Design Comparison: The Classic MINI vs The New electric MINI Cooper E –

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Simple and fun transportation. That’s been the concept since 1959 and MINI is looking to continue that with the all new J01 MINI Cooper E. Yes it’s bigger and electric. But this new MINI Cooper takes inspiration from the classic in ways we’ve never see before – especially in its base “E” form. But how does it really compare?

Looking To The Past To Inspire The Future

The new J01 MINI Cooper E looks starkly simple at first glance. But how did MINI get here from its more intricate and busy recent designs? it all started with the MINI Design team printing and posting a large original press photo and hanging it in the studio. And that was just the start. The team became focused on the genius of the original MINI and trying to replicate that in a modern, much more complex world of rules and regulations.

Simplicity was a hallmark of the original Mini and we see it here right away. So much of the new J01 MINI Cooper feels less fussy and gimmicky. And looking back at that original classic you see the consistency of that design philosophy in modern terms. 

Details such as the flush door handles and the absence of fender flares and classic side scuttles support the modern design of the exterior by giving the surfaces a striking clarity. This reduction to the essentials places even more emphasis on the body paint finish on the larger body surface. In this way, typical MINI design features such as the visual three-part division of the vehicle body, the all-round window area and the contrasting roof have a
greater impact, helping the new design style to take effect. 

It’s the side of the car new MINI Cooper Electric where the reduction in elements feels most obvious. For the first time since the 2001 R50, we have a MINI without the plastic wheel arches. Also gone is the side scuttle and side turn signal indicator. That light has now moved discreetly into the rear view mirror.

Inside the New J01 MINI Cooper E

On the inside, the design echoes the famous minimalist design of the original classic Mini. For the first model in 1959, Mini inventor Alec Issigonis designed an interior with a round instrument cluster in the centre and the characteristic toggle bar below. In the J01 MINI Cooper, it is exactly these two elements, in combination with the steering wheel, that define the interior. 

Reducing everything to the essentials, the new interior makes do with a smaller number of components that are cleverly designed and implemented to a higher standard than before.

In fact if you look at that original Mini interior and the J01 you’ll see a striking similarity in overall design and focus on simplicity. That’s no accident. MINI designers actually started not with a clean sheet but a single photograph. An press photo of the original Mini interior in all its simplistic glory. But how in an age of screens, technical complexity and countless safety regulations could they achieve a design that followed that same ethos? 

It started by taking things away. The original Mini didn’t have leather, it had fabric. It also didn’t have a classic instrument cluster but instead had only a central collection of gauges. And the overall design was focused comfort, storage and ease of production. 

Today MINI has many more things to consider. That central gauge is now a screen and while ease of production still matters, so does the circular economy and the ability to recycle 95% of everything you see here.

The one area where we see a huge difference is MSRP. The original 1959 Mini cost British buyers £780. While that may sound low, it was actually 307% of the average disposable income in 1959*. Looking at inflation that figure would be roughly £20,000. Unfortunately the MINI Cooper (like all cars) has a price that has increased faster than inflation. The MSRP of the base “E” model is £30,000.

*Data courtesy of Motoring Research.

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