An Inside Look at the Evolution & Revolution of the 4th Generation MINI
To understand MINI’s strategy for the 4th Generation MINI, you’ll want to start by looking at the Porsche 911. For 2023 MINI is working on a ground-up redesign of its iconic hatch focusing on an evolutionary approach similar to how Porsche’s has evolved the 911. Smaller, iconic and evolutionary are the words that Bernd Köerber (Senior Vice President MINI) used when describing the all new 2023 MINI hatch. But expect more than just subtle changes below the surface. Tellingly Köerber expects the 2023 MINI hatch to be the biggest shift we’ve seen from the brand since the launch of the R50 MINI in 2001.
Recently we sat down with Bernd Köerber and Oliver Heilmer, Vice President MINI Design via Zoom to talk about a many aspects of the brand, the new Urbanaut concept and the future might look like. Clearly the biggest topic at hand was the next generation of MINIs, recently signed-off on and currently in early stages of development. Even with the Urbanaut recently taking center stage, it was talk of this new 4th generation MINI that got both Bernd Köerber and Oliver Heilmer talking
When asked how difficult it is to redefine the design of the iconic MINI hatch – they both jumped in to answer. Oliver Heilmer started; “MINI has such strong roots. On one hand you want to be as careful as possible. On the other you want to give the brand a chance to reinvent itself. Vision vehicles help us a lot in this case. We don’t have to follow our previous icons when it comes to vision. (But) we can’t change too many things in one step for production.”
Our customers have made it clear; don’t screw with an icon!
Bernd Köerber | Senior Vice President MINI
When pressed about what makes a MINI and MINI, Oliver stressed; “it’s not just lights and grill but the proportion, compact feeling and friendly personality.”
Bernd Jumped in; “Our customers have made it clear; don’t screw with an icon! We get this. And since we’re not competing directly, we compare ourselves with Porsche in this instance.”
It’s the biggest step since the new MINI 20 years ago.
Bernd Köerber | Senior Vice President MINI
But even Porsche has grown while retaining its iconic status Bernd Köerber explained. “Porsche has had to take a step and go beyond what the brand has historically been associated with. And now they have a much broader portfolio (Including SUVs and sedans). The key is that the portfolio has to have the brand DNA inside.“
All well and good but we wanted to know more directly what to expect from the 4th generation MINI.
Oliver began; for ‘23 we have modernized it. It’s the biggest step since the new MINI 20 years ago. And starting with ‘23 it’s not just about a new generation of all the same products we have today. We need to evolve the line-up.
“Visually there are elements that the Urban is previewing.” Oliver Heilmer Explained. “The Urbanaut is meant as a provocation. But there are design details from the 2023 actually integrated in this car! Especially in the interior where we’ll see some things translated. The form language will be reduced as much as possible. It’s a pragmatic starting point to say… if we don’t have a shoulder-line in the body of the car, we have more space to work with inside. Surfaces are clean and this (philosophy) comes from the first MINIs. This is really from 1959. We are a humble brand. We like to provide concrete answers to some of the modern design challenges. ”
We don’t want to stand still with the 3 door hatch.
Bernd Köerber | Senior Vice President MINI
What about the growth of the MINI ranges the new variants? Bernd Köerber jumped in; ”We won’t do stupid things. Only where the brand makes sense and stays true to its roots.”
It was a fantastic and very organic discussion that left the lasting impression that the MINI brand is in the right hands with these two. An appreciation for the past mingled with a clear view of the future was clearly evident in their approach to the next generation MINI’s line-up.
While we were doing the normal Zoom long goodbye Bernd Köerber left us with one last hint of what’s coming; “We don’t want to stand still with the 3 door hatch.”
That seems like the type of hint that is setting us up something some pretty exciting and something that could even be a bit challenging at first sight. Luckily we have two more years go prepare.
While we’re talking about evolutionary comparisons, I wish MINI was trying to make the 4th Generation MINI the FWD equivalent of the Miata ND2
Hood line in the middle of nowhere like in FWD BMWs ?!?! Oh no. That would completely ruin MINI design like it happened with BMW.
Hood should end at the grille, just at the top par of the grille like current MINIs, not in the middle of nowhere.
This is exciting! I can’t wait to see how this all transpires. COME ON MINI! Let’s make a STRONG COMEBACK!
Thanks… been here for I dunno 15 years at least? Appreciate all that you do.
Thank you ? for the support!
I don’t have a good feeling about the 4th generation based on the little info at hand. Nonetheless, can’t wait to see what the company comes up with.
Following the deal agreed between the EU and the UK on December 24, and signed by both parties on December 30, MINI Plant Oxford production boss Milan Nedeljkovic said, “We shall continue to run the facility as a normal business as we have done until now, and we do not have any plans to change this”.
