F56 MINI Hatch to Feature Optional Suicide Doors
The sketch above is courtesy of Autoexpress and are just here to illustrate a few ideas in the story below. It is rough and shouldn’t be taken as anything other than sketches from an outside source.
Over the past month we’ve heard from several sources that MINI will release a five door version of the F56 hatch. The five door will reportedly come about a year after the standard three door is release in late 2012. Much like the Clubman but with doors on both sides MINI intends this new feature to help owners make better use of the space and for easier access to the rear seats.
The five door will add some weight (at least 100 lbs with chassis strengthening etc) and price to the car but will allow the F56 to compete with larger cars in some markets.
Expect the F56 to be roughly the same size as the R53 and the R56 give or take a a centimeter here and there.
So what does this mean for the Clubman? As we’ve previously reported look for the next generation Clubman to continue to be base on the hatch but grow a sleeker profile and a little more length for further differentiation.
The F56 will debut next year at MINI United next summer and go on-sale a few months later in the fall of 2012. The five door should be available roughly a year later.
<p>That’s going to be a tight squeeze to jam suicide doors on both sides of the car. Guess the gas fill tube will be located a little bit farther back to open some space on the driver’s side of the car. I know that the above picture is just someone’s guess at what the F56 may look like, but I do like the look of the rear hatch and tail lights.</p>
<p>Adding to what Gabe says at the get go, do not read much into this image. It’s classic AutoExpress Photoshop work. As for suicide doors, that gets us to what I think the Clubman should have been from the get go. </p>
<p>Adding to what Gabe says at the get go, do not read much into this image. It’s classic AutoExpress Photoshop work. As for suicide doors, that gets us to what I think the Clubman should have been from the get go. </p>
<p>i’m not so sure about that. a separate model where the only feature is a pair of suicide doors seems a bit phoned in whereas the current clubman actually caters to an different set of needs. suicide doors and a little easier entry are cool, but the current clubman has added room (both passenger and storage) and a unique design.</p>
<p>i’m worried that the F56 w/suicide will be too small and a clubman stretched 1/2 a foot will be too big, leaving the current clubman buying population out in the cold.</p>
<p>As long as its an option only I think it will be good, however I wonder if it makes any sense to produce it as a option. I would take it this is likely to mean the F56 is likely to be longer than the R56 to be able to fit the doors.</p>
<p>Suicide doors aside, the F56 image is very displeasing. Just as MINI has done since the R53, the design has become progressively coarser and less refined and more bloated. The once beautifully defined front fender and hood contours, curvilinear glass C-pillars, and properly scaled head and tail light designs are history. The canted and over-sized headlights detract from the simpler and much cleaner lines of previous iterations. The same is true for the tail lights — too big and awkward looking. The previous designs blended with the bodywork without noticeably projecting beyond the surface of the sheet metal. Yes, I am in favor of “evolutionary” progressive design when deftly executed.</p>
<p>We’ve all seen the horrors of excessive and/or misguided cosmetic surgery. Such gross negligence is inexcusable and only succeeds to distort rather than improve our visual experience and diminish aesthetic integrity. Please MIN “entwurfmeisters” catch yourselves before it’s too late!</p>
<p>Harry, as before I am in complete agreement. I do think the beautifully sculpted R50/53 front end won’t be repeated due to the new EU pedestrian impact regulations.</p>
<p>Yes, the EU ped regs have had major negative impact on design. Presumably, the concealed wiper arms and minimally higher front profile somehow enhances pedestrian safety. Why don’t we just install cow catchers to deflect mindless pedestrians. It’s bizarre, but could arguably satisfy the safety police. Our DOT protocol is equally absurd. Why on earth must European glass be replaced with American glass on German cars that are built to travel the Autobahn? For years “federalizers” were plagued by the 2.5 and 5 mph bumper standards. It’s all bureaucratic nonsense linked to the insurance lobbyists.</p>
<p>If I mentally photoshop the side crease out it’s not bad, I just wonder if another evolutionary update of this 10 year old design is the way to go. It just looks like a warmed over R56. I guess that’s the problem with retro designs like this and the Beetle-what does the new, new, new model look like. I was hoping for a more revolutionary model like the Rocketman.</p>
