Mini supersizes, electrifies product lineup

Compact carmaker Mini is upsizing its product lineup while downsizing its carbon emissions.

The Countryman crossover goes all-electric in the U.S. in September. The Countryman leads a wave of battery-powered models launching globally as Mini seeks to go fully electric by early next decade.

Two China-made battery-electric vehicles — the Aceman and a Cooper SE replacement — launch this year globally.

Mini has not announced plans to bring the EVs to the U.S., but it is likely once production expands to Mini's Oxford, England, factory in the second half of 2026.

The Mini convertible will be redesigned in the first half of next year and be followed by a zero-emission model in 2027.

Aceman: The compact crossover slots below the Countryman and debuts an all-electric platform and a modern design.

The Aceman replaces the discontinued Clubman and is the first Mini to be sold only as a battery-electric vehicle. The five-seat crossover will initially be built in China on a new platform developed by Spotlight Automotive, a joint venture between BMW and China's Great Wall.

At 160.4 inches long, the Aceman slots between the Mini hatchback at 152.6 inches, which was renamed the Cooper, and the larger Countryman small crossover at 174.5 inches long.

Mini will launch the Aceman with two electric motors and two battery combinations.

The Aceman E features a 42.5-kilowatt-hour battery pack and a 184-hp electric motor that delivers a 0-to-62 mph time of 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 99 mph. Based on European testing cycle estimates, the variant has a driving range of up to 193 miles.

The more powerful Aceman SE features a 54.2-kWh battery and a 218-hp electric motor that accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 7.1 seconds. It goes up to 252 miles on a single charge.

The Aceman sports a two-box design with short overhangs that maximize interior roominess in a compact exterior footprint. The closed grille is surrounded by clear surfaces, with the traditionally hexagonal outline tweaked into an octagonal contour.

According to AutoForecast Solutions, production will expand to Oxford, England, in October 2026.

Cooper SE: Production of the first-generation two-door EV ended in January in Oxford, England.

Mini has replaced it globally with a China-made subcompact hatchback built on a new platform smaller than the current Hardtop.

The Mini Cooper E uses a 41-kilowatt-hour battery to give a range of 190 miles, while the SE has a larger 54-kWh battery and a range of 250 miles based on European testing cycle estimates.

The vehicle sports restyled headlights and taillights and a new octagonal grille design. A minimalist dashboard is anchored by the floating, round OLED touchscreen.

Production began in China last fall and will expand to Oxford, England, in September 2026.

Countryman: The latest redesign is available in combustion engine and battery-powered versions and shares a platform with the subcompact BMW X1 Series.

The John Cooper Works Countryman is larger with a more spacious cabin and updated technology. It's powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers a 0-to-62 mph time of 5.4 seconds.

The 2025 model is 2.36 inches taller and 5.12 inches longer than the outgoing model. However, a slightly curved roof that transitions to a revamped C-pillar makes the vehicle appear more compact and upright.

The battery-powered Mini Countryman SE ALL4 arrives in U.S. stores in September. The 308-hp, dual-motor EV goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and runs about 245 miles on a full charge.

The next-generation Countryman is expected to be electric only, and it will be based on BMW Group's Neue Klasse platform. Production should begin in late 2028 in Leipzig, Germany, with U.S. deliveries likely early the following year.

Hardtop: The fifth-generation Mini Cooper two-door hardtop gets a redesigned exterior, a digital-focused interior and the brand's latest infotainment system.

The Cooper C, which arrives in the U.S. in September, has an updated 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, an upgrade from the 1.5-liter, 134-hp three-cylinder power unit in the 2023 model.

The peppier S variant arrived in May with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that generates 201 hp — a 12-hp boost over the outgoing generation. The hatch accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.

A redesigned four-door hardtop will arrive in U.S. stores this fall.

Convertible: The redesigned ragtop should arrive in the U.S. in the first half of next year.

It is expected to get exterior and interior updates but retain the three- and four-cylinder engines available in the current generation.

An electric convertible could arrive in 2027 and will be built in Oxford.