There’s still hope for a true Mini.
The Mini Rocketman was introduced at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. It was updated one year later for London Olympics. At 3.4m (134in), the Mini Rocketman is a small hatchback that measures 3.4m (134in) in length. It was designed to be a miniature version of the original Mini, which was tiny and pint-sized in the 1960s. The current brand’s smallest car is 40 cm (16 inches) larger than the Mini Rocketman.
Mini’s global senior vice president, Sebastien Mackensen has indicated that there may be a new entry-level position in the Mini’s lineup. He said that the Rocketman would be a good candidate, but only if it was fully electric.
Minis today are built on the UKL platform. It was not designed for vehicles shorter than 3.8m. Rocketmans cannot therefore be launched from Minis’ current underpinnings. Mackensen said that it is difficult to make money these days with a smaller car, as the costs of such a model are almost the same as those used in larger, more expensive cars.
An alternative architecture for catering EVs could be used on a small road-going car approximately the same size and weight as the Rocketman but with more space after removing the oily bits from a conventionally powered vehicle. Mini is already preparing for its electric push. 2019 will see the launch of its first zero-emissions production vehicle. The BMW-owned marque may release something similar to a Rocketman with no combustion engine later in the decade.
The Superleggera concept was introduced three years ago. Unfortunately, it is now dead, but we are not giving up on our hope.