Giant step
The Mini Countryman was not exactly ‘mini’, but the new one can do quite a bit. He’s growing and you can see that. That of course gives it more interior space and that is not the only important boost: from now on you also have much more choice in terms of drive.
Highlights
- Much larger and more spacious
- Also fully electric
- Up to 433 km driving range
- JCW with petrol power
You don’t have to look twice to see that you’re dealing with the new Mini Countryman here. It looks a lot more angular than the outgoing Countryman and has several design details that belong to the new chapter that Mini is now embarking on. For example, the new Mini Countryman has an octagonal grille, the headlights are much more angular than before and we also see somewhat straighter lines at the rear. For example, the taillights are narrower and higher than on its predecessor. There are still some curves along the sides, although those above the wheel arches are accompanied by sharp creases. The new Mini Countryman stands on a maximum of 20 inch wheels and that contributes to the strong appearance.
Not only does it look a lot beefier than before, the Countryman certainly is. About 13 cm has been added in length; with which the Countryman now extends over 4.43 m. He is 1.84 m wide and the height has grown about 6 cm with a rounded 1.66 m. The latter obviously provides more headroom, but of course the luggage space has also grown considerably. Normally that is 450 liters, but with the rear seats flat it goes to a maximum of 1,530 liters, depending on the motorization chosen. Speaking of the interior: that is clearly ‘Mini new style’. Although it still looks recognizable as a Mini interior, it is a lot more minimalist in design. The big eycatcher is the round centrally placed infotainment screen, which also provides all information in the standard version. So there is basically no instrumentation, but if you want to see the speed right in front of your nose, you can sign up for a head-up display.
Petrol and electric
The new Mini Countryman is emphatically presented as an electric car, although petrol versions are still coming on the market because of its base that is also suitable for fuel engines. Anyway, first the electric Mini Countryman. There will be two variants; the Countryman E and the Countryman SE ALL4 with all-wheel drive. They are both somewhat stronger than previously communicated. The Countryman E is 204 hp and 250 Nm strong and has a range of 462 km (WLTP). The front-wheel drive Mini Countryman E goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds and has a top speed of 170 km/h. Than the stronger Mini Countryman SE ALL4. It can get started with 313 hp and a torque of 494 Nm and kicks it with a full battery up to 433 km. It therefore comes a little less far, but is considerably faster from 0 to 100 km / h: that is done in 5.6 seconds. As with the Countryman E, top speed is relatively modest; 180 km/h. Recharging the electric Mini Countryman is possible with 22 kW up to (at the fast charger) 130 kW. In the latter case, the battery charge goes from 10 to 80 percent in less than half an hour.
Not much is revealed about the petrol versions of the new Mini Countryman. In any case, there will be three versions in the beginning: the front-wheel drive Mini Countryman C, the Countryman S ALL4 with four-wheel drive and the sporty top version JCW. If we take a look at the technical brother BMW X1, you can count on powers from 136 hp to more than 300 hp. The Countryman S is possibly a 245 hp plug-in hybrid and the JCW a plug-in hybrid with a system power of 326 hp. More detailed information will undoubtedly follow soon, as will an expected introduction period and prices.
Mini Countryman
Mini Countryman
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl