The four-door MINI out scaring the children

If only this was a photo of a MINI in a Halloween costume. Alas it is a genuine four-door MINI hardtop, codenamed F55 and possibly called the Traveller. It’s based on the third-gen F56 platform and is scheduled for release shortly after the next-gen two-door MINI.

The F55 has shorter front doors to make room for the conventionally opening rear doors. The wheelbase is a tad longer and it is, in our opinion, another example of BMW watering down the MINI brand.

Others may argue that it’s a bona fide attempt to overcome criticisms the MINI is too small and that this four-door model will appeal to a broader market (read ignorant US buyers). Firstly, isn’t that the same argument used in support of the Countryman. Secondly, isn’t part of the appeal of the MINI that it deliberately doesn’t suit all buyers?

Anyway with up to 10 separate models to carry a MINI badge in future we suppose we’ll just have to get used to the ongoing mainstreaming of MINI.

[Source: MotoringFile | Pic: Gmotors]