It's understandable if there's some confusion here. The all-new 2024 MINI Cooper that premiered last September is the all-electric variant, developed through a collaboration with GWM and manufactured in China, and sits on its own platform.

This 2024 MINI Cooper petrol shares its foundation with the F56-generation MINI Hatch, albeit with significant revisions to align with the updated MINI design principles, essentially a major facelift.

Similar to the 2024 Porsche Macan EV and its combustion engine counterpart, both versions of the MINI Cooper will be sold alongside.

Also read: All-new 2024 Porsche Macan EV debuts - 639 PS/1,130 Nm, 784 km, previous-gen ICE model soldiers on

Dubbed the F66, the petrol MINI Cooper adopts the aesthetics reminiscent of its electric counterpart, sporting simplified LED headlights, a large hexagonal body-coloured grille, and triangular LED taillights.

While the exterior bears a striking resemblance to the electric model, subtle nuances hint at its petrol-powered nature, such as the clamshell bonnet and conventional door handles.

Under the bonnet, buyers can choose between a B38 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder engine or a B48 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine, which produces 156 PS/230 Nm and 204 PS/300 Nm respectively. Drive goes to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission for both engine options.

Inside, the petrol MINI Cooper offers a refreshed ambiance with a focus on functionality and convenience. A 9.4-inch OLED circular centre touchscreen houses essential controls, including the instrument cluster and climate settings, while the MINI Operating System 9 enhances user experience with features like Spike, a 3D virtualization of the car's voice control system.

Below the touchscreen, tactile toggles for gear and drive mode selection coexist with a twist-style engine starter. There’s a modest 210-litre boot, expandable to 725 litres with folded rear seats.

Driver-assistance features get an upgrade as the petrol MINI Cooper introduces Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capabilities through the Driving Assistant Plus package, providing additional safety and convenience features.

Also read: Finally a decent range, up to 402 km - Here are 20 photos of the all-new 2024 MINI Cooper Electric