Next Mini Cooper to ditch tradition
The Mini revolutionised the use of front-wheel drive, but the next-generation Cooper hatchback could put the power to the back wheels.
When the Alec Issigonis-designed Mini launched in the late 1950s, it became the world’s first truly successful front-wheel drive car, allowing more cabin space by putting all the powertrain in front of the occupants.
Almost 70 years on and the Mini Cooper (the modern spiritual successor) has stayed true to that formula, both across its petrol- and electric-powered derivatives.
However, for the next generation of the battery-powered Mini Cooper Electric, the formula is getting its first makeover in history, moving to a rear-drive platform shared with parent company BMW.
As reported by Autocar, the ‘Gen6’ platform already under the likes of the BMW iX3 and i3 EVs will be used in the Cooper Electric, though given it doesn’t support front-mounted electric motors, the hatchback will have to go to a rear-drive layout.
This will see a reversal of sorts for BMW, given that from 2019, the entry-level 1 Series moved to a front-drive platform in order to share development costs with Mini’s petrol-powered products such as the Cooper.
According to Autocar, the next 1 Series will return to its roots of being a rear-wheel drive model when it goes electric on the new Gen6 platform.
Jordan Mulach
Though this change for the Mini Cooper Electric has yet to be confirmed by BMW, development boss Joachim Post previously refused to rule out the rear-drive move.
It’s expected the new-gen Mini Cooper EV will effectively end the current partnership the brand has with GWM, who manufactures the existing model in China on a unique platform, shared only with the slightly larger Mini Aceman.
The Autocar report claims the future of the petrol-powered Mini – which remains on a BMW platform – will likely remain front-wheel drive, though it’s likely to add the option of hybrid powertrains in the future.
Speaking to the publication, Mini design chief Holger Hampf said the brand has “started to work on the next generation of Mini, and what follows now is a look at the entire portfolio”.
"You can ask a Brit or a German or an Italian, you can ask a five-year-old, and they will recognise a Mini based on the proportions of the car," he told Autocar.
"Especially when it comes to the three-door hatch, it's a very short car with wheels at its corners, short overhangs, with some signature elements such as the facial impression. This is the most important to me: the combination of round headlights and grille.
"Every five-year-old will know this is a Mini. It's my job to treat it with respect."
According to Hampf, the next generation of Minis will likely take inspiration from the design of the ‘R50’ series which started the brand’s BMW-owned tenure.
