After pulling off the covers of the next-generation Mini Cooper in its electrified form, the Mini brand has some unfortunate news for manual lovers everywhere.
Manual Mini Cooper axed
While the new Mini Cooper (and Countryman)will still get petrol-powered versions, it will no longer be available with a manual gearbox.
Current Head of Mini Stefanie Wurst said as much to Top Gear: “We won’t have a manual unfortunately."
That makes the 1to6 Edition Mini JCW from earlier this year the final Cooper with a manual transmission. It packs a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mill with 170 kW. Only 999 examples of that model will be available globally.
Future in motorsport
Meanwhile, Wurst has indicated a motorsport future for the Mini Cooper EV. “I think meeting Charlie [Cooper, grandson of Mini co-founder John Cooper] made me confident about continuing with motorsport,” Wurst said. “Performance still helps to sell cars.”
But Wurst has not said which events it plans to enter the new Cooper.
“For me, it’s just really difficult to judge right now because not all new forms of electric motorsport have been successful,” she said. “Which is a good platform for the future? We’ll see what evolves and plan to join something.”