Friday 6th June 2014

Five-door Mini launched

Hatch too impractical but Countryman too big? Fear not, says Mini, there's a solution

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And if you thought the three-door Mini looked a little dumpy... So here it is, the more practical Mini that has been expected for so long. Indeed, isn't it rather odd that a three-door SUV and a two open Minis have made production before a five-door hatch?

Still like this from the front unfortunately

Anyway, we have it now and it will no doubt prove exceptionally popular. The changes over a three-door Mini are significant, more than simply adding in a couple of doors to an identical shape as in some instances. The wheelbase is 72mm longer (2,567mm) with overall length up to 3,982mm (Cooper S and SD 4,005mm). Width is the same at 1,727mm and the five-door is fractionally taller than the three by 11mm at 1,425mm. Make your own mind up about the styling and proportions; we'll say it makes the original new Mini look almost dainty now.

The larger external dimensions free up more space inside with five seats and a boot that could now pass as usable (278 litres with the seats up, 941 with them down). There's even an (optional) luggage pack to to make full use of it.

Bigger boot obligates luggage area pic

As with the three-door Mini, the five-door will be offered as a Cooper, Cooper S and Cooper D. The introduction of the five-door also brings the Cooper SD back to the Mini range. Now at 170hp and 265lb ft, the 2.0-litre diesel is capable of 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds and 68.9mpg.

Does that light blue colour look familiar? It should as it's the Electric Blue that was so popular on the original R53 Cooper S, returning to the colour chart as one of 11 paint choices.

Each five-door Mini will cost £600 more than the three-door hatch, with prices starting at £15,900 for the Cooper. The Cooper SD is £20,050 and the first cars will be with customers in the autumn. Now what's the next niche to fill?

 

[QuattroDave]

Maxi?

[Dave Hedgehog]

the new front is disgusting

[marshalla]

Point missed.

[balls-out]

Just another reason to hate the whole MINI "brand".

PH said:

Bigger boot obligates luggage area pic

What does that actually mean?

Edited by balls-out on Friday 6th June 10:20

[aka_kerrly]

QuattroDave said:

Maxi?

Just a bit!!

[750turbo]

MINI Product Marketing at its finest.

Love it or loathe it, they will sell loads of them no doubt!

[Salgar]

I preferred this story:

http://sniffpetrol.com/2014/06/05/mini-announces-n...

[theJT]

balls-out said:

Just another reason to hate the whole MINI "brand".

PH said:

Bigger boot obligates luggage area pic

What does that actually mean?

Edited by balls-out on Friday 6th June 10:20

"Because the boot is bigger, we are obliged to show a picture of thing being put in it."

[mikebradford]

May have some negative comments already. But my wife had the mk2 new mini and loved it.
Had to move upto a mk6 5door golf due to kids getting bigger.
But this will appeal to her. the reality is 3drs are not suitable for everybody. And the appeal of the mini will draw her.
The countryman and other mini variants didnt appeal to her, as she didnt see them as a mini.

So thats why i think this will be one of the best selling minis of all time

[fezst]

Bloody vile

[Roma101]

So Mini are clearly trying to out-do Audi and BMW in the "niche" model arms race. Seriously, how many variants of the Mini are there now?!

[wildcat45]

I so want to like Minis, forget the ownership of the firm if you can and they are a successful British made car with plenty of derivatives.

In 2003 my neighbour bought a Cooper S. He loved it and regretted selling it banging on about it for years afterwards.

On a couple of occasions I have ad a mooch round a Mini showroom. They just leave me cold and I really don't know why.

I just don't "get" Mini when at the same time I love Fiat/Abarth 500s,

[wildcat45]

I so want to like Minis, forget the ownership of the firm if you can and they are a successful British made car with plenty of derivatives.

In 2003 my neighbour bought a Cooper S. He loved it and regretted selling it banging on about it for years afterwards.

On a couple of occasions I have ad a mooch round a Mini showroom. They just leave me cold and I really don't know why.

I just don't "get" Mini when at the same time I love Fiat/Abarth 500s,

[edinph]

Time to stop calling it Mini!

[Getsis]

They have got the price right so will be as common as dog sh!t on a council estate.

[Jordan210]

I have a F56 MINI had an R50 and an R56 GP. The 5 door would not appeal to me as don't need the space and when I have a family I want an estate (no idea why)

But MINI think it will outsell the 3 door by 3-1 crazy but some how I think it will happen !

[TT Tim]

wildcat45 said:

I so want to like Minis, forget the ownership of the firm if you can and they are a successful British made car with plenty of derivatives.

In 2003 my neighbour bought a Cooper S. He loved it and regretted selling it banging on about it for years afterwards.

On a couple of occasions I have ad a mooch round a Mini showroom. They just leave me cold and I really don't know why.

I just don't "get" Mini when at the same time I love Fiat/Abarth 500s,

I've never really had any interest in minis, however a month or so back I bought one as we needed a car that day, so bought a 2003 Cooper S from eBay, and I'll be totally honest its a hoot!

You can't drive it sensibly, it asks you to hoon it around, lateral grip, even on the crappy tyres its on is great, kids love it ('Do roller-coaster daddy') and it feels like a 'real' mini, from the bumpy ride to the seating position. Perhaps they've lost that initial feel as the cars have got bigger, more feature laden and softer, but they are good fun, at least the early ones are.

Tim

[GTEYE]

The 3rd GEN new MINI isn't a looker, but actually I think this works better than the 3 door. The comically oversized rear lights seem "slightly" better proportioned with the greater length (or perhaps less badly proportioned). And its certainly less of a minger than the Countryman/Paceman.

I suppose it does address the issue I have had with the MINI from the start, in that it is effectively was a 2 seater with next to no boot.

In a short time, this will definitely be the best seller in the range.

[sad61t]

Salgar said:

I preferred this story:

http://sniffpetrol.com/2014/06/05/mini-announces-n...

Nah, clearly a wind-up; missed the sales opportunity for optioning doors. BMW would never have made that mistake.

[Oddball RS]

Jordan210 said:

I have a F56 MINI had an R50 and an R56 GP. The 5 door would not appeal to me as don't need the space and when I have a family I want an estate (no idea why)

But MINI think it will outsell the 3 door by 3-1 crazy but some how I think it will happen !

Naw, its a fashion thing, pig ugly though they are the 3 door's are 'cool' five doors? people want Evoque style soft roaders for the school run, this will fall between two stools like the daft 3 door estate.