Worldwide, MINI sold 292,394 cars in 2020, a 15.8% year-on-year decline. That total included 17,580 examples of the new MINI Electric. Its John Cooper Works performance models also performed strongly, with the 20,565 sold representing a 20.8% year-on-year increase.
The updated F56 will be on sale in the UK this April.
<blockquote>Officially, it’ll manage up to 145 miles from a full charge. On dual carriageways, even sticking to 60mph, I struggled to crack 100 miles. … Running the Mini has confirmed my thoughts that I can’t go fully electric unless I move, adapt my existing home, or go for an EV with a bigger range.</blockquote>
Off topic, but while on the subject of vehicle sales figures, the bespoke Toyota GR Yaris is underpinned by a platform designed for the next season World Rally Championship, which has to be based on a current production vehicle of which a minimum 20k units must have been sold. Toyota is tight lipped about the waiting list, but UK sources are saying that demand for the car is “insane”, with one source quoting 300k so far.
In a recent drag race between the GR Yaris and the JCW GP 3, guess which one won:
<a href="https://www.motor1.com/news/465955/toyota-yaris-mini-cooper-race/" rel="nofollow ugc">https://www.motor1.com/news/465955/toyota-yaris-mini-cooper-race/</a>
First pictures of the Yaris GR World Rally car:
<a href="https://www.wrc.com/en/news/season-2020/wrc/first-pictures-2021-toyota-yaris-world-rally-car/" rel="nofollow ugc">https://www.wrc.com/en/news/season-2020/wrc/first-pictures-2021-toyota-yaris-world-rally-car/</a>
I’m trying to hang onto my car until the 4th gen comes out but it’s looking less likely now as my R53 is coming up to 300,000kms on the odometer, If the 4th gen had been out by now, it would have been a no brainer. I don’t want to spend the money, I have earmarked to replace my current R53, on expensive repairs on a car I intend to get rid of soon. However, with the delay of getting the next gen out, I can’t help myself but start looking around at other brands. The longer MINI takes to bring out the next gen, the more the chance my next car will not be a MINI. Once I leave the brand, I may not come back.
Congratulations MINI.
Once again doing us proud.
Now, who do we talk to to get MINI to broadcast this to the world.
We Are The Best.
Why don’t they use these wins in their advertising like 60’s rallies wins to show people we’ve still got it? We are such an excellent product.
Win on race day, sell on Monday!
Cooper SE sales represent 6% of global sales
It’s easy to have a big increase when you start from zero
<blockquote>Cooper SE sales represent 6% of global sales
It’s easy to have a big increase when you start from zero</blockquote>
Not sure why you’re trying to poopoo the Cooper SE sales. The article didn’t even say “it was a big increase”, so you’ve created a strawman to argue with. The article said that SE sales were on the high end of what MINI had hoped for, which is great.
Is there a future for MINI?
I would have chosen the diesel if it were an option when ordering my Countryman in August of 2017.Even the time before that (2010) I was looking at a diesel VW Jetta, the dealer couldn’t find one I liked and weren’t as willing as MINI is to do a custom order, so I ended up with a Ford Focus.
I also got to chat with Pat at MINI’s on Top this past summer, very nice person
Good, plastic is really not pretty
The F56 is enjoying a renaissance thanks to the success of the all-electric Cooper SE, and a boost to its image courtesy of the JCW GP 3. Things can only get better with the prospect of the all-electric JCW GP E.
The “low budget exercise” Cooper SE is the real surprise, with waiting lists still growing. The limited range of around 100 miles, is clearly not putting everyone off.
Samuel Caplan in Ohio, found a cancelled order Cooper SE for sale at Habberstad BMW Long Island, 500 miles away. Transportation costs would have amounted to $2k. Instead he decided to drive it back to Ohio in one shot. It took him 15 hours and cost him $34.09 for 133kWh of energy.
<a href="https://outofspecstudios.com/reviews/2020/12/19/mini-cooper-se-purchase-road-trip" rel="nofollow ugc">https://outofspecstudios.com/reviews/2020/12/19/mini-cooper-se-purchase-road-trip</a>
The Cooper SE is a killer option. In a substantial number of use cases for MINI owners, it basically makes any automatic-transmission Cooper or Cooper S hardtop obsolete. After the tax credit, the vehicle cost matches or beats the Cooper / Cooper S, and running costs are lower, too. And it’s quicker than either. IMO, it’s a no-brainer if you have a place to charge, another car for trips, and you were going to buy an automatic anyway… which is a substantial number of MINIs.
Yes! The GP-E! ;D
Lots to like. Wish there was a Clubman freshening along those lines but it is dead on the vine if there even is a 22 model at all. I don’t care for the new wheel design shown.