Come late 2013 and MINI will launch its biggest-ever hatch short of the Countryman micro SUV.
As these spy pics from the sneaky lensmen at Carparazzi reveal, the maxi MINI will gain a couple of extra doors, plus a noticeable wheelbase stretch to make the back seat less of a laughable proposition.
Sharing its basic front-drive UKL1 platform with the upcoming BMW 2 Series previewed in the Concept Activity Tourer at this year’s Paris motor show, the third-generation MINI will be offered in three and five-door form with a range of new three and four-cylinder petrol and diesel turbo engines. Although it retains identifiable MINI styling signatures, the upcoming five-door version shows just where the brand is headed. As company execs have indicated, MINI is a brand, not a descriptor, and future plans aren’t likely to be restricted by size expectations.
Three- and five-door hatch, five-door Clubman and Countryman, and two-door Coupe, Cabrio, Roadster and Paceman models should all be part of the third-generation MINI range.
– with Carparazzi
Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...