Baby MINI set for green light

The Rocketman is preparing for take-off! Insiders at the Geneva show revealed that the pint-sized MINI is viable for production – and that even extends to the lightweight carbon fibre body which makes the model’s clever double-hinged doors possible.

Ian Robertson, BMW’s sales and marketing chief, told Auto Express: “Technology developed for BMW’s ‘i’ electric car range (which includes carbon fibre) will certainly be made available to the rest of the group.”

However, we understand that any platform produced for the ‘i’ range will be too big to underpin the Rocketman – so MINI could look towards developing a smaller platform with another maker to cut costs. 

BMW already has a partnership with PSA Peugeot Citroen, which produced 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol units in the current MINI range.

But the Rocketman isn’t expected in dealers any time soon. We were told it won’t feature in the current line-up, and will instead be introduced a couple of years after the next-generation MINI goes on sale in 2014.

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