Future MINI Cooper EVs Could Revive The Manual Driving Experience

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This week we’re exploring the future of shifting in MINIs — from manuals to DCTs to even EVs. First we gave you our opinion on the future of shift paddle design. Today it’s all about EVs.

Why MINI and BMW M May Be Poised to Resurrect the Art of Shifting in the Electric Era

Electric drivetrains may not need traditional gears, but driver-focused brands know that performance isn’t just about speed—it’s about connection. MINI, a brand built on engagement, could take inspiration from Hyundai’s approach with the Ioniq 5 N, and BMW M’s own evolving interest in simulated shifting, to create an electric driving experience that still delivers the thrill of changing gears.

Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N, developed under former BMW M boss Albert Biermann, sets a new benchmark for engagement in an EV. Its “e-shift” system simulates gear ratios, delivers rev-matched downshifts, mimics the sensation of engine braking through regenerative tuning, and layers in convincing engine sound. The result isn’t just theatre—it’s a purposeful, mechanical-feeling interface that keeps drivers thinking about their next move. Toyota is taking the concept even further, working on an EV manual transmission complete with a clutch pedal and realistic stall behavior, slated to debut around 2026.

Toyota’s prototype EV manual (Photo courtesy of Car & Driver)

BMW M is heading in a similar direction. M boss Frank van Meel has been open about the division’s work on what he calls “artificial transmission” technology, developed over several years to replicate the sensory cues of an internal combustion car. “I like the way they think—that’s the way we think as well,” van Meel said when asked about Hyundai’s approach. “In a pure EV with one gear, no sound and no emotion, you don’t know if you’re doing 125, 150 or whatever… You need to find a connection to the brain of the driver, without forcing you to look at your speedometer.” For van Meel, especially on track, the absence of shifting robs the driver of instinctive, real-time feedback—something simulated gears and sounds can restore.

BMW’s Heart of Joy Prototype previews the next M3

This technology is expected to make its way into BMW’s first fully electric M car, a high-performance sedan based on the Neue Klasse platform arriving around 2026–2027. Likely featuring a quad-motor setup and advanced central vehicle controls, this next generation M3 could blend staggering performance with carefully tuned sensory feedback to keep drivers engaged without traditional hardware.

MINI, sharing technology and engineering resources with BMW M, is in a perfect position to adapt this thinking for its own enthusiast-focused EVs. A future JCW model could incorporate paddle-shifted simulated gears with the same purposeful feel as the Ioniq 5 N, while a special edition could even experiment with a simplified clutch pedal for purists. Done right, this wouldn’t be a gimmick—it would be a bridge between the analog engagement of the past and the digital precision of the future.

The MotoringFile Take

Critics might dismiss simulated shifting as an unnecessary trick, but the early response to Hyundai’s system suggests otherwise. Reviewers praise how it adds back a sense of rhythm, speed awareness, and anticipation that single-speed EVs often lack. Judging from our time behind the wheel o the Ioniq 5 N, it really does add to the experience. And based on what we’ve heard about Toyota’s true manual EV prototype, that takes things even further.

With BMW M embracing the same philosophy, MINI has an opportunity to stand out in the electric era—not just for its design or agility, but for delivering the tactile joy of shifting into the future.

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