Facelifted MINI Cooper S Plug-In Hybrid Looks Very Familiar

Not long after our eagle-eyed spy photographers snapped the facelifted MINI Cooper out and about during testing in three-door guise, we’ve spotted this: a five-door version of the 2021 MINI Cooper S Plug-In Hybrid.

While the 2020 MINI Cooper SE Electric has been getting all the attention since launching last year, the inclusion of a plug-in hybrid variant in the Cooper S range should broaden its appeal.

On first impressions, this lightly-camouflaged blue prototype may look just like any other Cooper S but the ‘E-FZG’ note on the windshield confirms it has a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The charging port is not visible and will likely be on the front left quarter panel, much like it is on the MINI Countryman S E All4 PHEV.

Powertrain details about the Cooper S Plug-In Hybrid remain unconfirmed. However, there’s a good chance it will get the same powertrain as the Countryman S E All4 PHEV, meaning there will be a 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine delivering 134 hp and coupled to an 87 hp electric motor that receives its juice from a 7.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This results in a total of 221 hp and 284 lb-ft (385 Nm) of torque; in the Countryman, the electrified powertrain helps the model return 112 MPGe in the U.S. with the use of the battery.

Visually, the Cooper S Plug-In Hybrid will look virtually identical to ICE models. This prototype features the same sporty front and rear bumpers as other models recently spied, including black and silver wheels and dual tailpipes. It remains unclear if the Cooper S Plug-In Hybrid will also be sold in three-door guise.