In the coming years, the MINI brand will expand to new segments. Currently, the British firm belonging to BMW is developing a 100% electric compact SUV in conjunction with the Chinese manufacturer Great Wall. This model will not be based on a BMW platform but on a newly developed architecture.
One of the most interesting points of this vehicle will be its cobalt-free SVolt (a former division of the Great Wall) original batteries, which stand out for their large energy density, improved durability, and low price. Initially, this model will retake the discontinued Paceman designation and will have a length similar to that of a BMW X1 . Its launch will take place in 2022, while its production will take place in a newly built factory located in Zhangjiagang (China), from where it will be exported to the rest of the world.
On the other hand, MINI is also preparing a larger SUV sitting on the BMW CLAR modular platform. This model will have dimensions close to those of a BMW X3 , which will be launched in 2024 and take the name of MINI Traveler. This SUV will be destined to improve MINI sales in markets such as the United States; Also, it could have an electric version derived from the BMW iX3 (MINI aims to be a 100% electric brand by 2030).
Both the MINI Paceman and the MINI Traveler will be the most compact models in their respective segments. They will coexist with the MINI Countryman, which in its next-generation could also have a 100% electric version. Thus, the MINI SUV range would be configured by the Countryman, Paceman, and Traveler.