Will the Mini Clubman return and could the Rocketman concept finally come to life? Mini exec details new model expansion plans

Over the years, Mini’s product strategy has fluctuated from one key model to a number of niche offerings.

What started under BMW ownership with the reborn Mini hatch back in 2001 expanded to multiple models in the 2010s, including some experimental offerings like the Mini Coupe and Roadster, as well as the Paceman coupe-SUV.

But it looks like Mini has settled on a sustainable number of models as it enters the electric age.

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Speaking with Australian journalists at the recent 2024 Countryman launch in Portugal, Head of Mini Product Christopher Wehner said while there’s not a specific number of models Mini should offer, any range expansion would have to hold global appeal.

“So in principle, we do not have to have a defined number when we say we can only have three models within our family,” he said. “It depends whether there is some customer demand behind it.

“And also better you have a global customer demand because we are a small car brand in terms of volume. And, therefore, you always need a concept which can be sold to many markets because else it's not profitable in a way.

“And this limits more or less the number of products which we have in our portfolio and it's a question whether you can do something which is profitable in a way and whether you can achieve some volume behind it.”

Wehner added that after more than 20 years with the brand, he believes that Mini has “the perfect portfolio, because we have clearly differentiated models and characters”.

Mini’s current portfolio includes the Cooper three-door hatch, and the Countryman SUV.

He said while Mini could potentially offer a model that is smaller than the new-generation Cooper three-door hatch, in the vein of the Rocketman concept from the early 2010s, it’s unlikely for now.

“Maybe in future there will be more like that. But currently, no, I think we have the perfect portfolio with Mini Cooper and the Mini Countryman,” Wehner said.

Mini’s current portfolio includes the Cooper three-door hatch, and the Countryman SUV, but will expand soon with the new-gen five-door Cooper hatch and Cooper Convertible, as well as the Aceman crossover.

One model that is sadly not getting a next-gen version is the beloved Clubman wagon-like-hatch.

Mini's experimental offerings included the Mini Coupe and Roadster.

Mini confirmed the demise of the Clubman and production came to an end at Oxford in February this year.

When asked if the Clubman was gone forever, Wehner said: “I think to say forever is too strong that never I never say forever. I'm also a big fan of the Clubman. But in the current portfolio, we can see that we need this clear differentiation between the models, and the Clubman was not so highly differentiated in the current generation.”

He added that the wagon-like body style did not help the Clubman’s sales in some markets, although it was popular in Australia.

“And the second challenge of the Clubman was always said it was not a globally accepted concept because for some customers this looked a little bit like an estate and then you have markets who don't like the estate concepts," Wehner said.

“But we had many markets where the Clubman was really successful. Australia was one and Japan and Europe and then we have some markets, which were not so important.”