The least mini Mini has been spied doing the round in Germany. Say hi to the new Mini Countryman!
Just like the current car, the upcoming Mini Countryman will be a twin of the BMW X1. While Countryman is expected to debut in 2023, the third-generation X1 will beat it into showrooms, with a debut likely in 2022.
Given the new Countryman isn’t due out for a while, it’s no surprise to see it venturing out into the world wearing a heavy disguise.
The third-generation Countryman seems to be considerably larger than today’s car, and some rumours indicate it could 200mm longer than the current model, which measures 4313mm from tip to tail.
While this will mean a more spacious interior and more boot space, expect a lot of gnashing of teeth about how maxi Mini is becoming.
The overall silhouette looks to be the same as the first two iterations, and the crossover will likely have the brand’s signature floating roof design.
Up front the Countryman sticks with large ovoid headlight units, and there’s a radar unit mounted in the upper grille, which the company’s stylists will hopefully find a neat way of hiding.
Along the sides, the Countryman continues Mini’s long held tradition of relatively flat surfaces with minimal ornamentation. The flush fitting lift-up door handles are, however, a new development for the brand.
At the rear, it’s too early to see the design of the tail-lights, but the tailgate does feature a S-curve.
Underpinning both cars will be BMW’s front- and all-wheel FAAR architecture, which supports petrol and diesel engines, as well as plug-in hybrid and fully electric drivetrains.
We expect base Countryman variants to feature turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder and 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engines. A 2.0-litre turbo-diesel may even pop up on European models, and most engine choices should come with mild hybrid tech.
If the recently unveiled 2 Series Active Tourer is anything to go by, the Countryman could come with two plug-in hybrid options, both with a 1.5-litre engine driving the front wheels and an electric motor at the rear.
Total output for the 220e is 180kW, while there’s a not-insubstantial 240kW in the 230e. Both feature a 16.3kWh battery said to be good for 80km of pure electric driving under the WLTP standard.
2013 Mini Paceman
Like the first-generation Countryman, the new model is rumoured to spawn a “coupe” version possibly wearing Paceman badges. Unlike the original Paceman, though, the new car will feature five doors not three.
It’s even possible the EV drivetrain will be limited to the Paceman.
