MINI announces official specs for Countryman

MINI announces official specs for Countryman
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By Drew Johnson

With its September on-sale date quickly approaching, MINI has released official specifications for its Countryman soft-roader. The Countryman made its world debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
MINI calls the Countryman a mix between the “classic concept” and a modern “Sports Activity Vehicle,” reflecting parent BMW Group’s propensity for creating new acronyms. While front-wheel-drive will be standard, the Countryman will also be available with MINI’s ALL4 four-wheel drive system.
MINI’s ALL4 is a permanent all-wheel drive system, featuring an electromagnetic center differential positioned directly on the final drive. The system is able to route varying levels of power to the front and rear wheels, depending on road conditions. The ALL4 system will only be available on MINI Cooper S Countryman and MINI Cooper D Countryman models.
The Countryman also adds a pair of rear doors for increased ingress/egress to the rear seats. The rear seating area is slightly elevated to increase visibility, and it will be available with either two bucket seats with a long center console called the MINI Central Rail or a three person bench. Both options fold to allow for a 41.3 cubic foot cargo area. The Countryman offers 12.4 cubic feet of cargo space with its rear seats up.
Passenger room should be much improved over the standard MINI models thanks to an overall length of over 157-inches — marking the first MINI model to stretch over four meters.
Power for the MINI Countryman will be provided by a range of five powerplants — three gas units and two diesels. The frugal-minded MINI One Countryman will come powered by a 98 horsepower gas engine, while the mid-level Cooper Countryman will receive MINI’s familiar 122 horsepower gas engine. Topping the petrol range will be the Cooper S Countryman, featuring a 184 horsepower 1.6L
Those wanting a diesel version of the Countryman will be able to chose from the 90 horsepower MINI One D Countryman and the 112 horsepower Cooper D Countryman. U.S. buyers will likely only have access to the Cooper and Cooper S versions of the Countryman.
Look for the new MINI Countryman to arrive in dealerships this September.
17 COMMENTS
1. WalthamDan17 days ago
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  Can’t wait to finally test drive one of these, but will wait 12 mos before considering one. I bet the initial price markup won’t be so ‘mini’.
  
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2. 85ZingoGTR17 days ago
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  I’m really interested in seeing how this thing is gonna turn out. I love my 09 SX4, but for the five years of hell I went through in college I want to eventually reward myself with something luxurious. This MINI Countryman seems to me like the first of these mini SUVs like the SX4 but luxurious. It’s a perfect city car. So interested in checking one out.
  
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  A417 days ago
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  …a lifted Mini cooper is a perfect city car? Isn’t that the point of the REGULAR mini?
  
  85ZingoGTR17 days ago
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  Precisely A4. Precisely.
  
  antiunioncapitialist17 days ago
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  Reward yourself with no debt after college. You’ll appreciate it later on in life.
3. teahead17 days ago
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  Too scared to show how much this thing weighs?
  
  Probably b/c it’s way too much for the meager HP used to motivate this thing.
  
  Cute SUV though.
  
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  johnnycanuck17 days ago
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  With the AWD it’s about 3,050 lbs… or roughly twice the weight of the original Leyland MINI.
  
  Maybe it’s just me, but I think once you’ve cracked the 3,000 lb barrier MINI becomes a bit of a misnomer.
  
  Borat17 days ago
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  Johnny sit down and inhale deeply. It is over 3100 lbs almost 3200 (in AWD form). And I doubt that you can motivate it without help of the screw (using Mini nomenclature $3500 USD). Add the cost of AWD and we darn near X3 price, perhaps within 5 large. However, I am sure that this thingy will outsell X3.
4. writeeddie17 days ago
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  Under power & over price. Depends on how many are they targeted to sell this thing. Yes, its got about the same power as Tuscan/CRV, but those cost thousands less. At least they should give us a turbo 4 (200hp) like VW Tiguan at this price neighborhood.
  
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  A417 days ago
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  I’m guessing the Countryman S is in fact a turbo 4, just like in the Cooper S.
  
  Borat17 days ago
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  applying same logic Golf GTI is more desirable car, however how many Golfs were sold compare to Mini even compare with Mini with turbo? Horsepower does improve fun factor, but that is not the only parameter of fun and desirability..
5. Genesis10117 days ago
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  Talk about perfect timing for when the Outlander Sport and Juke comes out.
  
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6. leftwingagenda17 days ago
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  i thought the regular mini (non-s) was underpowered, but i see more of those than s models…keep in mind you could make the same power/price argument against the regular mini too, and compare it to cheaper models with equal or more power, but it’s done pretty well…i think the mini market niche isn’t as focused on hp as are the dudes who read car blogs…
  
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  Borat17 days ago
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  I didn’t find it underpowered. For racing it is underpowered, for street and highway use regular Mini with manual does fine. I test drove them few times with 3 people and car had enough pep. No one would say “no” to extra 60 pounds of torque at lower RPM and 50 ponies at high RPM. but for $3500 it is a bit extravagant request. So majority of mortals find engine/tranny combo acceptable for the price.
7. anyclearer17 days ago
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  really thought this thing would be alittle bigger, instead of looking like a regular minis fatass sibling.
  
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8. Wiwtchard17 days ago
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  I have a regular Mini Cooper no Turbo and it’s a great every day car that’s fun to drive and is great on gas. I had a loner S convertible (Like most BMW products, Mini not so reliable) and other than the novelty of having a turbo kick in and make it seem like a different car I can’t justify the S. If the performance is what you want a GTI is way better and probably what I’ll get next.
  
  The John Cooper Works one is border line retarded for the money they want for one.
  
  I admit the main appeal for most Mini buyers is as a fashion accessory.
  
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9. gas_pig7016 days ago
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  Seems to lost all fun of the Beachcomber Concept. Yawn.
  
  Reply
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