This is your first look at the interior of the upcoming Mini Cooper

As you may remember, the next generation of MINI hatchback will be called the Mini Cooper. And yes, we know that Cooper is already a trim level of the current Mini Hatch, but when the new car arrives every little Mini will be known as a Cooper, no matter if it’s powered by electricity or an internal combustion engine.

And no matter what powertrain you go for, this is what your interior could look like. Yep, MINI has revealed the inside of its new hatch before the outside – a continuation of its very slow unveil after it showed the wheels, steering wheel and seats back in May. Come on MINI, just show us the car already.

Anyway, this interior. We’re told that it’s inspired by the original Alec Issigonis Mini, hence why there’s just one round central screen referencing the old-school central speedo. Notice there is a head-up display too, though.

The infotainment unit is an OLED touchscreen display that shows literally every piece of information you might need. Looks like there are permanent climate controls on there too, although you still get some physical toggle switches and knobs down below. Good.

Mini says the button-packed steering wheel is “smaller and sportier”, and it’s certainly an interesting shape. Looks a little chunky, but we like that fabric strap in place of a third spoke.

There’s loads of different fabrics inside the new Cooper actually. We’re told this is a knitted dashboard that has light projected onto it to create different patterns, and there will be different Mini ‘Experience Modes’ that should change the feel of the interior.

More as we have it...

STORY Greg Potts