BMW revealed the three-door version of its third-gen MINI at the recent Tokyo motor show, and, as we revealed previously, the carmaker is now honing a five-door variant that will replace the existing Clubman (which has a single suicide rear door). These Automedia images provide the best look yet of the five-door Cooper S, which, like its three-door sibling, is a heavy evolutionary design.
And just as the latest three-door is 98mm longer, 44mm wider, and 7mm taller than the outgoing model, expect a dimensional stretch in all directions for the five-door.
These spy pics clearly indicate the new five-door MINI is larger than the outgoing Clubman, and the side-profile pic reveals the wheelbase is appreciably longer than before, which should liberate more adequate levels of rear-seat space.
The third-gen MINI retains the basic formula and styling theme of its predecessor, but it ushers in a host of new technology, and chief among these is a brand-new UKL1 platform and fuel-sipping three-cylinder powerplants that will also be used in BMW models.
BMW recently announced the three-door MINI will be offered with a range of engines that include an entry-level 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol with 102kW, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol that produces 143kW for the Cooper S, and a 1.5-litre three-cylinder diesel with 87kW.
The dashboard retains the familiar MINI layout, but adds a new instrument binnacle on the steering column for the speedo, tacho and fuel gauge. The central instrument display now houses a TFT display that can be optionally upgraded to an 8.8-inch screen for navigation and infotainment functions.
The third-gen MINI gets more safety features than its predecessor, with the available kit including a head-up display, collision and pedestrian warning systems, a parking assistant and a speed-limit information system.
The latest MINI is also the first car in its segment to offer LED headlamps for its main and dipped beams as an option.
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