Yesterday a couple of official images of the new Mini Countryman leaked on the Internet so the company, whether they wanted or not, revealed the car in full today! Here it is, the Countryman, or something else! As Mini says that the name might vary in different markets. Regardless of that, it turns out to be way more than just a jacked up buffed up ordinary Mini.
Mini says that the Countryman is a very special car, and they’re kinda right. Because no other car, or SUV for that matter, ever looked like this! It is funky and alive, but for that very reason its market might not be very big. You see it’s too fashionable and looks good now as it’s new, but how’d you like it in say six months when you’ve seen it enough to get bored with it?! And I don’t think it is right to compare it with the Mini hatchback mainly because that’s based on an original design, but the Countryman is a new niche.
The MINI Countryman comes as standard with four seats, while a three-seat bench is available as a no-cost option. The interior offers superior comfort also on long distances, with generous legroom, headroom and shoulder freedom. The rear seats move fore-and-aft either individually or in a 60 : 40 (three-seat bench) split, the backrests may be tilted for angle either individually or in a 40 : 20 : 40 (three-seat bench) arrangement, increasing capacity in the luggage compartment from 350 to 1,170 litres (12.2–41.0 cu ft).
At launch, the Countryman will be available with a wide range of engines including three petrol and two diesel units. The power of this BMW power units ranges from 66 kW/90 hp in the MINI One D Countryman all the way to 135 kW/184 hp in the MINI Cooper S Countryman. The firm’s new 1.6-liter four-cylinder which features twin-scroll turbocharger, direct fuel injection and variable valve management is also included in the options.
The basic models are 2WD, but as an option for all models you may order MINI ALL4 all-wheel drive, in which there’s an electrohydraulic differential positioned directly on the final drive varying the distribution from front to rear in an infinite process. Under normal driving conditions up to 50 per cent of the engine’s power goes to the rear wheels, under extreme conditions up to 100 per cent, offering a new, high-traction rendition of that agile handling so typical of MINI.
Standard features of 2010 Mini Countryman includes highlights such as air conditioning, the MINI Center Rail, and an audio system complete with a CD player, while there’s a long list of optional extras such as high-end audio and navigation systems as well as mobile telephone interfaces, extra-large Panorama roof, Adaptive Headlights in combination with xenon headlight units, a heated windscreen, a towbar, light-alloy wheels ranging in size from 16 to 19 inches, sports suspension lowering the entire car by 10 millimetres or almost 0.4″, as well as the wide range of John Cooper Works Performance Components.
