Whether you want to call it a deep facelift or a new generation, the new petrol-powered 2024 MINI Cooper begins production at MINI Plant Oxford. The first unit was driven off the production line by Charlie Cooper, the grandson of John Cooper, the father of the Mini Cooper.

While the all-new fully electric MINI Cooper E is built in China as part of a joint collaboration with GWM, the internal combustion MINI is manufactured in the UK. All three BMW Group UK manufacturing sites contribute to the production of the new MINI.

BMW Group Plant Swindon produces body pressings and sub-assemblies while the three- and four-cylinder petrol engines are built at the BMW Group Plant Hams Hall in North Warwickshire. The Oxford plant is where the body shell production, paint, and final assembly take place.

Since the modern MINI was introduced in 2001, over 4.4 million MINIs were produced in Great Britain including 150,000 MINI Electric models between 2019 and 2023.

Still, the Oxford plant and the other BMW Group plants in the UK are not in jeopardy. Plans are underway to build two new all-electric MINI models from 2026 and BMW Group will invest more than GBP 3 billion (RM 18 billion) towards its British plants.

The petrol MINI Cooper is available with two engine options – a B38 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder unit (156 PS/230 Nm) or a B48 naturally aspirated 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine (204 PS/300 Nm). Power is sent to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission for both engine options.

The latest refreshed MINI Cooper petrol will be arriving in Malaysia soon. In the UK, prices start from GBP 22,300 (~RM 134k) with the first deliveries scheduled for Spring 2024. While MINI fans anticipate the deep facelift’s arrival, these are the prices of the F56 MINI 3 Door variants available here:

• MINI Cooper SE – RM 193,833
• MINI Cooper SE Resolute Edition – RM 205,833
• MINI Cooper S - RM 264,388
• MINI John Cooper Works – RM 315,558