<p>If I mentally photoshop the side crease out it’s not bad, I just wonder if another evolutionary update of this 10 year old design is the way to go. It just looks like a warmed over R56. I guess that’s the problem with retro designs like this and the Beetle-what does the new, new, new model look like. I was hoping for a more revolutionary model like the Rocketman.</p>
<p>If I mentally photoshop the side crease out it’s not bad, I just wonder if another evolutionary update of this 10 year old design is the way to go. It just looks like a warmed over R56. I guess that’s the problem with retro designs like this and the Beetle-what does the new, new, new model look like. I was hoping for a more revolutionary model like the Rocketman.</p>
<p>Not pleased with any of the Autoexpress sketchs so I’ll stay determined to ignore it as a PeeChee doodling. The suicide door idea seems a bit grasping, but has real utility and might tip the one reluctant family member to OK the deal. I lived with 2 VW bugs with only occasional thoughts of “It’d be great if only…” and that was the only access to behind the seats. Of course in those days there was no catch for the seat back or shoulder seat belts to fumble with. What would be great is if the rear side windows would ‘wing’ out a few inches for ventilation like the later bugs. Yet another toggle switch and indicator light to play with.</p>
<p>Whether the new F56 looks like the boot shown above or not I like what I see there. It’s  little less blurgy that the latest mess.</p>
<p>Those Paceman wheels they used in the sketch better make it to production as well.</p>
<p>I thought the next gen clubman was to be based on the countryman platform, and not a stretched hatch.</p>
<p>The R56 already has an option for a suicide door, it is called the R55. I can’t see making all the changes and adding the weight for this option on the hatch when you will open a tiny door to what? The rear seat space in the R56 is TINY, why put a door there? It seems to me that a new seat slider that would allow the seat to slide further forward would be a better option than to have this as an option. I see this flooding the used MINI market with cars that people would not want to buy.</p>
<p>and yet more novelty bought to you by MINI. this is actually kinda cool. thought i’d buy an R60 S but I think i’ll hang tight for this new clubman.</p>
<p>At this point, perhaps the only saving grace that many of us can anticipate will be the upcoming Coupe and Roadster variants — barring a worthy GP hatchback successor. Add a few horses and tuning tweeks and MINI traditionalists may find the excitement they crave in two very “non-traditional” packages. The roadster could become the 21st century’s Austin Healy Sprite minus the “bug-eyes,” of course!</p>
<p>Material engineering and design management needs to duel with the bean counters if MINI expects to produce lighter, more fuel-efficient, and better performing vehicles. Think of all the wasted time, money, and effort expended on a Rolls-Royce edition that could have been used to create an aluminum space-framed, skinned, design incorporating carbon elements. Make a genuine high performance MINI for the streets with dry sump lubrication and … centerlock hubs to stimulate our salivary glands. How about some Alcantara in the interior, etc. Come on MINI … Go for it! … and do something exciting to capture the hearts and minds of your enthusiast audience.</p>
<p>I like the idea of suicide doors for their utility, but I don’t think I will like what they do to the design. Â I think that the Paceman concept looks great as is–I don’t think I would like it as much with its anticipated suicide doors. Â But I tend to like cars with fewer cut lines, and uncomplicated but elegant surfaces. Â Although I have grown to appreciate the Clubman, I could never bring myself to own one. Â Too busy. Â I have always longed for a very derivative, but extremely functional extended wheelbase MINI, based on the R50/53 or R56 platform–basically a MINI wagon. Â But if this proposed variant is no longer in its dimensions, I would not opt for the suicide doors. Â I’m just trying to ignore these Autoexpress illustrations. Â It’s a bit futile to opine on their guesses. Â I have been pleasantly surprised with almost everything that has made it to production–so I’ll continue to reserve judgment, as usual.</p>
<p>I don’t understand why anyone is giving any credence to the AutoExpress mockups….they’re guesses, nothing more. Â It’s totally absurd to dismiss the F56 based on crudely-rendered shops from artists who haven’t even seen the car.</p>
<p>What I wonder is if the optional 5-door F56 will also feature an extended wheelbase….seems a little silly to me if the ingress/egress improvements don’t also come with more legroom.</p>
<p>As long as the suicide door is a buyer option, I don’t have any issues with that. Could we please make the crease an option so I can opt out?</p>