New MINI spied

The most revealing pictures yet of the all-new Mk3 MINI Hatchback, ahead of its launch next year

 

These are the latest spy pictures of the all-new Mk3 MINI Hatchback. The car was spotted testing in Germany, wrapped in a much more revealing version of the BMW Group’s trademark psychedelic camouflage.
This test mule shows that the design of the new MINI will be inspired by the Rocketman concept, revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011.
The new car has a much larger, trapezoidal front grille as a result, and larger headlights with thicker chrome trim around their edges.
The more upright bonnet leads back to a slightly more angled-back windscreen, while the new MINI may also get the contrast-coloured section between the bonnet shut line and the leading edge of the front door, introduced with the Rocketman.
The sides of this Cooper model are slightly more sculpted than before, although the plastic wheelarch and side sill cladding remains, and the rear windscreen slope is more angled.
The new car’s glazed area appears slightly narrower than before, although the roof appears to be more voluminous to ensure headroom remains generous.
The current car measures 3,723mm long, 1,683mm wide and 1,407mm high, but the new one is expected to grow in order to increase interior space, particularly in the rear.
The trademark central speedo is also set to be replaced with a new infotainment screen, although the design of this echoes the traditional speedometer.
When it debuts later this year, most likely at the Los Angeles Motor Show in November, the new MINI will be the first production car to use BMW’s new UKL1 front-wheel drive platform, and will get BMW’s new modular 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.
The MINI will be built at its Plant Oxford factory, but the firm is looking to expand sales globally, and will add production at the VDL Nedcar factory in Holland from mid-2014.