2015 MINI Convertible and 5-door Hatch Spied on the Ring

The 5-door version will be the first one of its kind in the brand’s history. Not to be confused with the Countryman, the Hatch will be part of the smaller, compact segment, appealing to those that always wanted a hatch MINI but couldn’t live with the rear seats in that configuration.

With the added doors, the new model will probably also grow a bit in size, to offer more room in the back, in all areas: head, shoulders and legs. The boot could also receive a slight increase as the car’s purpose will be more focused on carrying more people across longer journeys rather than spirited driving.

Even so, the engine choices won’t be different than what we’re seeing on the 3-door version. Entry level units for the Cooper will include 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged powerplants making 136 HP, 4-cylinder 2-liter units for the Cooper S, making 192 HP and some diesels as well, at least for Europe, including the new 1.5-liter 3-cylinder making 116 HP.

The same range of engines should be expected on the new Convertible as well. The only difference is that the drop top will have similar measurements to the 3-door Hatch, with a retractable, textile roof, to keep the weight in check.

Inside, the new infotainment system based on the iDrive will be available, probably with the same tricky location, in between the seats, as we found in our test drive. Transmission choices will revolve around the new 6-speed manual or the 6-speed Steptronic automatic.

Judging by the way these two cars were driven on the Nurburgring we’re inclined to say that we’re not too far off from seeing them without any kind of camouflage. Furthermore, revealing the Convertible now and having it in dealerships by the end of the month would allow the car to have an extra summer on its side, to boost the sales.