The two-door Mini Cooper is getting two additional portals in its next generation. A coming five-door Cooper S with central exhaust has been spotted out testing, the idea presumably being that it will pose a better challenge to other small, premium hatches in the segment like the A1 Sportback from Audi. Based on the same UKL platform that will support the production version of the BMW Concept Active Tourer, the wheelbase has been lengthened to make more room for rear passengers.

It should be revealed on the auto show circuit at some point next year, getting buyers ready for its production in 2014. We'll find out then if it gets a special name and how it fits in with – or perhaps replaces – the Clubman.

Image Credit: CarPix

Seven tack-sharp high resolution photos that look a little too professional to be spy photos and typical reader commentary at Autoblog...

 

If they do in fact come out with a 5-door hatchback, I see no need for the Clubman.

 

Agreed. Redundant. But since Clubman sales are down and it may be on it's last leg, this abomination could be taking it's place.

Where is the Puke emiticon around here?

 

Wonder if that means the Clubvan would transition to this stretched Cooper hardtop instead?

Clubvan uses the Clubman's chassis, complete with boxier frame, suicide Clubdoor and rear Splitdoor. I would think the pure utility of its unique design would be a loss and a simple wagon/touring configuration that much more vanilla, so maybe they'll keep it around?

Guess we'll find out soon enough when the F56's are announced...

 

According to Motoringfile the 5 door is the F55 (stealing the Clubman's numeric designation) but there will be a new Clubman that will be designated as the F54. The new Clubman will apparently be styled as more of a "shooting brake" with the roof line having more personality than the current model. I'm imagining something akin to the love child between a current Clubman and a Paceman. We'll see...

http://www.motoringfile.com/2012/05/...creased-sales/

 

I would love to motor in a 5door hardtop.

Gas cap on right side?

 

Below is AutoExpress magazines 'guess' at what the 5 door version of the Mk3 MINI will look like on the cover of this weeks issue:



From Autocar magazine:

Five-door version of the Mk3 MINI will join the three-door model; on sale next year
"It is thought that more than 10 different Mini and baby BMW models will be based on the new UKL1 architecture, which will transform the profitability of the Mini. With a unique platform, expensively engineered components (such as the multi-link rear ‘Z-axle’) and global sales of less than 300,000 units, it’s thought that the Mini operation wasn’t profitable enough for BMW to have commissioned a new stand-alone Mini platform. However, by introducing a front-drive BMW family to the mix, and with the global trend for downsizing, BMW bosses estimate that the UKL1 project will be good for well over half a million profitable sales each year, possibly even rising to 
as many as 800,000 a year 
by the end of the decade."
More:
New Mini hatch to get five doors | Autocar

 

I think this ride is awesome. I kind of wish I waited a year now.

 

 

AutoExpress' guess looks a ton better than the photos of the mule. The mule looks like a bloated, stationwagon version of the R56. The magazine's version looks like a slightly larger R56 with more symmetrical lines and a reasonable cross of the R56 and the R60.

 

I don't think that's a mule -- it's just covered with vinyl camouflage to disguise its identity and some of its details. AutoExpress' cover rendering is very likely based on all these recent spy photos.