20 years after the launch of the modern MINI, the original brand concept of building small premium cars with style and character has grown into a global success story.
MINI is now the pinnacle expression of small cars with big character, a near-endless palette of charming and customisable options, advanced in-car technology as well as the highest levels of premium fit and finish.
MINI is proud to unveil today its 2021 Hatch and Convertible model range, presenting the iconic British brand’s future-conscious design language in an updated package.
“With the current model revision, the MINI has reached a level of maturity that makes it even more exceptional in the small car segment with regard to design, product substance and premium quality, than ever before,” says Bernd Körber, Head of the MINI brand. “The MINI is the original that stands out from the crowd and it continues to reinvent itself again and again.”
Purify MINI: A new minimalist exterior design.
A new exterior design language frames the unmistakable appearance of the MINI in a minimalist light. Central design features become more apparent and modern by means of reduction.
The front view of the MINI 3-door Hatch (including the MINI Electric Hatch) is particularly expressive, as the hexagonal surround of the characteristic MINI front grille is now accentuated by a substantial black surround.
In contrast, peripheral elements are reduced – position lights are replaced by vertical air inlets pushed to the outer corners of the front fascia, simultaneously functioning as air curtains aiding aerodynamics.
Typical MINI proportions and short overhangs continue to define the side view. Both the front and rear wheel arch surrounds receive a striking contour edge, and at the front a new side scuttle design integrates LED side indicators and model-specific embellishments.
A reduced surface design characterises the rear view of the combustion engine powered MINI model variants. A black surround picks up the hexagonal shape of the radiator grille, accentuating both the centre- or side-mounted tailpipes on different model variants. The rear fog light is now integrated into the rear apron as a narrow LED unit.
The overall effect is one of reduced fuss, and increased purity of identity. “The new MINI design is more modern, fresher and clearer,” says Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design. “All innovations follow a common mission: Purify MINI! Less complexity, more individuality.”
The world’s first Multitone Roof.
Contrasting colours for the roof and side mirror caps are the most striking design features that have made MINI a brand apart when it comes to customisation. In addition to the Jet Black, Aspen White and Melting Silver paintwork, as well as Chili Red for John Cooper Works range, a new and innovative world-first Multitone Roof will now be offered for the MINI 3-door and the MINI 5-door.
A colour gradient from San Marino Blue through to Pearly Aqua and Jet Black extends from the windscreen frame to the rear, applied one after the other in a wet-on-wet painting process. This paint finish, known as Spray Tech, is fully integrated into the mechanised production process at the MINI Oxford plant in the UK.
Since slight deviations naturally occur because of environmental reasons whilst in application, every roof will have a unique finish.
“The new Multitone Roof for the MINI is not only the most expressive form of contrast paint to date, it also takes the brand‘s hallmark ex works customisation options to a new level,” says Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design. “And because every roof looks a little bit different and is so unique, it pays to look closely more than ever.”
Three new exterior paint finishes, five new light-alloy wheels.
Three new colours will be introduced with the 2021 MINI Hatch and Convertible range: Rooftop Grey metallic, Island Blue metallic and Zesty Yellow (the latter only available for the MINI Convertible at the time of introduction).
Piano Black Exterior touches now extend to the door handles, side scuttles, fuel cap, MINI logos on the bonnet and luggage compartment lid, model lettering and tailpipes of the exhaust system. The surrounds of the headlights, radiator grille and rear lights are likewise darkened.
The range of light-alloy wheels available for the MINI has also been extensively renewed. Five new designs are available: 17-inch wheels Tentacle Spoke black design, Scissor Spoke design and a black version of the Pedal Spoke variant.
In addition, there are new 18-inch light-alloy wheels in Pulse Spoke design, with a concentric bi-colour look that creates impressive design accents, as well as John Cooper Works light-alloy wheels in Circuit Spoke black design.
Go-kart feeling redefined: new generation Adaptive Suspension.
Spontaneous power delivery, precise steering, powerful brakes and spirited handling are all key features of MINI’s signature go-kart driving experience. A new version of MINI’s Adaptive Suspension now elevates handling to a new level.
