► 2023 Mini hatchback spied
► Will come with petrol and EV power
► More conventional looks than Aceman
If you were worried the Mini Aceman concept might be dragging the brand in too radical a direction for you, these spy shots of the next-generation Mini Cooper hatch may go some way towards reassuring you that all is not completely barmy at BMW’s fun car factory.
Captured here in internal combustion form – yes, really – it’s clear to see that the next Mini hatchback is taking a smooth approach to evolution, even dialling back some of the more caricaturish elements of the current car. Including its overall size.
So what’s new about the new Mini hatch?
A couple of things stand out to us – the apparently protruding rear light design, which we were expecting to stay unique to the electric version, and the tapering roof line, which appears to narrow in a much more pronounced fashion towards the back of the car.
What’s not new is the continuing use of upright rounded headlights – now looking smaller and less bug-eyed than the present car – which contrasts with the complex knocked over shapes deployed by the current Mini Countryman and forthcoming Mini Aceman. Perhaps Mini is using this to differentiate its crossover SUV range from the more conventional line-up.
You’ll also note the old-school door handles, which are similar to the present Mini hatch and different to the fared-in pop-out items spotted on next-gen Mini EV prototypes.
Speaking of doors…
Yes, you’ve clocked that all three Mini prototypes pictured here are three-door models – so at least one carmaker is sticking with that format for now.
We’re still expecting a five-door version of the new Mini, but we’ve got to say those three-door lines do look good.
And Mini is really still building an ICE variant?
Absolutely. While rivals – such as Smart – are surging ahead into an EV-only future, Mini is hedging its bets a bit by continuing to offer petrol power as an option for those less forward-looking or simply unable to deal with the current realities of electric-only life. (Such as the still somewhat patchy public charging network, rising energy costs and the time that charging takes.)
It’s unclear at this stage exactly what engines Mini will be fitting, but mild-hybrid assistance is a certainty, and Mini Cooper and faster Mini Cooper S variants are likely to launch the new range when it finally appears in production form.
When does the next Mini hatch go on sale – and will it still be built in Oxford?
The next-generation Mini Cooper and Cooper S are expected to be revealed in 2023 – and should go on sale that year, parts supply and war in Europe permitting. A JCW hot hatch will follow later.
The British link is important to the brand, and these petrol models are set to be built in Oxford, as they have been since BMW took over. However, the also forthcoming Mini EV may be built in China alongside the Aceman, as part of a joint venture with Great Wall.