The next-generation Mini Cooper has been spied under heavy camouflage while testing in the snowy conditions of Northern Europe. The British car manufacturer has been testing the new-age Mini Hatch for quite some time but no doubt got a shock in December last year when images emerged online of an undisguised prototype that was snapped in China. We now know exactly what the exterior of the new car will look like but that hasn’t prevented Mini from bathing this tester in black and yellow camo.
Arguably the most significant change to
the new Mini’s exterior comes at the rear where the ‘squared-oval’ taillights
have been replaced by lights shaped like a pyramid, albeit turned to the side.
These lights aren’t visible on this prototype but we can see the sharp design
of the tailgate itself.
Found at the front of the new Mini and
somewhat visible on this prototype will be tweaked headlights. While the lights
of this prototype are shrouded in grey circles suggesting the lights will be
much larger than previously, that’s not the case. These grey rings are simply
part of the camouflage and the lights will be similar in size to the outgoing
Mini. They will incorporate circular LED daytime running lights.
Modifications will continue into the cabin
of the new Mini Hatch with the most obvious change being the addition of a
large circular infotainment display sitting in the middle of the dashboard. The
car will also feature a small head-up display and apparently do its bit for the
environment by making do without any leather. The new car will be sold with a
handful of different powertrains. Variants powered by petrol engines are tipped
to be underpinned by BMW’s new front-wheel-drive FAAR architecture while
all-electric versions will allegedly use a platform jointly developed between
BMW and Great Wall. Electric models are expected to be produced in China.
