All-new Mk3 Mini is larger than ever. Why?

Hot off the preview pages, the Mk3 2014/2015 Mini (above, left). Basically, its huge. 98mm longer (3,821mm), 44mm wider (1,727mm) and 7mm taller (1,414mm) than the Mk2 Mini. The wheelbase is 42mm longer at 2,495mm and it is wider too. Aside from that the top of the range Cooper S now comes with a 2.0liter turbocharged engine making 192hp. See? It even needs a larger sized engine to make it go fast.

Whilst the MINI name is actually a brand these days instead of the actual size of the cars, I am seriously thinking that the Mini needs a new name. It may have all the cues of the original Alec Issigonis Mini but this car is now much bigger. At the rate things are going, it may be Volkswagen Golf sized by the next generation. So much for having things small and nimble. It must be research groups, customer feedback and other what nots that have made this 2015 Mini what it is today. Why don't they just go out and buy a Golf instead if they actually wanted more space?