Mini facelifts Hatch and Convertible for 2021
COINCIDING with the 20th anniversary of Mini’s BMW-backed relaunch, the iconic small-car brand has revealed and detailed its 2021 Hatch and Convertible range with all versions being treated to a comprehensive overhaul for the New Year.
Due to arrive in Australia in the second half of the year, the new Hatch and Convertible range not only flaunts some updated styling and a refreshed interior but some chassis refinements too, specifically in relation to the adaptive damping.
No changes have been made under the bonnet of any variant with all three of the familiar turbocharged three- and four-cylinder engines set to be carried over unchanged – 100kW/220Nm in the Cooper, 141kW/280Nm in the Cooper S and 170kW/320Nm in the JCW.
Mini has always prided itself on the design of its cars and so it has been sure to make the latest versions of its most stylish offerings distinguishable from the last; adding a contrasting black trim piece around the front grille and replacing the foglights on the Cooper S variants with new air intakes.
It is a similar story at the back too with a bold new trim piece either skirting or spanning the rear apron depending on the variant.
“The new Mini design is more modern, fresher and clearer,” Mini design boss Oliver Heilmer said.
“All innovations follow a common mission: Purify Mini! Less complexity, more individuality.”
Adding to the new look will be an optional ‘multitone roof’ for the hatches which uses a Spray Tech paint finish to layer and stagger various colours – “San Marino Blue through to Pearly Aqua and Jet Black” – along the roof with no two vehicles being the same due to the natural variation in the process.
Three new colours will also be added to the body palette – Rooftop Grey metallic, Island Blue metallic and Zesty Yellow – while the alloy wheel range has also been updated.
Inside the cabin, the interior has been given a freshen up with some new upholstery colours and patterns while many of the chrome trim pieces have been swapped out for black ones.
There is also a new 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system now free of the previous model’s underlining row of buttons.
Drivers now score the 5.0-inch digital display from the Electric Hatch as standard as well as a new sports leather steering wheel.
Under the skin is a new version of Mini’s adaptive suspension system which scores an extra valve within the dampers designed to take the sting off sharper bumps by “smoothing out sudden pressure peaks within the damper”.
Mini Australia sold 3105 new vehicles in 2020 – the vast majority of them (1613) being Hatches – compared to the 3204 units it shifted in 2019.
