Mini News: Rumopile: Sedan to Be the Fifth Member of the MINI Family

[William Maley]

The MINI sedan has been floating around the rumor universe since 2012 with various outlets saying it's coming with the prime markets being the China and the U.S. - sedans are more popular than hatchbacks in these markets. Autocar is the latest one to report this and says it's could be coming with the third-generation MINI lineup.

 

According to sources, the sedan is in the cards as the fifth model in the updated MINI lineup. It will use the new Clubman as a base and feature a range of three and four-cylinder engines. A possible name is Riley - a name used for a MINI sedan back in the sixties.

 

Helping substantiate this rumor is a comment made by Ralph Mahler, MINI's vice-president product management.

 

“For example, in Asia and the US, the sedan [saloon] segment is very big. This is very interesting to us, of course," Mahler explained as the automaker has undertaken various analysis on different market trends and segments.

 

If the MINI sedan is given the green light, expect sometime after the launch of the new Countryman - expected to show up later this year.

 

Source: Autocar

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[David]

Trimming back the overblown Mini CUV lineup and adding a Sedan is the only way BMW will grow this autoline.