MINI Hardtop 4-Door Appears At Los Angeles Auto Show

First shown over the summer, the new MINI five-door model will make its North American debut at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Even though it's a five-door hatchback, this model will be known in the U.S. as the MINI Hardtop 4 Door when it goes on sale early next year.

MORE: 2015 MINI Cooper 5 Door Revealed In Official Images

Based on the recently-redesigned MINI Cooper platform, the 4 Door is stretched 6.3 inches to accommodate that extra set of doors. Width remains the same, while height increases by just 0.4 inch.

MINI Hardtop 4 Door

That translates to about three inches of extra legroom for rear-seat passengers, and roughly two-thirds of an inch more headroom for all occupants. Luggage space increases by about a third.

Everything else about the MINI Hardtop 4 Door mirrors its shorter sibling, which means buyers should expect the same array of powertrains.

ALSO SEE: 2014 MINI Cooper: Gas Mileage Review With 3-Cyl Engine + Manual

That means a 124-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine in the Cooper and a 189-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four in the Cooper S, with six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmission options available for both.

Full EPA fuel-economy figures won't be available until closer to the 4 Door's on-sale date, but we expect the numbers to be slightly shy of the lighter three-door model's.

The MINI Hardtop 4 Door goes on sale in the U.S. in January 2015, either as a late 2015 or early 2016 model. It will be priced $1,000 above the equivalent three-door hatchback model.

MINI Hardtop 4 Door

Also making its U.S. debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show is the MINI Superleggera Vision concept, a stylish two-seat sports car constructed by Italian coachbuilder Touring Superleggera, and first shown at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

While there have been rumors of a production version--and parent BMW never seems shy about adding new variants to the MINI lineup--the Superleggera Vision looks likely to remain a concept.

For more new production car and concept coverage, head over to our Los Angeles Auto Show news page for the latest photos, videos, and more.

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