expected to be the same as last year’s model. That would mean 272 miles for the single-motor rear-wheel-drive version and 333 miles for the dual-motor all-wheel-drive version. TeslaSince Tesla has not announced the vehicle for the U.S. market yet, we may have to wait to find out exactly when production will start and how much the refreshed Model 3 will cost. Tesla is known for being unpredictable with changes to its lineup, but we’re guessing we’ll see a U.S.-spec version debut before the end of 2023, with deliveries starting sometime in early 2024. What’s more, this could signal a coming redesign for the Model 3’s SUV sibling, the Model Y.Managing Editor, Buyer’s GuideDrew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson. He has dreamed of becoming a Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream that was realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a born-and-raised Michigander and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and luxury SUVs.       More

Fisker promises small and large battery options, estimating 180-mile and 320-mile ranges.The production-intent Pear will be on display at the IAA show in Munich this September.The Pear will start at $29,900 before incentives.Fisker’s upcoming Pear electric subcompact SUV won’t enter production until the middle of 2025, but it’s clear the automaker is intent on getting the hype train to full speed ahead well before that point. Fisker announced a whole bunch of new facts and figures about the 2026 Pear, which is slated to begin U.S. manufacturing in July. As it promised before, the company believes it will offer the Pear with a starting price of $29,900 before incentives. Before that, we’ll see a production-intent Pear next month, when it will put one on display at its Fisker Lounge store in Munich.Official specs are still a ways away, but Fisker promises the Pear will be offered with both short- and long-range battery options. These batteries are aiming for WLTP range estimates of 180 and 320 miles, respectively. Since Europe’s WLTP range calculations are often higher than what the EPA does here in the U.S., those numbers could be a little lower for stateside Pears. It should be available in both rear- and all-wheel drive configurations, too, with the base model reaching 60 mph in a manufacturer-estimated 6.3 seconds. If that’s not enough vim for you, Fisker is also promising a Pear Extreme, which will focus exclusively on outright performance.Full Details and SpecsLounge ModeAs we learned before, the Pear will be offered in both five- and six-passenger layouts, the latter coming by way of a front bench seat that replaces individual buckets. There’ll be a Lounge mode, which will fold all the seats flat for resting and relaxing, and an optional 17.1-inch rotating display will provide the entertainment.One of the wilder parts of the Pear is the EV’s unique storage options. The front trunk can be insulated for temperature-sensitive storage, but the real theater is around back, where a traditional liftgate makes way for a retractable trunk panel. We’ve already seen it in action, but Fisker promises its operation will be even faster when the car reaches production. The Pear’s exterior camera mirrors are “still under review,” according to Fisker.FiskerFiskerThe Pear made its in-person debut in early August as part of a larger Fisker event detailing the automaker’s future product lineup. The Pear will be built on a lightweight, low-cost platform that the automaker promises will feature a 35-percent parts reduction versus traditional manufacturing. But there’s a lot that can happen between now and 2025.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorCars are Andrew Krok’s jam, along with boysenberry. After graduating with a degree in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009, Andrew cut his teeth writing freelance magazine features, and now he has a decade of full-time review experience under his belt. A Chicagoan by birth, he has been a Detroit resident since 2015. Maybe one day he’ll do something about that half-finished engineering degree. More