Grin-Inducing MINI gets Fresh Face for 2021

In a nutshell:

• MINI gets a newly-designed front end as part of 2021 facelift
• ‘Multitone’ roof adds individual flair and personalisation
• Tweaked interior does away with lots of love-it-or-hate-it chrome
• Prices start from £16,045

The loveable MINI is wearing a brand new smile for 2021, as a facelift gives the bite-sized crowd-pleaser a fresh front end.

Changes to the MINI overall are, as you might expect, small.

But there’s a fairly major tweak to the car’s mouth - which goes for the MINI 3-Door Hatch, MINI Electric, MINI 5-Door Hatch and MINI Convertible models.

There’s now a larger radiator grille with a black, hexagonal surround while the lower ‘position’ lights of the old MINI have been removed and replaced with eye-catching vertical air inlets instead.

Not only does that ‘optimise aerodynamics’, according to MINI, it also gives the car a more aggressive, purposeful look.

The central bumper strip is now in body colour, rather than black, while the wheel arches have also had a slight design overhaul.

Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design, says: “The new MINI design is more modern – it’s fresher, clearer. All innovations follow a common mission: Purify MINI! Less complexity, more individuality.”

There’s a new batch of alloy wheels to choose from and three new exterior paint finishes.

Meanwhile a fun new addition for 2021 is the option of a ‘multitone’ roof. Colour options here include ‘San Marino Blue’ through to ‘Pearly Aqua’ to ‘Jet Black’, and the way it’s painted means that no one roof is ever the same. If you crave individuality, eat your heart out.

The engines remain essentially the same as previous models. The Hatch One get a 1.5 litre turbocharged petrol engine with 102 hp, while Cooper models get the same engine but tuned to put out 136 hp.

Sporty Cooper S models enjoy 2.0-litre petrol mill with 178 hp.

Speaking of ‘S’ models, they now come with a revised version of the old adaptive damper system, which MINI says achieves a ‘noticeably optimised balance between sportiness and ride comfort through the use of continuous frequency-selective damping’.

The MINI Electric, as before, is a little pocket rocket, covering 0-62mph in just 7.3 seconds while having a range of up to 145 miles between charges.

And when it comes to the interior, all MINIs are now offered with a full-colour digital dash and 8.8” central screen as standard.

The MINI’s trademark, retro chrome elements have been dialled-down significantly throughout the cabin, with the two outer air outlets framed by black panels instead, while the internal air vents have been completely redesigned and are now embedded to be flush with the interior surface.

A shiny sports leather steering wheel is also a standard item now.

Bernd Körber, Head of the MINI brand, said: “With the current model revision, the MINI has reached a level of maturity that makes it more exceptional in the small car segment with regard to design, product substance and premium quality, than ever before. The MINI is the original that stands out from the crowd and it continues to reinvent itself again and again."

Prices start from just £16,045 for the MINI hatch while the MINI Electric begins at £27,920.

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