The F55 MINI Five Door: The Full Round-up of What we Know
The folks at Gmotors have the best look yet at the new five door F55 MINI. Seeing some of the first full running prototypes on the road means it probably a good time to give you a re-cap of what we know about the car.
The Release Schedule
The 2015 MINI five door (the name is still TBD) will debut in the fall of 2014. Details have yet to be worked out but expect a roll-out to be slightly compressed in compared to the F56 – meaning it should hit the US before the spring of 2015. This should help give the Convertible room to launch that spring.
The Space
The new MINI five door will allow MINI to compete in the four door market without buyers giving up the typically MINI attributes. Despite it being a core brand attribute, many potential buyers can’t get past the size of the standard MINI hatch. Getting someone who is used to four door sedans to believe that a MINI hatch can be practical for them is harder to do. So MINI is developing a secret weapon for the next generation hardtop aimed squarely at markets such as the US. The internal code-name is F55 and, if it is received as hoped, it could make a MINI seem practical for an entirely new group of potential owners.
But what exactly has MINI done to the dimensions to create more space? Read on.
Using the next generation hatch (internally knowing as the F56) as its basis, MINI will shorten the front doors and add two small, conventionally opening doors behind them. This will be much like the Countryman’s layout, but in a smaller package. Those rear doors will be on the small side, but still more usable then you might expect. Sources are telling us that the rear doors will extend from the trailing edge of the front doors all the way into the rear wheel arches and up to the gas cap on the right side of the car. Opening those four doors will be completely redesigned door handles, while stylistically they will be similar to the current car, will pivot outward from the front end similar to the mechanism found on newer BMWs.
Inside we’ve been told to expect rear legroom to increase about 5 cm as compared to the next generation hardtop (which will be roughly the same as the current generation). F55 will offer a three person bench seat (like the Countryman and Clubman in some markets) likely as standard.
Stylistically the front of the car will be identical to the new F56. However the rear will be slightly raked as the extra 5 cm of legroom will push the boot out slightly. As these photos almost let you make out, think of shape as almost a fast-back. In total the F55 will likely be at least 5 cm longer than the F56 hatch which will be approximately the same size in length (give or two a cm or two). On the roof the R55 will feature a more subtle version of the Clubman’s “dune-line” roof profile to further distinguish the three and five door hatches.
MINI will even likely market the R55 simply as “the four-door MINI.” It won’t be taking the place of the iconic two door hardtop, but it will be offered for those who want a small MINI with just a bit more practicality. A little practicality wouldn’t hurt the hardtop for many. Have you ever tried to get a child seat in the back of the hatch or perhaps a dog in and out? Then you’ll know why the four-door F55 may go along way in helping Americans overcome their fears of impracticality. For the rest, the original hatchback form factor of the two door MINI will remain as well.
Or thought of another way, it’ll bring some of the Countryman’s gains in practicality, but with fewer of its SUV-bred performance compromises. Imagine being able to more easily haul passengers, kids or pets, but retaining all of the smaller MINI’s handling and lightweight efficiency. That’s a package we can get excited about.
What about the Clubman? Don’t worry MINI still has plans for the “other” MINI. But expect some tweaks to the formula in an effort to make the next generation Clubman (dubbed internally as the F54) a bit more dynamic.
Engines and Technology
Since the F55 is an iteration of the F56 the entire range of engines will carry over. For the US that range will comprise of two engines at launch: a 1.5L three cylinder and a 2.0L four cylinder.
The B37/B38 are built on a modular platform that increases .5L for every cylinder. That means that these engines essentially 1/2 or 2/3 of the revered 3.0L BMW inline six. Crucially, both engines are now turbocharged. What that has done is re-align the models, with the Cooper joining the Cooper S in forced induction. In our minds, this makes the Cooper much more performance-oriented than before, but lets look at the numbers.
Horsepower:
– Cooper: 134 bhp / 162 lb-ft
– Cooper S: 189 bhp / 207 lb-ft
One note – MINI will likely keep the six speed Aisin automatic at launch before replacing it with the ZF 9 Speed later in the lifecycle.
Look for the slow strip-tease to happen throughout the next 12 months ahead of it’s late 2014 reveal.
Image courtesy of Gmotors.
<p>Never thought I’d think it, but I’m now hoping for a small boxy sedan made by adding a trunk on the back of this – something 2002ish.</p>
<p>Like the Riley Elf!</p>
<p>Left Lane News has some spy shots of the F54 (?) along with the F55: <a href="http://www.leftlanenews.com/mini-traveller.html" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.leftlanenews.com/mini-traveller.html</a></p>
<p>That’s not the F54.</p>
<p>I think it may be… I heard they merged two projects at the request of the newest board member as he felt the current number of models suited the market.</p>
<p>Whatever this is…. I am in love! BTW those shots are from Munich to the Test track outside the city- early prototype as it is being open flat bedded to the track (usually they would use closed trailers if final without camo or just drive it…)</p>
<p>This is the F58 “Spacebox”</p>
<p>Nice!</p>
<p>See the rear barn doors? It’s a different car. At this rate, soon we’ll have a MINI with 4 doors on the driver’s side, 3 doors on the back, and no doors on the passenger side. How many versions of the same car can they make?</p>
<p>If I could un-see those pictures, I would. That front overhang just kills the trademark look of a MINI. Wheels at the corners, it’s a pretty simple formula. Even the Countryman looks more MINI like than that…thing.</p>
<p>To me this car just looks like a Countryman that has been further lowered to the ground.</p>
<p>MINI has to remain unique and although we are on the eve of the new original.
