Upcoming Mini 5-door hatch spied in the snow

Mon, 17 Feb 2014

We are about to get a flood of new Mini models now that the new 2014 model is officially out. In just the past few months, we've seen spy shots of the next-generation John Cooper Works and so-called Traveler crossover, and here we have the upcoming five-door hatchback in Cooper S form, a model that, like the Traveler, is expected to effectively obviate the need for the slow-selling Clubman.

Mini is not exactly hiding that this is a new five-door model, even with its camouflage – the rear door line and handle are clear as day. Also, compared to the three-door Cooper Hardtop, there appears to be an added pillar and additional length at the rear. The hatch also appears to be mounted at a steeper angle than the standard Mini. Also, you have to admit that the Mickey-Mouse-ear fog lights are cute, even if Mini would never actually sell it that way.

Expect to see even more variants soon, if BMW and Mini want to reach their goal of selling over a million front-wheel drive vehicles – an earlier report indicated there could be as many as 23 front-wheel drive cars from the brands in the coming years.

By Chris Bruce