Ever since being acquired by BMW, Mini has expanded far beyond what many people expected of the niche UK automaker. Mini has even able to take advantage of the SUV boom with two different models, the Countryman and Paceman. The latter was eventually discontinued, but it looks like another SUV model is in the pipeline. Auto Express reports that Mini is working on a smaller sister car to the new Countryman, which should go on sale in 2021.
The Paceman was simply a two-door version of the Countryman, but this new SUV will be very different. According to a Mini source, this new SUV will have a similar footprint to the Countryman, but the company has ruled out a larger SUV model. The current Countryman will be the largest SUV that the brand will make, and Mini won't go any smaller than the current three-door Cooper. We've seen that models like the Mini Coupe and Roadster were unsuccessful in the past, but Mini sees an opportunity with a new crossover. The SUV market is booming, so it makes sense that Mini wants more than just the Countryman in its lineup.
When asked about the smaller SUV, member of the BMW board of management, Peter Schwarzenbauer, said "That would be an interesting option, especially when you look around. There are few car types in the world right now that fit into every market. A small urban SUV is definitely a segment that is extremely interesting, but so far we haven't made any decision on its direction." BMW is working on a new platform that would underpin the new SUV as well as future Mini models. Mini currently uses the UKL1 platform on Cooper models, and the UKL2 platform for the Clubman and Countryman, as well as an upcoming hybrid version of the latter.
Mini will also reveal an all-electric model soon, and this small SUV has the potential to be an EV as well. Based on the rumored dimensions of the vehicle, the SUV would likely be a rival for the upcoming Volkswagen T-Cross and Nissan Kicks. We anticipate that this small SUV will be a huge success for Mini when it is revealed some time in 2020 or 2021.