MINI 3 Door, 5 Door, Convertible Get Facelift and More for 2022
The third generation of the modern MINI is getting another important update following the one that was performed in 2019, confirming that a full redesign is not planned for the near future. Unveiled on Tuesday, the refreshed and improved 2022 MINI 3 Door, 5 Door and Convertible models will go on sale in Canada this spring.
The latest update also applies to the electric-only MINI Cooper SE and the high-performance John Cooper Works (JCW) variants, which benefit from model-specific changes.
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“With the current model revision, the MINI has reached a level of maturity that makes it more exceptional in the small car segment with regard to design, product substance and premium quality, than ever before,” said Bernd Körber, Head of the MINI brand. “The MINI is the original that stands out from the crowd and it continues to reinvent itself again and again.”
“Reductive” Design and World-first Multi-tone Roof
Let’s start with the exterior, where we can see a big black surround encompassing the grille and lower intakes. The position lights are replaced by vertical air inlets placed far to the outside, which serve as an opening for the air curtains in order to optimize aerodynamics. The central bumper strip is in body colour rather than in black. Also, LED headlights are now included as standard.
The new contours of the wheel arch surrounds are striking. In addition, the side indicators integrated into the redesigned side scuttles now feature LED technology. The new wheel options will likely turn heads (especially the 18-inch alloys in Pulse Spoke design). In the rear, the bumper was revised for a cleaner look, while the taillights in Union Jack design are now also part of the standard equipment range.
The icing on the cake comes in the form of a multi-tone roof—a world’s first and the most noteworthy addition according to MINI’s Head of Design, Oliver Heilmer. It’s a concept about three years in the making, and we are now seeing the stunning result.
Contrasting colours for the roof have made MINI a pioneer when it comes to customization, but this goes one step further. The new multi-tone roof features a colour gradient from San Marino Blue through Pearly Aqua to Jet Black, created with a new wet-on-wet painting technique that is now fully integrated into the mechanized production process at the MINI Oxford plant in the U.K.
Cleaner, More User-friendly Interior
The interior of the 2022 MINI 3 Door, 5 Door and Convertible features newly designed surfaces and air outlets, less chrome and a new sport steering wheel (optionally heated) with more user-friendly controls.
Behind the steering wheel is a new five-inch digital instrument panel, while the central 8.8-inch display with new Piano Black high-gloss surround comes standard. In conjunction with the new Ambient Light option, the colour worlds of the displays can also be combined with the interior light control. There is a choice of six interior light colours for each of the two modes “Lounge” and “Sport.”
Elsewhere, the seating surfaces have been updated, highlighted by sport seats in new Light Chequered colour (they’re made of 100-percent recycled material, too).
Same Powertrains, But...
Lastly, you should know that the same powertrain options return for 2022. However, on a number of models and trim levels, a new version of the adaptive suspension redefines the brand’s hallmark go-kart feeling. MINI says it achieves a noticeably optimized balance between sportiness and ride comfort through the use of continuous frequency-selective damping (the damper force is adjusted within 50 to 100 milliseconds).
Canadian pricing and equipment details for the 2022 MINI 3 Door, 5 Door and Convertible models will be announced closer to their on-sale date.
