Analysts are debating a possible rethink of MINI’s technical concept. As the cars grow in size and weight, the brand is gradually drifting away from that signature go-kart feel that defined its models for years.

Where early compact models weighed around 680 kg, a modern MINI Cooper now exceeds 1,360 kg. Alongside the bigger footprint came more power, and with it a stronger dose of torque steer, a trait inherent to front-wheel-drive setups. All-wheel drive tackles the symptom, yet nudges the car further from the marque’s original philosophy.

In this context, a switch to rear-wheel drive is being floated. Tapping BMW’s Neue Klasse architecture could bring the handling of larger MINIs closer to BMW-like dynamics while preserving compact proportions. For now, though, there is no sign it will be implemented. The electric MINI Cooper has already arrived, making a change of layout unlikely in the next few years.

Even so, experts note that hot hatchbacks remain in demand, and interest in alternative solutions is rising. Shoppers who value driving excitement are weighing the appeal of a traditional front-drive MINI against a hypothetical future version with a different layout. For the moment, MINI is staying the course, yet the discussion about reviving the character of the earliest generations is only getting louder.