2021 MINI 3-Door & 5-Door Hatchback and Convertible unveiled

There is mixed news coming from MINI as the automaker has revealed a facelift of its hatchback and convertible. However, if you are wondering how this could be bad news, consider the fact that the current generation of the models is going to stick around for a longer period with a second mid-life refreshment.

The real deal here is that the 2021 MINI 3-door and 5-door hatchback and convertible has been extremely interesting. The entire car appears to be a redesign from its pre-facelifted version and that’s very pleasing to the eyes.

The headlamps on the 2021 MINI hatchback and convertible now get a black-treatment on its insiders, alongside the LED inclusion. The grille now gets a body-coloured panel with a small air-intake vent. Moreover, even the use of chrome elements has been minimised. The extreme corners of the front bumper now get vertical intake vents instead of fog lights. But don’t worry, the basic functions of fog lamps have been carried over to the ‘bad weather lights’ on the optional adaptive lights.

Besides the redesign, the facelifted MINI models now get three new colours - Zesty Yellow (exclusive to the convertible), Island Blue and Rooftop Grey. There is also a new option in the form of Multitone Roof, which is claimed to be the first-ever in the world. The multi-tone roof has been created with spray paint on a gradient finish. The colour combination starts from San Marino Blue, has Pearly Aqua for the midsection, and ends with Jet Black.

There was quite a lot of redesign inside as well. The AC vents on the dashboard now gets a rectangular approach but with rounded corners. There is also a new metallic trim passing through the width of the car along with the dashboard in either Silver Chequered or MINI Yours Alumunium themes. Ambient lighting is now added to the dashboard and doors too in 12 colours equally divided among the modes. The steering wheel gets an optional Nappa leather cover.

Mechanically, there are no changes as the same 2018 engines have been carried over. The options include a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbo and a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo. As for the transmission, the options include a 6-speed manual and 7-speed DCT. However, the JCW gets an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

Singapore currently has the previous iteration of the MINI 3-door and 5-door models. So it will be interesting to see whether the automaker will introduce the updated models here or not.

Also read: BMW showcases a new iDrive technology at CES 2021