Mini prepares GTI competitor?

The automaker Mini has some big plans for the future. Next year the company will release their first crossover, they are working on an open air roadster and are now giving GTI owners and the rest of the hot hatch segment something to talk about. Utilizing the same platform as the current Mini, BMW plans on building a front wheel drive model offering similar performance as the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Although this sporty Mini wouldn’t hit the auto show circuit before 2012, the standard version would pump out somewhere around 180 HP while a factory tuned JCW version will make up to 220 HP. To go along with the added power, the sports hatch’s exterior will be modified with a modified set of bumpers, a unique rear wing and some high-performance alloys.