BMW, Toyota may cooperate on entry-level Mini

Pivotal doors

BMW and Toyota may expand their cooperation to include the joint development of a new addition to BMW's Mini range, according to a report in a German car magazine.

If built, the Minor is expected to be smaller and less expensive than Mini's core model, the three-door hatchback.

The car may be based on the Rocketman concept (pictured) which was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011. It was a 3+1 seater with three doors and was just 3.4 metres long. It also had pivoting doors and a cargo drawer. There was wide use of carbon-fibre in the car's structure.

It is believed the Mini Minor will be 370mm shorter than the three-door hatch and could undercut it in price.

BMW is expected to add an electric version of the Mini Minor after the first conventionally powered models arrive in 2018 or 2019, the report said.

BMW and Toyota formed an alliance in 2011 to cooperate on diesel engines and have since expanded the collaboration to include fuel cell and battery cell technology, lightweight materials as well as the joint development of an architecture and components for a sports car.

Pictured below is our own photo of the Mini Rocketman from our Geneva Motor Show 2011 archives. It certainly impressed us at the time.