Next-Gen Mini Cooper Could Go RWD, Report ClaimsAndi HedrickA next-generation Mini Cooper is reportedly in the works, and a new report from Britain's Autocar claims that the bite-sized hatchback could transition to a rear-wheel drive platform.The heralded Mini hatchback has been front-wheel drive since its inception more than 60 years ago, but BMW's ownership stake in the British brand may lead that to change soon. After with BMW development boss Joachim Post, Autocar reports the German automaker's Gen6 platform—an RWD-biased architecture currently in use on BMW's iX3 and i3—could underpin the next electric Cooper hatchback. Additionally, BMW Group engineers told reportedly told the U.K. publication that there are currently no plans to develop a front-drive unit for the Gen6 platform.Bernhard Filser"We will see what the future is," Post said to Autocar. The BMW executive went on to say that future Mini drivetrain choices would be "the optimum for the package," and that "transparent driving pleasure" will be the aim for forthcoming cars from the brand.AdvertisementAdvertisementCurrent-generation electric Mini Cooper models are produced in collaboration with Great Wall Motor in China, so Mini has refrained from selling electrified versions of the Cooper in the U.S. market due to tariff constraints. That said, the electric Mini Countryman SE, which is produced in Leipzig, Germany, is sold in the U.S.If Mini decides to transition the electric Cooper to the Gen6 platform, the gas-powered Cooper would likely remain front-wheel drive, according to the report. (The current-generation internal-combustion Cooper is expected to continue through 2030, with the possibility of hybrid-electric powertrains on the horizon.) Either way, the Cooper and Cooper Electric will continue to share a design philosophy, according to Mini design chief Holger Hampf.Andi Hedrick"We have started to work on the next generation of Mini," Hampf confirmed to Autocar. "You can ask a Brit or a German or an Italian, you can ask a five-year-old, and they will recognize a Mini based on the proportions of the car."Mini's design boss said the three-door hatch is a signature of the brand, and that he plans to retain its stout stance, short overhangs, and friendly face. Round headlights and a smiling grille are the most important visual features for a Mini, Hampf said, adding that the Cooper's small proportions are "non-negotiable" and that future models will hearken back to the initial batch of BMW-built Minis from the early 2000s.AdvertisementAdvertisement"Many people out there don't actually have a recollection of the classic Mini, but they do have a recollection of one of the Minis we have done in BMW's ownership in the past 25 years. I will make sure to connect to this past," Hampf said to Autocar. "And this isn't to say that we will become vintage, not at all. It's an interpretation in the modern way of what we've done: a clever use of space or some smile-creating surprises in the car."As always, however, take these rumors as just that until confirmation comes from the company. When asked for comment on this latest report, a spokesperson for Mini provided the following statement to Road & Track: "We don't comment on future product decisions or otherwise acknowledge speculation—however wild, attention-seeking, or dramatic it may be."You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State
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