MINI Rocketman could be heading for production – if BMW can find a chassis

The smaller MINi Rocketman Concept – revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011 – could be heading for production if BMW can borrow a chassis to fit.

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The MINI Rocketman Concept was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011 as a smaller MINI than the one BMW were selling at the time, and it looked like BMW were considering going the smaller route to make the MINI more fun.

But with the 2014 MINI now revealed, BMW has gone the opposite route by underpinning the new MINI with the UKL platform that will also underpin the next BMW 1 Series, and made the latest MINI even bigger than the last one.

But it seems BMW still see mileage in a ‘Mini MINI’ and appear keen to find a way to make the Rocketman a production reality.

Speaking to Auto Guide at the LA Auto Show, MINI product boss Pat McKenna said that he would like to see the Rocketman make production but the problem is that BMW don’t have a chassis small enough to make it happen.

The solution, if it can be found, is to find another car maker with a platform that offers all that MINI want and do a deal, but that’s proving difficult.

McKenna said:

The only way it would happen would be if it was a partnership with another company, [but MINI’s] emphasis on driving performance, we haven’t found a partner chassis that has been suitable.

Which is a shame, but if BMW see a market for smaller MINI (and we’re sure there is) hopefully a suitable platform can be found so the Rocketman can balance the inexorable growth of the MINI in to a modern day Maxi.