Sporty, tech updates for Mini core models

Mini's core models are undergoing updates to improve aerodynamics and add technology.

Production of the 2022 Mini hardtops and convertible models will start in March, with U.S. sales planned in the second quarter.

The freshened models — the two-door and four-door hardtops, convertible variants and the all-electric Cooper SE — will see a $500 price increase across several trim levels, Mini said.

The latest changes are designed to give the BMW Group brand better traction in a market veering toward larger crossovers and SUVs.

Mini's U.S. sales tumbled 22 percent in 2020. Hardtops and convertibles accounted for 57 percent of the 28,138 vehicles Mini delivered last year.

"2020 was unprecedented, turning everyone and everything on its head," Mini of the Americas Vice President Michael Peyton said on a media call last week. "It was certainly a tough year for the industry, with COVID impacting every aspect of the business and the lives of our customers."

But it was also "transformative" and accelerated the industry adoption of electrification and digital retail, Peyton said.

A sales rebound in the second half of 2020, coupled with lean inventories that buoyed transaction prices, has Peyton upbeat about Mini's 2021 prospects, noting December sales rose 13 percent vs. December 2019.

"We expect high pent-up customer demand to continue," he said. "The post-pandemic rebound will fuel a lot of customer optimism, and more people will be getting out and looking for relevant mobility solutions."

For the first time, three of the five Mini model lines are receiving simultaneous updates.

The 2022 hardtop and convertible models integrate the air curtains on the front bumper and ditch separate fog lights to improve aerodynamics. Fog light functionality is integrated into the redesigned headlight.

A new, single, unbroken hexagon front grille extends low to the road, and the safety bar is hidden underneath a body-color panel, accentuating Mini's

famed face. For increased air cooling, the Cooper S and John Cooper Works variants include a pair of air intakes with high-gloss black surrounds to the left and right of the central intake.

The rear bumpers are updated to emphasize a wider stance and sportiness. The rear apron picks up the hexagonal graphic from the front end. The John Cooper Works variant features a diffuser to provide the tail of the car with dynamic racing intent.

New side scuttle designs and wheel-arch trims help emphasize the sportiness of the vehicle, Mini said.

Inside, the 2022 models receive a new steering wheel design, new center instrument design with an 8.8-inch screen, and safety tech such as lane-departure warning.