The next-generation Mini Countryman will have a plug-in hybrid variant that will instantly be at the top of the food chain when it comes to power. Mini uses the technology of the BMW 2-series Active Tourer for this.
There is a lot of innovation in the air at Mini. In addition to a new generation of the three-door, there is also a fresh Countryman in the barrel. British Autocar understands that the Countryman will soon share its base with the already unveiled second-generation BMW 2-series Active Tourer. Not a big surprise, as the current Countryman was also a technical relative of the previous 2 Series AT. It is therefore interesting to take a look at the drivetrains known from the new 2-series Active Tourer. The most potent of these comes, according to coach also to the new Countryman.
We are talking about the plug-in hybrid powertrain of the 230e xDrive, which puts no less than 326 hp in the shell. In it, a 150 hp 1.5 three-cylinder engine works together with an electric motor of 177 hp. As the xDrive designation implies, the forces go to all four wheels. The 2-series AT comes with a 14.9 kWh battery pack, which allows a fully electric driving range of 80 km. Whether that also applies to the new Countryman remains to be seen. In any case, these are promising figures.
With 326 hp it would be the strongest production Mini ever. That does not mean that the Countryman always does it with so much power, because the 2-series AT also has the milder 245 hp plug-in hybrid powertrain and of course versions where the 1.5 petrol engine does it alone. So you have a 136 hp 1.5 and three mild-hybrid variants that successively deliver 156 hp and 170 hp, but also a 204 hp mild-hybrid 2.0 four-cylinder. For dieselers there is a 150 hp 2.0, although it is questionable whether Mini will deliver a diesel in our country. Incidentally, there is also a fully electric version in the barrel, just like with the upcoming BMW X1 that is on the same basis.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl