How Autocar Imagines Delivered The World's Fastest Mini SUV Might Look Like
The Mini looks to add size to the next generation of estates to help make it more appealing to buyers and downsize the 3-door hatchback to improve its styling
The Mini is considering upping the size of the club for the next generation by turning it into a Jeep while also working to reduce the exterior bulkiness of its three-door hatchback model.
In the US, the mini is losing sales because it only has one SUV - the Countryman, which many Americans consider too small to justify the purchase price. The shift towards SUVs has caused a sharp drop in hatchback and saloon sales, necessitating dealer layoffs.
Chief designer Oliver Heilmer has hinted that the world's next fastest car could move to an SUV format. Currently, the six-door station wagon is only slightly shorter (4,26m) and wider (1,82m) compared to its fellow countryman, and both occupy the same level of market pricing.
It is unclear at this stage whether the world's fastest will become substantially larger, in contrast to the compatriot, or whether their growth will present two SUVs of distinctly different sizes. Heilmer declined to comment on the vehicle's return report of the traveler's name as an electric minivan sharing parts with the BMW i3.
He said that efforts are being made to improve space efficiency next to the Mini's three-door hatchback. Heilmer said: “For future architecture, we have weekly discussions to improve the interior space as well as reduce the volume of the vehicle. But it hasn't been decided yet. Maybe next year". He also noted that "the cost of development is also an issue."
“It's not necessarily an internal combustion engine that needs space – even with an EV (which has a smaller motor) you still need a crash box,” Heilmer continued, referring to the progressively deformable and essential structure around the powertrain. "Crash performance is a big problem."
Another problem is dealing with “an electric motor that can keep running”. This is a post-accident circumstance that normally does not affect vehicles with internal combustion engines.
Heilmer was able to provide few details on how the next hatchback's space-efficiency and sizing could improve, with the news that MINI is considering a new type of energy-absorbent foam between the bumper liner and crash bar and potentially reduce the much-criticized sunroof and excessive front overhang.
Whether foam costs more is a question, but Heilmer said "everything is pushing towards more efficient space." The five-door hatchback, which is a big seller of the pair, he says the design team is working on to improve its aesthetics "quite a lot."
“The trail is the most important thing off the hatch,” he said. “Size is less of a problem with other models.”
“I want every model to be the smallest in the segment, or visually the smallest. But small cannot be useful for sales,” he admitted, “hence the possibility of a larger club.
Heilmer said the design team is also revisiting mini "iconic objects," adding, "Facial recognition is important, but taillights can't remain a legend. We need to be proactive, not reactive.”
A clamshell hood is not a must have and, inside, switches are overrated. “They're good on the hatch, less so on others maybe,” Heilmer said, suggesting that future big models might ditch the retro cabin touches.