In what we would describe as the biggest story to come out this weekend, the MINI that we couldn’t believe was coming is now a production reality. A fully revealed, fully equipped 2015 model year MINI Cooper S with five doors was spotted in the Netherlands.
Taking cues from customers who complained about practicality, this famed maker of cute cars with lots of chrome and speedos in the middle is now officially a family car maker. Big deal? Not really – for about two yeas now, the Countryman has been their best seller, and that’s because it comes with two extra doors and a bigger boot.
We’ve know that MINI was working on such a car for quite a while now from various spyshots. But to see it in the flesh is a real treat. And you know what? It doesn’t look bad at all.
To make this into a family hatchback, technically a supermini, the front doors have been shortened, but are still longer than the rear ones. The wheelbase is also visibly extended, but not by a lot.
Two exhaust pipes on the back of this prototype means it’s a Cooper S, powered by a 192 PS 2-liter TwinPower Turbo engine. However, all the other new downsized engines BMW has developed will be available, including at least two 1.5-liter units available from launch.
Nobody knows what the deal is with this sexy little mystery car. But judging from the way it’s strapped down, it could be going on an airplane that’s headed straight to the Detroit Auto Show. If that’s not the case, a photo shoot in sunny California ahead of a Geneva debut in March is another strong possibility.
Photos courtesy of NewMINIClub via autoblog.nl
We’ve know that MINI was working on such a car for quite a while now from various spyshots. But to see it in the flesh is a real treat. And you know what? It doesn’t look bad at all.
To make this into a family hatchback, technically a supermini, the front doors have been shortened, but are still longer than the rear ones. The wheelbase is also visibly extended, but not by a lot.
Two exhaust pipes on the back of this prototype means it’s a Cooper S, powered by a 192 PS 2-liter TwinPower Turbo engine. However, all the other new downsized engines BMW has developed will be available, including at least two 1.5-liter units available from launch.
Nobody knows what the deal is with this sexy little mystery car. But judging from the way it’s strapped down, it could be going on an airplane that’s headed straight to the Detroit Auto Show. If that’s not the case, a photo shoot in sunny California ahead of a Geneva debut in March is another strong possibility.
Photos courtesy of NewMINIClub via autoblog.nl