The BMW-owned company concedes that the ever-growing hatch “shouldn’t get any bigger” than the current third-generation F56 iteration, which is about 20cm longer than the first reborn model from 2001, and 80cm or so longer than the ‘60s models. While something badged Mini and akin to Mercedes-Benz’s Smart cars might make perfect sense on the face of it, reality seems to dictate that it wouldn’t be profitable. Ergo, romance can take a hike.

The cost issues are in large part down to the brand’s UKL modular architecture, to underpin up to 12 BMW and 10 Mini models over the coming years. That architecture cannot house any car shorter than 3.8m. And BMW/Toyota’s global joint-venture? No update as to how it could help here.

All of this means that a product like the famous 3.4m long Mini Rocketman concept from 2011 is still a mile from production reality, despite being the subject of every Mini executive interview under the sun.

However, the company has left the door slightly ajar — and with it, let a glimmer of hope gleam through the crack — that a tiny new range-opener could materialise down the track as an electric car, given the vastly different packaging constraints and cost pressures.

Mini will launch its first EV in 2019, and while that car will be the same size as the F56, it’ll be interesting to see what direction the brand goes in from 2020 onwards.