MINI begins five-door Hatch production

The five-door MINI is here.

MINI has officially begun production of its new five-door Cooper model at its Oxford, UK plant.

The five-door model is the second member of the all-new MINI family, joining the three-door Cooper Hatch that entered production last November. The new five-door model will go on sale this fall.

"This is an exciting day for us with the first ever five-door MINI for the plant, which opens up a whole new market segment for the brand,” said Frank Bachmann, managing director of MINI Plants Oxford and Swindon.

The MINI five-door Hatch shares most of its styling with its three-door counterpart, but offers a wheelbase stretched by six inches. That extra length translates into nearly three inches of extra legroom for rear-seat passengers.

In the U.S., the five-door Cooper will be powered by either a three-cylinder developing 136 horsepower or a four-cylinder making 192 horsepower. Global markets will also have the choice of two diesel engines.

Pricing for MINI's five-door Hatch model will be announced closer to the car's market launch.