New MINI hatch heads north

MINI has once again teased its 2023 MINI Hatch, this time as the three-door version undergoes dynamic winter testing in Sweden, and BMW’s compact-car brand is promising “hallmark MINI agility” from its reborn icon.

Designed and engineered first and foremost around a battery-electric powertrain, the entry-level MINI will still be available with an internal combustion engine but a clear emphasis is being placed on the EV version(s) before MINI goes all-electric.

Pictured here alongside all four of its predecessors, the new MINI three-door is still vastly bigger than the original but will allegedly retain its ancestors’ “creative use of space”.

Purists will be delighted to see the classic high-set round headlights have been kept, while fans of the second-gen Cooper S will be pleased to hear the now-iconic bonnet scoop has survived in one form or another, even in this new electric application.

This contradicts previous leaks from late last year that showed an undisguised fifth-gen MINI Hatch three-door, a Cooper S no less, without the famous vent.

But a trio of similar yellow camouflaged prototypes were also snapped alongside this single unmasked example, all of which featured the new-age scoop.

Nevertheless, every element of the new model – from the powertrain, battery pack, driver aids and safety systems to the suspension, steering and braking systems – are all being torture tested and honed in Sweden and brand executives are keen to replicate the original’s driving characteristics.

“MINI is on a path of growth and heading towards a fully electric future,” MINI boss Stefanie Wurst said.

“Our iconic MINI 3-door, maximises the experience for our customers through its electrified go-kart feeling combined with digitalised touchpoints – and a clear focus on sustainability with a minimal environmental footprint.”

Concrete details of the new city-car are few and far between at the moment, but judging by previous reports, we’ll likely see the finished product later this year ahead of a 2023 global launch.