MINI Foregoes Super Sizing Of Lineup With Smaller EV

The next big thing for Mini will be a little thing, a car that’s smaller than the current three-door hatch. It’ll be full-electric.

Good. Every one of BMW’s three generations of Mini hatch has been less miniature than the last, and on top it’s added the stretched five-door, the widened Clubman and the generally scaled-up Countryman.

Now it’s time to go the other way. Mini boss Bernd Körber has just told Top Gear: “In the next generation it’s possible to build a car smaller than today’s three-door hatch but with the same functionality and space and boot room. We’re looking at what’s the necessary footprint that fits with Mini’s history.”

MDarringer - 11/26/2019 10:36:30 AM

+2 Boost

If it cost $20K base then it would have a shot, but with Minis being so grossly overpriced, it will be a $40K job and a market failure.

atc98092 - 11/26/2019 12:33:30 PM

+2 Boost

It won't/can't be quite that inexpensive as an EV, but if they keep in the mid $20k they might have a shot. Of course battery size controls both the cost and the range. If the range is under 150 miles, then it won't sell. There are now enough EVs with 200+ miles of range available in the low $30s before any tax incentives that there's not much of a market in the US for EVs with a range in the low 100s.

MDarringer - 11/26/2019 1:22:00 PM

+1 Boost

Mini is dead as dead can be.

skytop - 11/26/2019 3:19:01 PM

-1 Boost

Be sure to buy TWO Minis...one for each foot.

mre30 - 11/27/2019 2:35:28 AM

+1 Boost

Mini should get a version of the Supra/Z4 to sell. Now, that would be a halo car for Mini which is rapidly becoming 'death watch' status.