An additional valve acting on the traction side takes over the task of smoothing out sudden pressure peaks within the damper. Damper force is adjusted within 50 to 100 milliseconds, and depending on the driving situation and road conditions, the damping forces can be reduced by up to 50 percent.
This significantly increases ride comfort and superior handling when compensating for slight bumps in the road, while maintaining the sporty characteristics of the damping when turning in to a corner, for example. The innovative damper technology is available across the range in New Zealand except on the MINI Electric Hatch.
Interior: Clear design, high-quality finish.
The redesigned interior of the 2021 MINI Hatch and Convertible range is sophisticated, modern and of particularly high quality.
New to the range are sports seats in Light Chequered colour, which perfectly complement the Zesty Yellow exterior paint finish. The familiar Black Pearl fabric quality is given a new, expressive check look in hallmark British MINI style. The seams at the transition to the seat bolsters feature a colour scheme that matches the fabric of the seat surfaces.
The number of chrome elements has been significantly reduced throughout the interior. The two outer, round air outlets are now framed by black panels. The interior fascia, optionally available in the new Silver Chequered and MINI Yours Aluminium variants now extends across the entire width of the instrument panel into the driver‘s area.
An 8.8-inch colour touchscreen display now features touch-sensitive favourite buttons and Piano Black high-gloss surfaces. In addition, a new surface design with laser engraving updates the appearance of the LED colour-changing ring surrounding the central instrument. Finally, the operating system controller placed on the centre console gets an all-black surface makeover in conjunction with a navigation system.
A new sports leather steering wheel becomes standard across the MINI Hatch and Convertible range for 2021, with redesigned keypads that ease operation of telephone, audio and driver assistance systems. A new 5-inch digital LCD instrumentation screen first seen on the MINI Electric Hatch is now applied across the range.
Colour your world: new MINI display colours and lighting mood.
Always keen on enhancing the mood for any driving experience, MINI’s new digital instrumentation enables mood switching that changes the look and feel of the interior to the experience desired.
Corresponding to the car’s vehicle setting, “MID” and “GREEN” modes are paired with a “lounge” setting on the screen display. “SPORT” switches up the colour display to red graphics and a sportier look. A uniform colour scheme for all modes can also be configured in the control system menu.
In conjunction with the new Ambient Light option, the colour worlds of the displays can also be combined with the interior ambience. Six interior light colours can be selected for each of the two modes, ”Lounge“ and ”Sport“. They can each be set using a toggle switch located in the upper area of the windscreen frame.
Corresponding coloured light is then emitted from the laser-engraved LED ring of the central instrument, the undersides of the interior surfaces, along the contours of the door panels, at the driver‘s and passenger‘s door openers, from the base of the roof as well as in the front area of the centre console and in the footwells.
New operating system with modern graphics display and additional connectivity features.
The operating system of the MINI Hatch and Convertible is now more advanced than ever thanks to a new graphics display and updated options for selecting and controlling audio, telephone, navigation and apps on-the-go.
The screen display with symbols and white text on new colour backgrounds has a particularly high-grade and modern look. The desired menu items are displayed as “live widgets“ and can be called up by swiping the touchscreen, whereupon they are enlarged in the centre display.
Always connected to your MINI: The new MINI App.
The new MINI App offers an advanced user experience that is completely oriented towards a digital lifestyle. It allows drivers to contact their MINI at any time, to call up information on the car‘s status or to prepare the next excursion.
Interactive functions can vary from checking fuel or charge status remotely, or locking/unlocking the doors via Remote Services. One can also send navigation information straight to the car using the App.
Servicing appointments can be arranged, and model-specific features like charging process on the MINI Electric Hatch can be controlled from a distance.
Finally, with a new interface and design, the MINI App can be downloaded free of charge from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
Engine variants
Powerful and efficient petrol engines with three or four cylinders constitute the drive portfolio for the MINI 3-door, the MINI 5-door and the MINI Convertible. Thanks to consistently optimised emission control technology, which includes a petrol engine particulate filter, all model variants comply with the Euro 6d emission standard.
The new 2021 MINI Hatch and Convertible range will make their way into New Zealand in the later half of this year. Pricing and specification on the new range will be announced closer to arrival.
