Mini Countryman 2011 News

Mini delves into the details of the upcoming second-generation Countryman SUV ahead of its public premiere at the Los Angeles motor show. Australian arrival pegged for first half of 2017.It may have been one of the most divisive models in the brand's 57-year history, but the Countryman SUV has earned its place in Mini's model line-up. Considering that desirable but underperforming models such as the Coupe, Roadster, and Paceman are reportedly facing the axe, Mini has committed themselves to the Countryman by rolling out the second-generation model.With Mini repositioning themselves in the ‘premium compact segment' and aiming for a more mature audience, the new Countryman's appearance reflects the brand's changing appeal.Continuing Mini's design evolution that is rooted heavily in tradition, the new Countryman doesn't stray too far from its predecessor in its overall proportions. Though the new Countryman bears plenty of its predecessor's key design cues such as the ‘helmet roof', squarish headlights, and its unmistakable hexagonal front grille, its lines are sharper and its taut surfaces are better defined.Several details on the body has been refined, such as the metal edging that draws a distinctive black band around the car and connects the wheel arches, is said to be made squarer in its appearance, whereas its side turn indicators housed on its side scuttles are now arrow-shaped. Aligning the new Countryman with the rest of the current Mini range are styling such as the LED DRL rings around the headlights, and the enlarged rear lights with the circular lighting elements.The biggest exterior change, however is size. Measuring 4,299mm long and 1,822mm wide, the Countryman has grown by 202mm and 33mm respectively. The Countryman's wheelbase has also expanded by 75mm to 2,670mm, and at 1,557mm tall it is only marginally higher than before. By comparison, the new Countryman is only 140mm shorter than the current X1, but just as wide.All that growth is said to translate into a larger cabin space, with the cabin offering five fully fledged seats, and up to 13cm longitudinal adjustment for the rear seats. Mini says that there is more head and shoulder space up front, while the rear door openings have been enlarged and, more importantly, it has more legroom to offer.The Countryman's interior has a more premium appearance.Round the back the new model now offers 450 litres of boot space, which can be expanded to 1,309 litres with the 40:20:40 split folding rear seats folded down, a maximum increase of 220 litres over its predecessor.Of course a Mini wouldn't be complete without a few unconventional fixtures. Instead of a stainless steel insert on the loading sill of the rear boot, the Countryman can now be specified with a flexible ‘Picnic Bench' that can be folded out to provide seating for two.  As demonstrated with the Clubman - the first model under Mini's brand realignment - the Countryman's interior has a more premium appearance.Mirroring the Clubman's dashboard layout closely, the Countryman's is wider and features an electric parking brake switch located on the centre console, allowing room to squeeze in additional storage compartments in front of the gear lever. Like the Clubman, the Countryman can be specified with diagonal stitched seating upholstery and the Mini Yours option that features illuminated patterns that are projected from translucent strips which are integrated into the trim.New to the Mini brand is an optional 8.8-inch touchscreen that is integrated into the centre instrument panel that is encircled by Mini signature LED ring, a feature that is just only getting introduced into BMW model range with the 7-Series and now the new 5-Series. The touchscreen multimedia system can also be controlled via the Touch Controller dial, and is part of the optional Wired package which includes the Mini navigation system Professional.Another development that is unique to the Countryman is the optional Mini Country Timer feature that registers the vehicle's movement over slopes, ditches, or slippery surfaces from the control unit of the stability control feature. The information is then gathered to display playful graphics that describes the vehicle's status in relation to the driver's driving. Mini has confirmed that it will be introduced here in the first half of next year.As for powertrain options, the Countryman will come with five engine options internationally, comprising of two petrol and two diesel engines it shares with the standard hatch range, and the brand's first plug-in hybrid model, the Cooper S E Countryman ALL4.For standard petrol engines, the Countryman range starts off with the Cooper variant, with its 100kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder unit, followed by the Cooper S with a 141kW/280Nm 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mill.In regards to diesel powertrains, both the Cooper D and Cooper SD features a 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with power outputs of 110kW/330Nm and 140kW/400Nm respectively.While the Cooper comes with a choice of a six-speed manual or automatic, the Cooper S and Cooper D can be specified with an eight-speed automatic, though that transmission comes as a standard fitment on the Cooper SD.That being said the Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper D, and Cooper SD are available with an all-new ALL4 all-wheel drive, as an option. The new ALL4 system is said to deliver quicker reaction times thanks to the integration of a power take-off unit in the front differential and the Dynamic Stability Control unit, whilst being more compact and offers better efficiency.Although the Cooper S E plug-in hybrid variant wears the ALL4 designation, it doesn't have an actual ALL4 all-wheel drive mechanicals beneath. Instead it's all-wheel drive capability is similar in principle to that of the i8 with a 65kW electric motor powering the rear wheels and the 100kW 3-cylinder petrol sending power to the front via a six-speed automatic, giving a total system output of 165kW and 385Nm of torque. According to Mini the electric motor is able to haul the Countryman up to a speed of 125km/h, though no details have been released on its all-electric range.For now exact details on Countryman models bound for Australia are yet to be finalised, though Mini has confirmed that it will be introduced here in the first half of next year. While BMW Australia can neither confirm nor deny if the Cooper S E variant will be amongst the new Countryman's line-up here, Lenore Fletcher, BMW Australia's general manager of corporate communications says that they are keen on introducing it here to complement the group's extensive range of plug-in hybrid and all-electric models.

