Five-door Mini Cooper confirmed

Next-gen hatch will arrive alongside the new three-door, with hot JCW versions expected to follow

- JAMES ATTWOOD

Mini will launch a next-generation version of its fivedoor Cooper hatch, boss Stefanie Wurst has confirmed, as one member of a "simple" line-up.

The British marque has started a major overhaul of its line-up as it begins to move towards becoming an electric brand. It has just launched a new electric version of the three-door hatch, now renamed the Mini Cooper, which will be joined by an identical combustion-engined model.

Mini had not previously confirmed plans to replace the five-door hatch, suggesting that the forthcoming new Aceman compact electric SUV would fill its place in the range between the Cooper and the larger new Countryman SUV.