Mini has unveiled the new – and potentially final – petrol-powered Cooper S. Despite the fresh face, it’s business as usual under the skin, with the F56 platform carried over alongside the turbocharged 2.0-litre ‘B48’ inline-four. Output has been massaged to 204bhp and 300Nm, and the only transmission option is Mini’s 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Performance remains strong, with 0–62mph in 6.6 seconds and a 150mph top speed. Economy is respectable too, with a quoted 44mpg combined, and weight remains competitive at 1,285kg (DIN), despite the addition of new tech and safety systems. Like the styling, the interior has been revised to bring the car into alignment with the recently launched Mini Cooper Electric, which sits on its own dedicated EV platform co-developed with Chinese manufacturer Great Wall Motor.

For many Mini fans, however, the new look will be seen as a retrograde step. The Cooper S has traditionally stood apart visually and dynamically, but this latest version blurs that distinction. Mini has removed several long-standing cues associated with the S badge – the bonnet scoop is gone, along with the trademark central twin-exit exhaust. Only the red ‘S’ on the grille and the model designation at the rear distinguish it from the lower-powered Cooper.

Both petrol models also share identical styling options, including the JCW-inspired Sport Pack, which adds larger intakes and new wheels. Rubbing salt in the wound, the £2,500 upgrade is the only way to unlock paddleshifters for the dual-clutch transmission.

Inside, the Cooper S inherits the new circular OLED infotainment system first seen in the electric Mini, along with a revised dash layout and updated toggle controls. Material quality is said to be improved, with a focus on sustainability across key cabin trims, and all variants now include a wireless charging pad where the gearlever once sat.

The base Cooper – using a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine producing 156bhp – also sees improvements, with a 0–62mph time of 7.7 seconds and 47mpg claimed economy. At £23,135, it undercuts the Cooper S by nearly £8,000, and shares the same optional styling packs. Deliveries begin in spring 2025, initially in three-door form only.

The final word may rest with the next John Cooper Works model, spotted testing with a large central exhaust. If this is to be the last internal combustion Mini performance car, fans will be hoping it sends the era out on a high.

Surely there must be some good news? Well, there is a small power increase, from 189 bhp to 204 bhp. The weight is also admirably kept in check despite the DCT, with MINI quoting 1,285 kg (DIN) for the S. This means strong performance of 0-62 in 6.6s and a top speed of 150 mph. The Cooper is punchy too, hitting the benchmark in a strong 7.7s whilst running out of puff at 139 mph.

I keep mentioning the 156 bhp Cooper alongside the S, because equipped with a three-cylinder, turbocharged engine, it now appears to be the pick of the range given it represents great value with prices starting from £23,135. Just remember to not get carried away with the options. For now, you can only order a three-door, although the five door is coming. Deliveries are set to commence in spring.

One hopes MINI is saving all its firepower and aggression for the forthcoming John Cooper Works variant, which has been caught testing with a large, single-exit central exhaust. As a former R53 JCW and F56 JCW owner, I hope the final ICE MINI variant is snuffed out with the torch burning at its brightest.