The JCW Countryman is the first performance model of the range to come with Mini ALL4 all-wheel drive. Power comes from a newly developed four-cylinder, turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 160 kW/280Nm (300Nm with overboost).It's the most powerful drive unit in the Mini range, featuring construction principles and materials adapted specially from race-trim cars. There's a combination of twin-scroll turbocharger, petrol direct injection and fully variable valve management based on the BMW Group's Valvetronic technology.It gives the JCW Countryman acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.0 seconds and stand-out efficiency in this output class. Mini also uses plenty of its ‘Minimalism’ fuel saving technology including brake energy regeneration, gear shift indicator, auto start-stop function and electric power steering. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard with a six-speed auto optional. It has steering wheel shift paddles. Other standard kit includes a sports exhaust that produces a stirring soundtrack and a Sport button that tweaks the engine's responses and vocal character, the power assistance provided by the steering and the shift dynamics of the optional automatic gearbox. Power distribution is varied seamlessly between the front and rear axles by an electromagnetic centre differential positioned directly on the final drive. A range of electronic dynamic controls is fitted. The JCW model has a sports suspension with firmly tuned springs and dampers, strengthened anti-roll bars and a 10-millimetre drop in ride height; powerful brakes with red calipers and extra-lightweight 18-inch twin spoke alloy wheels optional to 19s. Inside it gets a JCW cockpit with sports seats, sports steering wheel, interior trim strips in piano black, anthracite-coloured roof liner, dark speedometer and rev counter dials and John Cooper Works door sills. 

... and now we see the Countryman with John Cooper Works tweaking for the first time.The bodywork looks much more aggressive, with a body kit, venting in the bonnet, beefier brakes and bigger wheels. It should be on the road before the end of the year.

More than 80 per cent of dog owners take their canine companions along in their vehicles.

The Mini SUV will be launched in Australia next month and BMW Group Australia executive Piers Scott says there are rumours of a WRC kit being made available.  "We will be able to do things to build a replica," he says."I haven't seen the details of what the changes would be, but they would be more than just cosmetic.  There are also John Cooper Works kits in the pipeline but there is no conformation of an engine variant yet; but I wouldn't rule it out."The Countryman will start at $37,700 for the naturally aspirated 1.6-litre Cooper in two-wheel drive only.  The turbocharged Cooper S Countryman will start at $47,500 for the two-wheel-drive model and $50,400 for the "ALL4" four-wheel drive.A two-litre turbo diesel Cooper D will start at $40,950 and will also have a choice of two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive.  Scott says there may also be another diesel engine choice down the track.The Countryman will compete in six European rounds of the WRC starting in Sweden on February 13, but not Australia.  "However, we have been offered drives for Australian guests and journalists in the shake-down at some of these events," Scott says.He points out that the WRC vehicle bears few similarities to the X-Raid Countryman entry in the recent Dakar Rally in South America.  "That entry was at arm's length from BMW," he says.The X-Raid Mini was running a respectable ninth overall when driver Guerlain Chicherit rolled it three times during routine testing on a rest day.The Countryman was launched internationally in July last year."The lag in right-hand-drive production for Australia is because it has been extremely popular in the UK where there's a three-month waiting list.  But we should have enough supply here."The car has been anticipated for a long time so we have a lot of orders, mostly for the high spec.  There are a lot of aftersales accessories already on the market because it has been out so long."Piers also says Mini electric scooters - revealed at the Paris Motor Show last October -  are "still on the cards" and that the Mini Coupe two-seater will arrive in July.

