Exactly one year after our spy photographers first caught the upcoming ICE-powered Mini Cooper facelift, new sightings of the model reveal more of their subtle styling changes compared to its predecessor.
At the front, the Mini retains the round fender-mounted headlights which benefit from revised LED graphics for a more modern look. We expect the grille and bumper to be redesigned although the model remains instantly recognizable from every angle.
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The profile is virtually identical with the exception of the restyled door-mounted mirrors and the new wheel designs. It is also safe to assume that Mini will offer a wider range of color combinations, with the pictured prototypes featuring white and green roofs.
Moving over to the back, while previous prototypes were fitted with the current model’s Union Jack taillights, the new ones appear to have a different lighting signature, similar to the EV-only hatch that was leaked in China last year. The new taillights are heavily camouflaged to look like the old units but the shut lines reveal their actual shape.
Naturally, the tailgate has also been redesigned, alongside the fresh rear bumper looking simpler than before. The pictured variants do not have visible exhaust pipes but the performance-focused JCW will keep its center-mounted dual tailpipes. Besides the three-door hatchback bodystyle which is one of the few remaining in the segment, the ICE-powered model will remain available in the more practical five-door format.
Besides the mildly updated exterior design and new tech inside the cabin including a new round-shaped infotainment touchscreen, the 2023 Mini Hatch is expected to gain revised mild-hybrid powertrains in order to comply with the strict emission regulations. This will allow it to march on for a few more years before the BMW Group brand will go EV-only.
This will be the third facelift for the F55/F56 generation which was originally introduced in 2013 followed by updates in 2018 and in 2021. Instead of phasing out the ICE-powered model, Mini decided to keep offering it alongside the all-new generation of the hatch that will sit on a completely different EV-dedicated architecture. Both the facelifted Mini Hatch and the electric model are expected to debut sometime in 2023.
