Mini’s third generation will come with ten different body types (including a van), all of which will derive from the same UKL1 platform. The first classic-looking version is expected to appear in 2013, and should be pretty similar to the Rocketman Concept we saw at the last Geneva Motor Show: headlights will be bigger with a more oval-shaped design, the front grill will also be bigger than the current one whereas roof and windscreen will remain quite flat, as tradition dictates. The dashboard will obviously remain quite loyal to Mini’s tradition too - with most of the instrumentation placed right in the middle of it - so don’t be tricked by what you see in these spy shots as insiders confirms that this mule is using BMW 1-Series’ old dashboard.

The new aesthetics will make the car a little bigger, a move deemed as a ‘necessary’ in order to leave room in the market for a smaller segment-A version, based on the same Rocketman Concept and expected in 2014. The third generation of the iconic model will be equipped with 3 and 4 cylinder engines and feature several FWD and 4WD versions.

View the full Mini III spy shots photo gallery

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The next generation Mini to appear in 2013 may have been revealed in this rap video released by BMW, in which we see a Mini concept model in clay appear. Autobild suggests that it is a sneak peek at the 2013 Mini, especially as the clay model shows two different front end designs. It’s either that, or this video - which is dedicated to Mini giving design students a chance at some work experience - simply shows a couple of old designs stuck together which have been used only for the purpose of video. Given the latter proposition and the fact that the clay model in question is on prominent display, perhaps Autobild is just indulging in some very speculative stirring. See the video after the jump.

Continue reading: 2013 Mini revealed in video?

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