But though Europe's top-selling Volkswagen Golf is in the five-door Mini Countryman's sights, in price and its ability to be tailored to each buyer make it appeal more to the prestige car buyer and, in doing so, ironically, compete with products from its parent BMW.Mini today said the Countryman, which goes on sale in Australia in January at pricing and final specs still unknown, puts 'clear water' between it and the existing Mini models and claims the bigger hatch will lure a different audience.That may be true. Inside the Mini Countryman uses its 130mm longer wheelbase to offer excellent legroom for the two rear passengers - a three-seat rear bench is available as an option - and its high profile for a tall ceiling height.It is clearly aimed at the Mini buyer with more than one friend and though rival five-door cars can offer more room in the boot and a cheaper price tag, nothing really spells exclusivity like this latest model. In the flesh, it's big. At 4.1m long it is almost medium size hatch class and that is enforced by its near 1.6m height.The wheels are 17-inch - though 16s are standard on the base model and 8s are available - and pump out the guards so that, combined with the 'wheel at each corner' design, make it look even more toy-like than the three-door model. But it is balanced - certainly more so than the asymetrical lines and doors of the Mini Clubman wagon - and attracted curious but not divergent opinion this week.Part of the reason for the acceptance is that the Countryman is presented as an all-wheel drive. Mini doesn't exactly term it an SUV because it doesn't see it ever being a softroader. Rather, it points to the AWD system - an on-demand system from Haldex - as providing extra traction for those icy or gravel roads that may be an impediment to reaching your favourite ski field or surf spot. Global car audiences love SUVs and even pseudo-SUVs.Mini says that the Countryman "bridges the gap between the classic Mini concept and a state-of-the-art Sports Activity Vehicle"."The design of the Mini Countryman exudes originality, performance, a dependable robustness and versatility. And yet the customary MINI charm and individual allure remain resoundingly intact.''There's no new badge to identify the Countryman. Rather, trainspotters will need to pick out the five-door design and if in doubt, will recognise the Countryman's hexagonal-patterned grille that stands more vertical than that of the other Mini models.The engines will follow existing Mini trends in Australia, with Cooper and Cooper S in diesel and petrol confirmed but Mini says the full John Cooper Works program is unlikely.

