Mini News: MINI Countryman Coupe Under Consideration

[William Maley]

It is no secret that the MINI Paceman wasn't a great seller and that production will be ending this year. But it seems there is a successor under consideration, a spiritual one.

Auto Express spoke with BMW Group design chief Adrian van Hooydonk who revealed that the company is looking at an adding another variant of the Countryman with a coupe-like roofline.

“Part of the issue was the three doors. We have looked into a lot of things, but all of our [BMW] SUV coupes are five-door vehicles. As much as people probably drive the cars with only one or two people, they like the comfort of an extra set of doors. They want to carry extra stuff – throw a bag in the rear or take someone,” said van Hooydonk.

It is unknown whether or not it will be part of the Countryman lineup or be a separate model. But it will use the UKL1 platform that underpins MINI's current models and feature a range of three and four-cylinder gas and diesel engines if given the go-ahead.

Source: Auto Express

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[A Horse With No Name]

...and endless set of variations of existing designs won't save them by any means.

[G. David Felt]

This just makes me think Mini has lost their focus on how to be Mini. This is not a car, coupe, other auto styles other than Mini IMHO.

[A Horse With No Name]

4 minutes ago, dfelt said:

This just makes me think Mini has lost their focus on how to be Mini. This is not a car, coupe, other auto styles other than Mini IMHO.

Agreed, although like everyone else they are having to crank out SUV type vehicles to keep the production lines rolling.

[daves87rs]

Ah, another waste of money on the way.....

[Frisky Dingo]

Jezus f@#k, they can make a business case for this, but not a the Rocketman?!?!