There is no let-up on new MINI product . Four new MINI models have commenced evaluation and there will be more.
MINI is intent on providing the customer the MINI they want , it will provide their requirements but most importantly it will be a MINI.</p>
<p>We will also see for the first time a 6dr MINI and a MINI Sedan which will be very Avant-garde for a MINI it will be exciting to see this develop as the MINI formula translates extremely well to a four dr concept , its not what you expect but you will like how a sedan incorporates that MINI design DNA in the final concept.</p>
<p>Good to herr.</p>
<p>Herr, too many models IMHO. The biggest mistake the MINI brand can make is to spread themselves very thin and be all things to everybody. That is a very dangerous slippery slope. Just witness the poor sales performance of the Paceman and the press criticism this vehicle and the Countryman have gathered.
Are you going to have a MINI coachbus, pick up truck and hearse as well?</p>
<p>PACEMAN is not considered a volume model its a bit like the BMW X6 against the BMW X5. The Countryman sells more but since introduction earlier this year the PACEMAN has sold over 10,000 units similar to the first year of MINI Coupe and Roadster.</p>
<p>There will always be press criticism but it is customer sales that are far more important. The Countryman is at the current time the best selling MINI model. The Countryman has been successful for MINI and BMW Group.</p>
<p>With the next generation of MINI.
There will be new ideas for concepts , existing concepts and assimilation of existing concepts into one concept.
MINI will closely align with the equivalent BMW compact family.
The responses from both brands are purely down to booming compact segments including SAVs and Crossovers across global markets.
When BMW announce that these cars are expected to be about 1 million units by 2020?
This is not a fantasy this is exactly what is happening now.</p>
<p>That front overhang is not very MINI like, but I will reserve judgment until I see the real thing. And for the record, rear facing child seat kid removal in an R50 is a two person job and maybe advisable to put a helmet on him so you don’t keep hitting his head on the door jamb, roof, back window, side pillar and your own head. Luckily Problem Child isn’t my only source of transport of my munchkin or DSS might be getting involved!
Almost was able to get him out of the rear lift gate, but its too tight if you haven’t taken the headrest out. Now that he can go front facing we are about to have another one so here we go again, I don’t think this thing will be big enough though still.</p>
<p>In actual photos, from most angles, the overhang actually looks a lot like the R56 overhang. The parts of the nose that are actually sticking further out aren’t the bulk of the nose but rather the pedestrian cow catcher bit across the front of the grill. The nose itself is still very compact.
Also keep in mind that the actual mass of the car — the engine — is not what’s in that space. It’s the opposite. It’s empty space to put room between the hard parts of the car and any pedestrians unfortunate enough to be in its path. So while yes, on principle, a longer overhang like you’ll find on a VW is a bad thing, but from a center of mass standpoint, the wheels are still very much at the corners.</p>
<p>Around the headlight there is an imprint in the metal allowing the headlight to further raked into the bonnet. Although you cannot really see due to the camouflage or indeed the zoom lens distance of the first photographs this pushes the outline to the grille so it does not make the nose as long as it is in photographs where you cannot see this outline and how it aligns with the actual body.</p>
<p>On the MINI site at GCF for the F56 I have a picture , a new picture of a Volcanic Orange Cooper S close up with minimal disguise where you can actually see this.</p>
<p>Look at the outline around the headlights and you can see how it aligns with the grille. It makes the nose shorter than it looks because you cannot see this under the camouflage.</p>
<p>Which Photo do you mean?</p>
<p>You are not doing it right. When my oldest used to ride rear facing in our R53 and R50 we used to loading him up from the hatch, one person job and fairly easy. Loved people’s faces when they saw me loading up a baby from the trunk.</p>
<p>Here’s my opinion. Mini/BMW make all the variants and models they want so long as they don’t go out business. BUT – with all these off-shot models, I’d like to see Mini make something very, very close to the R50/R56.(Don’t consider the F56 that close to an R50/56 in size, looks).</p>
<p>I mean they will be (or are) making all these other models and styles to get more diverse and attract more customers, making a more classic Mini, IMO wouldn’t hurt them. If they made it, they’d get buyers.</p>
<p>Just don’t make it a special or high cost model. I’d say priced just below the F56, and bring it to the USA too.</p>
<p>I think many of us were hoping for the Rocketman city car, which would be a size down from the R50/53. Pretty soon the only mini MINI will be the hatch.</p>
<p>This photo.</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>Seems you mentioned ‘This Photo’ re the F56 S in minimal camouflage with the Volcanic Orange color but you didn’t note the name of the site where you found it. Would like to see what that color looks like…especially compared to the Metallic Spicy Orange that’s on my JCW Coupe…..</p>
<p>It’s very yellow. Tune in Monday.</p>
<p>Maybe the next MINI Coupe, if there is one, can be mid-engined. This way the overhangs can be minimal. I jest, of course.</p>
<p>Any chance this will come in all wheel drive?</p>
<p>Be very surprised if it didn’t.</p>
<p>Would the the AWD only be for JCW? I don’t think I can wait 2 years.</p>
<p>I’d expect it in Cooper, Cooper S and JCW models, although I bet that like the R60 today, All4 will be standard on JCW.</p>
<p>So that puts a JCW well optioned in the mid $40,000 range eh.</p>
<p>Given the economies of scale of the shared platform, I’d expect pricing to be similar to today, and most increases to come with more standard equipment. This has been MINI’s model for a decade now.</p>
<p>That probably puts AWD about two years out when the JCW comes out?</p>