Europe is back in business, celebrating the end of the global financial crisis that rocked the car world and drove the biggest of them all - General Motors - into bankruptcy.There were green shoots of happiness at the Frankfurt Motor Show in late 2009, but this week's Geneva Motor Show shows the same sort of excitement and promise of an early spring morning in Europe.Every carmaker has something new in Geneva, from full-blown production models to quirky concepts. The Swiss show is often dismissed as a sideshow but this time, with 25 new models as diverse as the Nissan Micra and Porsche Cayenne, there is serious action on every front.Carmakers are predictably focussed on green solutions to meet the challenges of fuel economy and CO2 emissions - with Fiat even showing a tiny two-cylinder engine for its funkoid 500 - but there is also room for fun.  How else do you describe a Honda city concept that looks like a 20th-century take on the unicycles used by Circe du Soleil acrobats?But even the green machines have turned mean as Ferrari shows its 599 Vettura Labratorio hybrid, although BYD from China balanced things with its fully-electric E6 hatch.Porsche also has its 918 supercar concept and both it and the Ferrari tap Formula One technology with KERS hybrid packs - that's Kinetic Energy Recovery System - to store energy for a quick, explosive boost of extra power.Porsche plans to put the 918 into production but, as yet, Ferrari is only using the super-special 599 - painted symbolically in green instead of the Italian brand's signature red - as a rolling labratory.  "We want to understand how to use this technology. We are not yet at the point to see it in a road going Ferrari," says Amedeo Felisa, Ferrari's CEO.The upbeat mood at Geneva is captured by the top man at Bentley, Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen, who says the reaction to his company's Mulsanne and Supersports models has filled him with confidence after a shocking 2009.  "There is a feeling that it is behind us," Paefgen says as super-wealthy Bentley buyers emerge from their GFC-proof bunkers.Walking the stands at Geneva I see green machines that are more than just concepts and plenty of choices for small-car buyers, from budget hatches to baby prestige cars like the Audi A1.  The little Audi gets a rousing reception, Volvo wins praise for the safety and styling of the new S60 sedan and the Alfa Giulietta - replacement for the 147 - raises more questions about the often-promised renaissance for the brand.Lexus shows a compact new CT200h hybrid that brings petrol-electric power to a new group of buyers, Mini has the Countryman with extra ground clearance and the basics for a World Rally Championship challenge in 2011, and the Mitsubishi ASX crossover - test driven this week by Peter Lyon near Tokyo - heads the Japanese contingent.For Alfa fans, the Giulietta is pitched at the Volkswagen Golf with a range of 1.4, 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines.  BMW’s new 5 Series and a 4-litre six-cylinder X5 diesel creates a predictable buzz among SUV fans.Kia’s head of design, Peter Schreyer, lifts the wraps off the stylish new Sportage, which is due in Australia later this year, with the promise of both turbodiesel and petrol engines, as well as front and all-wheel drive.  The Sportage could be major hit for the Korean brand, matching the impact of the Hyundai ix35, when it goes on sale with an opener in the sub-$30,000 bracket.Ford leverages the first European appearance of its new Focus hatch in Geneva by unveiling the Focus wagon, which at this stage is a Europe-only car. Europeans are big wagon buyers and the wagon is expected to account for one-third of all Focus sales there.But the Focus wagon is only the halfway point - the fifth of 10 proposed models - using the same basic building blocks and the future includes a Focus electric car. Currently, the wagon, hatch, sedan and C-Max and Grand C-Max all share the same underpinnings.“We are now using our global resources to develop cars for all countries, including Australia,” says Ford's technical chief, Derrick Kuzak.  He also reveals the current Europe-only Kuga compact SUV and North American Escape will be replaced by a single global car, which could head to Australia, and hints that a hot performance Focus with a more-powerful version of Ford’s 2.0-litre Ecoboost turbo engine will also be available in Australia.Lexus uses Geneva to showcase its critically important CT 200h hybrid, which it hopes to become a volume player.  But the CT 200h is not the only car to push the green theme at the affordable end.Hyundai has the stylish turbocharged 1.7-litre i-flow concept sedan, which uses a lithium-ion battery pack with six-speed dual-clutch transmission, and it is joined by the ix35 FCEV hydrogen fuel-cell car and Opel’s Flextreme GT-E.Apart from Ferrari, Porsche shows off its GT3 R Hybrid - also with KERS - and 918 Spyder, both exploring the outer limits of hybrid drivetrains for race and road cars.  The Cayenne, along with the VW Touareg, share their hybrid debuts as Audi uses the first appearance of its baby A1 to reveal a full-electric E-tron concept that joins earlier R8-based plug-in supercars.Apart from the conventional petrol and diesel A1, Audi also adds the RS5 coupe to its A5 lineup and a hybrid A8 sedan. The RS5 gets a powerful 335kW/430Nm 4.2-litre V8, quattro all-wheel drive and seven-speed S-tronic dual clutch gearbox.Like the BMW-built Mini, Audi has several distinctly styled A1s on its stand. It says owners will have access to so much customisation that no two A1s will be exactly the same.Audi has the Mini firmly in its sights with an expected starting price around $33,000 for the A1, with a three-door car to kick of sales with a five-door and cabrio expected. The range-topper is expected to be an S version with a performance-tuned turbo four cylinder engine.Citroen springs one of the few real surprises of the show with its hot-pink Survolt sportscar while Giugiaro teams up with Proton to deliver a stylish hybrid city car.  The Survolt is a pure design fantasy with no likely production expected. The showcar did not even have an engine and Citroen says it has been designed to go electric.Apart from the sleek Citroen, two Italian styling houses - Pininfarina and Bertone - have show cars based on Alfa Romeo mechanical parts. Bertone returns to Geneva for the first time in two years with the Pandion 2+2 concept coupe and Pininfarina shows the two-seater 2uettottanta.Apart from the twin concepts, Citroen has the DS3 Racing as well as its DS High Rider three door, a pointer to the next-generation C4, which is due to be launched next year as a five-door.  The company will only build 1000 versions of the DS3 racing and the head of local importer Ateco Automotive, Neville Crichton, says he would like to bring a few to Australia but will initially focus on launching the DS range.“It certainly is a good looking thing,” Crichton says.  Mercedes-Benz continues to create a buzz at Geneva with its SLS Gullwing supercar but the F800 Style, a pointer to the next-generation CLS minus its cantilever rear doors, dominates the Mercedes stand and shares the limelight with the E-Class cabriolet.Fitting in the quirky category in Geneva is Aston Martin’s Cygnet hatch, a remake of Toyota’s iQ city car. The $50,000 makeover model will only be sold to existing Aston Martin customers.  Aston Martin boldly has the Cygnet right next to its four-door flagship sports car, the Rapide.

