Mini wants a simplified range but keeps anouncing new models and bodystyle variants
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This story includes speculative illustrations created by independent digital artist Theottle that are neither related to nor endorsed by Mini
Mini launched the electric variants of the Cooper and the Countryman at the IAA Mobility 2023 in Munich, but it seems that more electric models are coming our way. It has been officially confirmed that a five-door hatchback and a two-door convertible will soon join the three-door Cooper EV, mirroring the lineup of the upcoming ICE-powered models.
The news was shared by the Head of the Mini brand, Stephanie Wurst. When asked about the future range by our colleagues in Autocar, Wurst said: “We have so much to do with the roll-out of the family we’ve just announced. The Aceman is still missing, the John Cooper Works variations are all to come. We only speak about the three-door but we actually have a five-door coming, and we have a convertible as well.”
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More: New Mini Cooper Will Not Be Offered With A Stick Shift
The future of the five-door Mini Hatch (now renamed to Cooper) was uncertain after rumors that the model could be replaced by the upcoming EV-only Aceman. However, it seems that the two models will coexist, giving a wider range of options to Mini buyers in the compact segment. The five-door hatchback could also serve as an indirect replacement for the longer Clubman estate which has been discontinued without a planned successor.
Based on the recently revealed Mini Cooper, digital artist Theottle created speculative renderings of a five-door electric hatchback giving us a good idea of what to expect. Changes will likely include a stretched wheelbase making room for a pair of smaller rear doors, while the front and rear ends are expected to be carried over. The same applies to the minimalist interior and the powertrain options including a performance-focused JCW version coming in 2025.
It has been reported that the BEV and ICE-powered variants of the Mini Cooper range (3-door hatch, 5-door hatch, and 2-door convertible) will look nearly identical, despite being based on separate architectures. Our scoop stories have already revealed a few shared styling cues despite the fact that Mini tries hard to make the ICE-powered Cooper look like its predecessor with clever use of camouflage.
Mini Is Gunning For A “Simplified Range”
Despite the announcement of several upcoming debuts, Wurst wants Mini to be simple, adding that the lineup “cannot be complicated to understand”. The company boss believes that simplicity is “one of the prerequisites of Mini, and it should stay like this”, adding that they don’t want Mini to become “a second BMW“.
In that context, plans for a future electric minivan previewed by the Mini Urbanaut concept last year are currently “in the freezer”. When asked about a potential expansion of the model range, Wurst said: “It’s now not the time to talk about new models, but it will come with time. It’s a question of architecture as well, and we have to work in a cost-effective way. A Mini model has to have a clear use case, a clear size and the variants have to be limited. If we wanted to do a bigger Mini, it would not be a bigger Countryman but a different body type. It’s always about simplicity and making it easy to understand.”
Renderings: Theottle / Photos: Mini
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