Mini has been a huge success story since it was reinvented in 2000, and owner BMW has done well to expand the range to appeal to more buyers.
So alongside the traditional three-door Hatch, there’s also a five-door hatchback, Convertible, quirky Clubman estate and Countryman crossover.
But this line-up is set to expand further in the coming years, with Mini recently announcing a number of new cars, with electrified models set to be a key focus, though petrol and diesel models will continue as well.
So what new Minis are expected in the next few years? Let’s take a look.
New electric crossover
Mini was quite an early adopter when it came to electrification, with its Countryman plug-in hybrid arriving well ahead of electrified options from rivals. Elsewhere, the brand’s Electric went on sale earlier this year as its first EV, yet retaining all the same fun as the standard three-door Hatch.
And electrification is set to be a big deal across Mini over the coming years, with the brand recently confirming a new “crossover in the small-car segment”. This car will be exclusively sold as an EV, and is set to sit on a new platform when it debuts in 2024. It could act as an indirect replacement for the BMW i3 – a model that’s set to finish production in the next few years, and one BMW has said it has no direct plans to replace.
Larger SUV
Mini might get its name from ‘miniature’ but to appeal to buyers in this world, it has to have a large range of models to choose from. That’s been shown with the Countryman crossover, which has proven very popular since being first introduced in 2009.
And now Mini is looking to offer a larger SUV as well, which will slot in the range just above the Countryman. Not likely to arrive for a few years, it will be one that continues to be available with traditional combustion-powered engines, alongside electrified models – likely an EV.
An even smaller Mini?
While the three-door Hatch might still be compact by supermini standards, it’s not especially ‘Mini’ these days, and that’s something the brand has always been toying with.
So Mini could bring back an even smaller three-door model – something first previewed all the way back in 2011 by the Rockerman concept.
If it does materialise, it would likely be produced in China in a joint venture between BMW and Chinese automotive group Great Wall Motors. It would also be offered as an EV first, though a petrol-powered model could follow.
There’s still some uncertainty around Mini’s future plans, but with the brand set to make an announcement on its future later this month, we’ll hopefully have more information set in stone then.
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