By now, you’ve probably seen more than enough spy photos of MINI’s Countryman SUV hiding beneath a veil of yellow and black camouflage. With the car’s official debut drawing closer, we’ve put together some illustrations of how the finished vehicle will look, sans disguise.
Despite a strong family resemblance, the Countryman will actually ride on a unique platform. The new architecture was needed to accommodate the Countryman’s all-wheel drive system and higher ride height. The basic chassis and most components will be shared with the BMW X1, though the models won’t have any visual similarity.
Compared to the standard Cooper, the Countryman will ride just over 3 inches higher and will measure in at over four meters (157 inches). A 102.6 inch wheelbase and 72 inch width make the crossover larger than any previous MINI. The base model Countryman, shown here, will be powered by the same 118 horsepower 1.6L four-cylinder used in the Cooper.
Unlike the long-wheelbase Clubman, the Countryman has two doors on each side, rather than one on the right and two on the left. In concept guise, this MINI had a sliding door on the driver’s side, and a regular one on the passenger’s side. We suspect both sides will have regular doors come production.
Out back, spy shots reveal the Countryman will use a twin-door setup, similar to the one used on the Clubman.
While the X1 will be built in South Carolina, the Countryman will be assembled by Austria’s Magna Steyr. Both models will be sold in the U.S., but it remains unclear if their diesel versions will make the trek across the Atlantic. However, with stricter CAFE regulations looming, it remains a distinct possibility that the U.S. could see an oil-burning option.
The 2011 MINI Countryman will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, with sales slated to begin shortly after. Expect the Countryman to be priced from about $29,000.
11/02, 5:08 PM
posted by:
QK
Did you guys look at the spy photos at all? The front end looks very different from that.
11/02, 6:23 PM
posted by:
HINKS
Looks like a clown car, but too big to be funny anymore.
11/02, 6:25 PM
posted by:
aesir
Could be funny, but it depends on the number of clowns and availability of a sunroof.
11/02, 6:37 PM
posted by:
ktulu
yes, yeasm ryes!
11/02, 6:48 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
beatus…
11/02, 7:04 PM
posted by:
kingston
doesn’t look any bigger than a dodghe caliber
11/02, 7:04 PM
posted by:
kingston
*dodge*
11/02, 7:31 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
Clubman is bad enough. I hope that BMW loses money on this monstrosity.
11/02, 7:49 PM
posted by:
EMINEM
Looks like a dodge nitro/neon devil child
11/02, 8:53 PM
posted by:
johngalt
I got this one, johnny…
He said, “Wow, I really like the looks of and the concept behind this new MINI! I can’t wait until they’re available for viewing and, perhaps, a test drive at a dealership near me!”
11/02, 9:08 PM
posted by:
teahead
Better looking than the Cayenne.
11/02, 9:24 PM
posted by:
spg900
Iteahead… I couldn’t agree more.
11/02, 9:36 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
johngalt… really? I thought he was about to sodomize a loaf of bread.
11/02, 9:38 PM
posted by:
jimbocardude2
interesting, can’t wait to see a JCW version!
11/02, 9:46 PM
posted by:
johngalt
Or that. As long as it was fresh out of the oven. With butter. Hmm. Wow, look at the time–ummm, I’ll catch up with you later–I just remembered I have to, um… er… rotate my shoelaces. Yeah, that’s it. I have to rotate my shoelaces. Later…
11/02, 9:57 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
… are you sure? OK… start from the left… then pull it through the hole on the right… now loop it back around… oh yeah, that’s it…
11/02, 10:01 PM
posted by:
johngalt
You forgot to butter it.
11/02, 10:09 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
… you forgot to say please.
11/02, 10:57 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Translation: “I mo get one!”
11/02, 11:04 PM
posted by:
buytheredcar
looks like it has the “aston martin” disease.
BMW looks afraid to get away from the one look.
making variations from the same idea is getting old
11/03, 1:14 AM
posted by:
Francois_1616
buytheredcar , and yet BMW will sell millions of these. I like the look
11/03, 6:39 AM
posted by:
Shamus
Wow…fooled by a sticker, huh? FYI, the Countryman will have a standard lift gate like the coupe, not the two-door setup like you state. At least the picture got that right. Though there is some thought that it could have a split opening glass panel, it’s doubtful.
Also, for the Clubman – it should be one door on left, two on right (even in the UK).
Love your site for news, but your guesswork on the body kit is waaaaay off.
11/03, 8:52 AM
posted by:
RaineMan
All that black plastic trim looks disgusting. Paint it for crying out loud!
Unpainted plastic doesn’t say “rugged”… it says “cheap”.
11/03, 8:56 AM
posted by:
2WheeledSpeed
They’re coming out with enough MINI variations as it is, they’re gonna reach a point sooner or later where people just get tired of it. It’s not like people buy a huge amount of MINIs as it is anyways.
11/03, 9:57 AM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
But we still need a MINIvan
11/03, 10:14 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
More broken down Eurotrash on the sides of the road. Good for towtruck companies I guess.
GM. AN American Revolution
11/03, 10:18 AM
posted by:
And The Winner Is...
Starts at $29,000? No thanks.
11/03, 11:12 AM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
reading these comments feels like watching a monkey f*ck a doorknob sometimes…i mean that in a good way…
11/03, 11:33 AM
posted by:
RaineMan
I’m still waiting on the MINIVan.
11/03, 1:15 PM
posted by:
atoms
poor car looks like its barfing “why did I eat so much raw fish? blaaaaaaaaahh”
11/03, 7:45 PM
posted by:
Guido
The x1 will not be build in SC, but in Germany. The x3 production will move to SC.
11/04, 9:31 PM
posted by:
PonyPiggy
I think this is going to be a great alternative to all the cheap american cars. I can’t wait to see. Mini’s are solid and well priced.