The born-again British bombshell has already grown from a city- friendly hatchback to a convertible and a Mini Clubman wagon _ with the all-wheel drive Countryman finally going public this week _ but the man driving Mini says there are more models to come."It's three at the moment and it will be six in the next two years, and it doesn't stop there," says Ian Robertson, the sales and marketing chief for BMW Group, which includes Mini.  "We've got lots of ideas, some of which won't come to production, but I think there is a lot more potential within a small-size car."One of those ideas is the Beachcomber concept displayed at the Detroit Motor Show, where Robertson talks about the success of a car that has become a brand."In this case size really does matter," he says.  "Four metres is about the bandwidth. But there are some interesting concepts that could be there if you look at the Beachcomber."If you look back in Mini history, there were even more concepts of mini around. There were tuners, but there were other concepts done by the company.  Now, we're not going to make a Mini-van, but I think there are enough ideas to keep the brand moving forward and continue growing, which is what we want."Robertson will not talk about the potential for a Mini coupe, one idea floated in the past six months, but he is happy to chat about the Beachcomber.  "This is the first time it's been seen. The reception has been very positive . . . but, like all things, we need to create a business case for it," he says."At the end of the day there are a number of factors on that car that are not easy to resolve. There is side crash, for example. The fact is that Mini Mokes of the past were not burdened by any of this, so if you look at actual crash situations you have to do some very smart stuff to make that a viable proposition. It's not a matter of whipping the doors out and saying that's ok."Robertson is convinced Mini has a big future because of its widespread appeal.  "It's huge. Seventy-year-olds buy Minis, with big smiles on their faces."From the young kids through to the aging pensioners, it is a car for all ages and all social sets as well. So for people who have a lot of money, and people who are scrambling to get money, it's appropriate for all of them."It's a really unique proposition. And when I talk to some potential competitors of Mini they all say 'Yes, but Mini is really different and really special'. Because it is different and characterful."We've taken a car that was small and cute and had a nice history, and turned it into a brand. And I think that's a major achievement. And in a relatively short period of time."Here we are in Detroit, and if you'd asked me three or four years ago if America would be the largest market for Mini I'd have said 'Unlikely, with a small car and a small engine' . . . but for the second year running it's the biggest market in the world.  "And it came from a standing start in America as well. There was no real history of Mini here in America."

The car is the fourth model in the line-up, but the first of them to have four doors plus a rear hatch.  Tipped to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the Mini Countryman will offer optional ‘ALL4’ all-wheel drive.It sits higher than the rest of the family and has greater ground clearance, but has similar short overhangs and styling cues: hexagon grille, large headlights integrated into the bonnet and vertical rear light clusters.Coloured bezels accent the interior, which is divided front to rear by the centre rail console that can be adapted to a range of bolt-on storage options and additions.  In Europe the Countryman will come with four seats or with a three-seat rear bench as a no-cost option.  Luggage capacity of 350 litres can be increased to an impressive 1170 litres by folding the rear seatbacks, which in the bench version split 40:20:40.Like the front-driver, the all-paw version is expected to have three petrol and two diesel engines, with at least one of the latter being turbocharged.  The European outputs will range from the 66kW Mini One D Countryman up to the 135kW Mini Cooper S Countryman.The ALL4 system uses an electrohydraulic diff on the final drive that varies the torque from front to rear, sending from 50 to 100 per cent to the rear wheels as needed.  The suspension system comprises front MacPherson spring struts and forged track control arms, with a multi-arm rear axle.The Countryman will come with servotronic electric power steering and stability control, with dynamic traction control being offered as standard on the Cooper S and D ALL4 versions, and optional on the others.The car is expected to go on sale in Europe later this year and possibly Australia early next year.