The new 2015 MINI Cooper five-door is rolling out--at least in Europe--and it appears to be causing some problems.
The latest version of the retro-styled subcompact hatchback features two extra doors, a concept that some customers apparently can't come to grips with.
A new ad for the five-door model shows all manner of people--and a dog--confused by the new doors.
Some don't know which one to open, others are surprised by what comes out.
Once drivers and passengers find the correct door, they're greeted by an interior that's largely the same as that of the 2014 MINI Cooper Hardtop--on which the five-door is based--but with added rear-seat room, courtesy of a 6.3-inch wheelbase stretch.
2015 MINI Cooper 5 Door
The base Cooper will get a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, with 124 horsepower, while the Cooper S will boast a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, with 189 hp.
Both engines will be offered with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
The heavier five-door will likely fall short of the three-door's EPA fuel-economy ratings, although that won't be confirmed until closer to the car's on-sale date. (For 2014, only the new-generation three-door Hardtop model is on sale in North America.)
When it does arrive in showrooms, the five-door will be the first of many MINI Cooper models designed to fill every conceivable niche.
BMW reportedly plans to offer up to 10 variants of the newly-launched third-generation MINI, possibly including a plug-in hybrid and perhaps even a new generation of the all-electric MINI E test-fleet model from 2008.
The new additions would expand the range beyond the seven models spun off the second-generation MINI, some of which were already of questionable purpose.
The ad ends with the tagline "It's new for us too." That could become a familiar refrain for MINI over the next few years.
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