This will be the biggest design change since 2001.
How can an automaker like MINI, who has built its brand around its compact footprint, adapt to a world that is dominated by SUVs and crossovers? You should be very careful. In October, the automaker revealed that it would launch two new crossovers while focusing more on electrification. The Mini Countryman will be the new generation, while the 3-Door Cooper hatch will undergo a complete redesign. It could even be revolutionary.
Autocar’s Bernd Korber, Mini’s boss, said that the hatch is akin to the Porsche 911 – a iconic brand. This makes it difficult for Mini to alter the design. However, Korber doesn’t want to sugarcoat what the next-gen model will look like when they debut in 2023. The boss said that it will take “a big leap – the largest step in the past 20 years” in design, but it will remain true to Mini’s design philosophy. Oliver Heilmer, chief designer at Mini, told the publication that his team was cautious about changing too quickly.
According to reports, the next-generation Mini hatch will be smaller and have electrified powertrains. This is as the company concentrates on China’s successes. They will continue to offer gas-powered models. The automaker is currently working on two new models: the Countryman crossover and the 3-Door Hatch. The brand is also preparing a new compact crossover. Mini unveiled the Vision Urbanaut Electric Vehicle Concept last month. It looks more like a Mini than a VW Microbus. Concepts like the Urbanaut are a preview of Mini’s future design direction.
The 2023 arrival of the next-generation Mini Cooper hatchback won’t be announced. This is when we will likely start to see teasers and reveals for the rest of the updated lineup. This is also the year that all its all-electric models will be produced in China.