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Spyshots: 5-Door and 3-Door MINI Hatchbacks Seen Together

Before we start this story, let us just ask you a simple question: Have you guys ever seen so many test prototypes in the same photo? Of course not, not unless you live in Northern Sweden. Just as the Nurburgring test sessions ended in December, all the engineers flocked to the Arctic Circle in order to continue development of the automobiles that will be launched in the next couple of year.
5-Door and 3-Door MINI Hatchbacks Seen Together 10 photos
Photo: SB-Medien
5-Door MINI Hatch Spyshots5-Door MINI Hatch Spyshots5-Door MINI Hatch Spyshots5-Door MINI Hatch Spyshots5-Door MINI Hatch Spyshots5-Door MINI Hatch Spyshots5-Door MINI Hatch Spyshots5-Door MINI Hatch Spyshots5-Door MINI Hatch Spyshots
BMW and MINI are working hard on a new front-wheel drive platform. Since 2011 when the B-Class came out, Mercedes has seen its sales swell, especially after the CLA came out. BMW will also have an MPV-ish hatchback, the 2 Series Active Tourer, and a crossover SUV, the new X1, based on FWD architecture. But what's interesting to see is that MINI is also taking a similar approach.

Our spy photographers in Norther Sweden sent us these pictures, which capture both 3-door and 5-door version of the MINI cooper. An MPV is also being developed, though it hasn't been captred in these shots.

The turquoise blue (we think it's a new color) prototype is clearly the 5-door has the Cooper S 2-liter engine. It could even be an SD model, since a 2-liter diesel has yet to be announced by MINI and is crucial to sales in Europe.

The black-roofed 3-door car is even more puzzling, since the Cooper and Cooper D are already in production. Could this be the One hatch, or a 4All version? We just don't know yet.

Another mystery that will remain unanswered is why the test engineers "playing" with the 5-door appear to be two women in their 20s who both have the same white, fluffy hats. One of them even appears to be wearing skinny jeans and a sparkly belt! Is she loading a child seat in the back or are those items from the thrift shop?
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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