First 5-door Mini built 02 | 07 | 2014
THE FIRST 5-DOOR Mini has rolled off the production line at the company's Oxford plant. The build of the new model marks another phase in the roll-out of a £750 million investment programme across BMW Group UK’s production facilities from 2011 to 2015.
The car comes hot on the heels of the new Mini Hatch, which was launched in November. The new 5-door, which will go on sale across Scotland in the autumn opens up a whole new market segment.
Key aspects of the new 5-door Mini include it being 4m long, 161mm longer than the three-door; 15mm more headroom; 61mm extra interior width; three rear seats, and 278 litres of bootspace.
“The launch of the all-new 5-door Mini is a further boost for the UK’s manufacturing sector," business secretary, Vince Cable, said, "and will help to secure jobs in Oxford and Swindon as part of BMW’s £750 million investment programme in the UK.
"BMW’s continued commitment and investment in the UK underlines the continuing success story that is UK automotive manufacturing.
Related: New 5-door Mini revealed
“Through the UK Government’s industrial strategy we are backing the auto sector as it goes from strength to strength. We are providing the right environment to give businesses the confidence to invest and create high skilled jobs.”
The 5-door is the second member of the Mini family to be built on a new platform. The innovative approach to design increases the flexibility of the body manufacturing process, allowing more models of greater variation to be produced more efficiently, an essential element of the Mini's build-to-order appeal.
“This is an exciting day for us with the first ever 5-door Mini for the plant," Frank Bachmann, managing director of Mini Plants Oxford and Swindon, said.
“BMW Group has invested in creating state-of-the-art technology and facilities at Oxford and Swindon for the launch of this new generation of Mini, demonstrating the company’s commitment to a long-term future for its UK production sites.”
Preparations for the new generation of Mini have seen the building of a new bodyshop at Oxford and significant investment in facilities and technologies at Plant Swindon, where the car’s body panels are pressed and a number of sub-assemblies made.
Plant Oxford’s assembly employees also went through a programme of training to support the launch of the new model generation.
Roadtest: Audi S1 quattro Sportback
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/Scotcars
Jim McGill