2023 Mini Cooper revealed in leaked images

The 2023 Mini Cooper Hatch has been spied completely undisguised in China, just weeks after the fourth-generation model was teased.

Initially posted on Chinese social media, these images provide our best look yet at the first redesign to the three-door Hatch since the current BMW-developed ‘F56’ generation debuted in 2013.

As with the current hatch, the face of the new Mini is dominated by the marque’s signature round headlights, albeit with updated LED internals.

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Shown here in all-electric SE trim, this car features a new body-coloured grille with a black frame and small air gaps. Internal-combustion models are expected to pick up a larger grille to cater for needed breathing room.

The clamshell bonnet of the outgoing model has been dropped, with the headlight units no longer fully encapsulated, while the iconic flagpole mirrors seemingly carry over – despite the camouflaged unit, which was revealed in November, featuring BMW-like wing mirrors.

A wide shot of the side profile exposes the use of lift-up door handles for the first time – much like BMW’s recent products – as well as a longer sunroof and a sleeker antenna.

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The continued use of blacked-out side pillars works to create familiarity with the previous three generations, while the new Mini seems more compact with shorter front and rear overhangs.

At the rear is where the most radical changes have occured, where the rounded-off rectangular tail-lights have been replaced by triangular units.

The new tail-lights continue with the existing Union Jack lighting signature, and are connected by a solid black strip running across the tailgate – which also bears the model designation.

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Inside, the dashboard has taken a minimalist approach, with a new flip-up head-up display that will replace the existing 5.0-inch digital instrument cluster, and a redesigned two-spoke steering wheel.

A larger floating circular display – similar to the Tesla Model 3 – takes advantage of edge-to-edge glass, with a set of physical switches below.

The new Mini Hatch is expected to debut BMW’s latest front- and all-wheel-drive FAAR platform, which is an evolution of the UKL architecture that underpins today’s model – plus the BMW X1, X2, 1 Series and 2 Series Gran Coupe.

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Above: the current Mini Hatch

As such, in addition to the all-electric Cooper SE spied here, a selection of three- and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines is expected to remain on offer.

Exact mechanical details for the Cooper SE are unclear, but it has been developed in partnership with Great Wall Motors and will be exported around the world from China.

The current Mini Cooper SE is driven by the same 135kW/270Nm electric motor as the BMW i3s, with a 32.6kWh battery that provides a total driving range of 233km.

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We can expect subtle improvements on these figures for the new model, with power likely to come from a revised motor shared with the BMW iX1 crossover.

Last month, Mini announced the three-door Hatch will launch for model-year 2023 as one of its last combustion-engined models, meaning an unveiling in 2022 is likely for the city car.

A five-door derivative will follow, as will a convertible version.