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MINI (F56)

If you think the F56-generation  MINI Hatch looks remarkably like the previous one, then you’re not alone, although this one is completely new from the ground up. It’s based on BMW’s UKL1 platform, which is available in a variety of wheelbases, and as well as underpinning this car, it also forms the basis of the MINI Clubman, Countryman and BMW 1-series.

The latest MINI is  larger in every external direction, and this three-door Hatch has  spawned a wide variety of models, including the convertible and five-door to run alongside the aforementioned models.  At 3821mm long, it’s 98mm longer (the Cooper S is 3850mm in length), 44mm wider and 7mm taller than the outgoing hatch, most of which appears to be in the nose.

Overall interior space is more generous than before too but those in the back might be hard-pressed to tell.  Despite the increased size, it’s still recognisably MINI with a familiar shape to the grille, headlights, ‘floating roof’ and rear lights – although those are much wider than previous incarnations. It also remains resolutely a British-made car, with Cowley running at capacity to churn them out for international consumption.


Reviews, blogs and news stories

MINI Countryman/Paceman

News : MINI Countryman (2017) makes a giant splash

26 October 2016 Keith Adams 24

The 2017 MINI Countryman has been revealed, and just like its predecessor, it moves very much into the Austin Maxi way of thinking by being bigger, better equipped, and more distant from the original entry-level hatchback. […]

MINI

News : MINI 5-Door Hatch opens for business

5 June 2014 Keith Adams 61

Keith Adams The latest member of the MINI family has been unveiled. The 5-Door Hatch is expected to add significant volume to the MINI’s production output from its Cowley factory, […]

AROnline News

News : MINI unveils the Superleggera at Villa d’Este

23 May 2014 Keith Adams 48

The MINI Superleggera Vision Concept has made its debut at the world-famous Concours d’Elegance at Villa d’Este – a classic car event that, during recent years, has become a popular […]

MINI

Driven : MINI Cooper S

14 April 2014 Keith Adams 0

MINI can’t be accused of not knowing what it’s doing. Nor can you say that the company doesn’t know its customer base – so when you see that the latest […]

Car Reviews

First Drive : MINI Cooper D

12 March 2014 Keith Adams 18

The MINI evolves into its fourth generation and is bigger, more efficient and driver-focused than ever. Question is, will it be good enough to continue the success story? Keith Adams […]

MINI (F56)

Blog : New MINI, too big for its boots?

11 March 2014 Keith Adams 55

Keith Adams Okay, so it’s not often that I’ll sit down halfway through a new car launch and commit my thoughts on it so early in the proceedings but, in […]

MINI

News : New MINI One and One D unveiled at Geneva

4 March 2014 Keith Adams 7

The entry-level MINI One and One D made their world debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The new cars, which see the appeal of the latest generation of the Hatch […]

MINI

News : MINI Clubman Concept shown at Geneva

4 March 2014 Keith Adams 51

John Slavin The MINI Clubman Concept has been shown at the Geneva Motor Show. The show concept features production-ready styling that chimes perfectly with the new F56 hatch. A production […]

MINI (F56)

News : MINI JCW Concept confirmed for Detroit

19 December 2013 Keith Adams 11

Keith Adams The John Cooper Works Concept will be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show, and previews how the next-generation go-faster MINI is going to look, even before the standard […]

MINI

News : New MINI – a growing legend…

18 November 2013 Keith Adams 52

Keith Adams MINI has produced a series of interesting images which, by way of introduction, put the new F56 alongside the previous three generations of cars to wear the Mini […]

MINI

News : Larger, lighter, faster MINI F56 breaks cover

18 November 2013 Keith Adams 63

Keith Adams MINI has unveiled its all-new, fourth-generation hatchback in Cooper and Cooper S form and both versions are scheduled to go on sale early in 2014. The new car […]

MINI

News : Join in with the MINI F56 launch liveblog

18 November 2013 Keith Adams 30

Keith Adams Ahead of its arrival here next year, we’re reporting LIVE from the official unveiling of the next-generation MINI at Cowley today, bringing you all the key information about […]

MINI (F56)

News : MINI F56 interior papped in China

15 August 2013 Keith Adams 36

Keith Adams Here’s the best visual indication so far that the next generation MINI will be dropping its centre-mounted speedometer in favour of a more conventional item. These new images, […]

MINI

News : Issi’s birthday chosen for MINI launch

9 August 2013 Keith Adams 54

Keith Adams MINI has announced that the launch date for the F56-generation model will be 18 November, 107 years after Sir Alec Issigonis was born in Smyrna, or Turkish Izmir […]

MINI

News : MINI adopts the outdoor life

20 July 2013 Keith Adams 44

Keith Adams The Clubvan Camper and Cowley have been shown alongside the Austrian-made Countryman ALL4 Camp and these tongue-in-cheek one offs, nicely timed for the beginning of the summer holidays, […]

AROnline News

News : MINI Paceman John Cooper Works unveiled

13 December 2012 Keith Adams 34

The latest addition to the MINI family is the Paceman John Cooper Works. The 140mph sporting derivative of the Austrian-built Countryman/Paceman will be shown to the public for the first […]

Car Reviews

First Drive : MINI Paceman

10 November 2012 Keith Adams 54

David Ross, Honest John You have to admire the MINI brand. What started out as the ‘new’ MINI back in 2001 has expanded into a range of models including the […]

MINI Countryman/Paceman

News : MINI Paceman unveiled

14 September 2012 Keith Adams 28

These images of the all-new Paceman have been revealed in advance of the Paris motor show unveil – and MINI has confirmed the car is set for UK launch in […]

AROnline News

News : MINI Paceman leaked before Paris unveil

8 September 2012 Keith Adams 47

A great spot by the MINI-oriented Motoring File website means that we’ve been ‘treated’ to a pre-Paris reveal of its the marque’s next model. The story, which was published here, […]

MINI Paceman will be built in Austria
AROnline News

Press Report : Magna Steyr to build MINI Paceman in Austria

26 January 2011 Clive Goldthorp 41

Automotive News Europe/Reuters, 26th January, 2011 Magna Steyr, which manufactures the MINI Countryman, will build BMW AG’s new MINI Paceman, the newspaper Kleine Zeitung reported. Austria-based Magna Steyr already assembles […]

MINI Paceman will be built in Austria
AROnline News

Press Report : MINI’s Paceman Concept confirmed for production

11 January 2011 Clive Goldthorp 24

Arlena Sawyers, Automotive News Europe, 11th January, 2011 MINI will build a production version of the Paceman Concept vehicle which has just been unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, said Ian […]

MINI Paceman concept
AROnline News

MINI : Paceman Concept to be revealed at NAIAS in Detroit next month

19 December 2010 Keith Adams 57

Keith Adams A new MINI Design concept will make its debut at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit next month.  The MINI Paceman Concept is the first […]

Car Reviews

First Drive : MINI Countryman Cooper S ALL4

20 July 2010 Adam Sloman 51

Adam Sloman The new five door MINI Countryman had its international launch in Hamburg, Germany last week. AROnline Contributor Adam Sloman was there to try it out. At over four metres […]

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Opinion

Opinion : MINI vs Mini – a controversial milestone

12 August 2022 0

Chris Cowin highlights how, sometime soon, global production of MINI branded cars by BMW will overtake global production of the classic Mini during 1959-2000 – a figure most sources put […]

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