Next-generation hatchback to lead Mini's future line-up

As seen on the development prototype for the new three-door hatchback, flourishes such as the clamshell bonnet and black plastic wheel-arch extensions will be dropped in line with this ethos.

The two-door convertible and the five-door hatchback will return too, with the latter’s design to “be much improved”, according to Heilmer. Both will remain petrol-only, however. For buyers after a more practical electric Mini, there will be a smaller crossover to sit beneath the Countryman, allowing that SUV to get larger.

The petrol three-door and five-door hatchbacks and the Mini Convertible will continue to be built at Mini’s Oxford plant, but the electric models will come out of a new factory in Zhangjiagang, China. This new plant is the result of the Spotlight Automotive joint venture formed by Mini’s BMW Group parent firm and Chinese giant Great Wall Motor in 2018 for collaboration on the development and production of battery-electric vehicles.

As a result, the petrol and electric Mini hatchbacks are based on completely different architectures. Having two separate platforms, says Mini, means the cars aren’t compromised like the current Electric, which can accommodate only a relatively small battery.

The petrol cars will be based on an evolution of the current FAAR platform, a larger variation of which is used by the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer MPV and will go into the next BMW X1 and Mini Countryman SUVs.

We expect a similar powertrain line-up to the current hatchback, with three-cylinder turbo petrol engines for the lower-powered One and Cooper models and four-cylinder turbo petrol units for the Cooper S and John Cooper Works hot hatches.

Mild-hybrid assistance is likely, but plug-in hybrid powertrains have been ruled out, as have diesel engines.

The electric hatchback, on the other hand, will be based on the EV-exclusive Spotlight platform.

Despite many components being sourced from Great Wall and the car being made in China, Mini is adamant that the development is all carried out in-house by Mini engineers.

It said that its customers are demanding and would notice if it doesn’t feel like “a real Mini”. To that end, the new petrol and electric hatchbacks are being developed side by side, with engineers working on both.

Mini is gradually moving towards being an all-electric brand. It plans to launch its final ICE car in 2025 and for EVs to make up 50% of its global sales by 2027.

As part of that plan, there will be more variety in the EV offering. Today’s Electric is positioned as the battery equivalent of the Cooper S, but for the next generation, there will be a dedicated electric Cooper model.