THE MINI range will be cut from eight to just five ‘superhero’ models as owner BMW responds to public fears that the brand is becoming diluted.

Financial news outlet Bloomberg has reported that the German manufacturer has slammed the brakes on a series of quirky derivatives including the Coupe and Roadster two-seaters. Because, while that strategy sustained sales growth, it added cost and complexity.

Peter Schwarzenbauer, the MINI brand’s BMW board member, said MINI will now focus on “superhero” vehicles like the three- and five-door versions of the basic hatchback, the Countryman crossover and the Clubman wagon, which will be revamped next year,

“Like a superhero, each of these cars has its own personality and unique capabilities,” said Schwarzenbauer at an event near BMW’s Munich headquarters. “It is important to find the right balance between growth on the one hand and profitability on the other.”