Is a maximized Mini still a Mini? The English-by-way-of-Germany car company certainly thinks so, as it launches its largest ever model, the Countryman The new model is a compact crossover, and the first to have four doors, seating for five adults, and available four-wheel drive.
Countryman is 347mm longer than a Mini hatch, coming in at 4097mm long. It’s 154mm taller and has 10mm more ground clearance. Luggage space won’t make the City break into a sweat—it’s a mere 350 liters, although that balloons to 1170 liter with the rear seats folded. Mini promises interior seating that will be easily configurable according to the needs of the day.
Mini trademarks like the huge central speedometer and toggle-type switches will be present. A “Center Rail” system allows installation of all sorts of accessories and storage boxes, which can then slide forwards and backwards.
As with the other models, there will be three gasoline options: One, Cooper, and Cooper S. The engines will be all-new BMW units, equipped with a version of Valvetronic. Cooper S will have a twin-scroll turbocharger, good for a 7.6-second 0-100km/h sprint. Diesels will be available in Europe as well. The cars will have six-speed manuals as standard, with a six-speed auto available for the gasoline cars. Auto start-stop and regenerative brakes help to improve efficiency.
The drive system is called ALL4, the first four-wheel drive system for Mini. Default mode is front-wheel drive, the rears engaging via electro-magnetic clutch when needed. Up to 1000 percent power can be fed to the rear wheels.
England has reportedly sold out its run of Minis for the year, even before its introduction. If producing an SUV worked for Porsche beyond its wildest dreams, it is no stretch to say that Mini Countryman will be Mini’s best-selling model.
The Mini Countryman will be the basis of a return to rallying that made the brand famous; a new Countryman WRC will be developed by Prodrive for the 2011 season. Prodrive will sell customer cars tuned to the same specifications.
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