Micro MINI under consideration
With a new scalable platform, MINI now has the capability to build a VW up!-sized city-carMINI has never shied away from expanding its iconic brand in very un-MINI directions, as evidenced by vehicles like the Countryman and Paceman, and a decision on creating a sub-compact car closer in size to the original Mini first launched in 1959 is currently being considered.
Similar in size to sub-light cars like the Volkswagen up!, such a vehicle is technically possible on the new platform, as several senior engineers who attended the global launch of the Cooper Hatch in Puerto Rico this week told motoring.com.au.
MINI Product Manager, Roderik von Ostrowski, said the company was wrestling with the idea, and questioned "is there a demand for a car smaller than Cooper?"
"So far we have not decided on that yet," he said.
Martin Schuster, MINI Chassis Development Manager, said that although the company doesn't discuss future product plans, such as a vehicle is possible.
"At the moment we discuss about the architecture with BMW. We have lots of options," said Schuster.
The scalable UKL platform that underpins the new MINI Cooper hatch will also slide in underneath several BMWs, including the next 1 Series, as it can be extended as well as retracted in length.
Ostrowski says an ultra-compact MINI has been shown in the past, in the form of the MINI Rocketman concept (pictured), but that it was a "very radical approach" with no real production intent.
"There was a lot of talk after that, but this was just a radical approach showing that it's just a concept car you couldn't bring to series production."
If MINI did come to the conclusion that there was a market for a premium ultra-compact car to slot below the Cooper hatch, it would have to adhere to the MINI philosophy and couldn't be a plain-Jane model devoid of character, insisted Ostrowski.
"I think the whole package would have to be right for a super-mini. Can it be of a high quality, still have go-kart handling? If not, we can't do it," he stated.
He said price and positioning would be tricky, because the ultra-compact segment currently attracts price-conscious buyers.
"In this segment, would people really appreciate a MINI? It's quite obvious the MINI wouldn’t be the cheapest in the segment. Would people in this segment spend the extra money for a MINI?"
What do you think? Would people pay $20,000 for a premium sub-light MINI? Have your say in the comments below.
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