New Countryman Renderings Getting Closer to the Real Thing
American magazine Road and Track has some new Countryman sketches/renderings that are the closest we’ve seen so far. The new SAV (BMW speak for crossover) will feature a new MINI branded all-wheel drive system as a option along with the top of the line MINI engines from the current range.
Unlike the BMW X1 (which the car is loosely based), the Countryman will only have seating for four (with some markets getting a five seat option) and will include a novel center console that slides front to back for versatility. It sounds a little strange but we’re told to expect something cool.
Official photos are just weeks away and the public debut will be at the Frankfurt Motorshow in late September. We’ll have a full review later this fall.
You can read more including our exclusive report on the development of the R60 in the R60 section here.
<p>What, no woody side panel option?</p>
<p>Why did they put the gas filler cap on the right side of the car??? Isn’t it supposed to be on the left side??</p>
<p>Im impressed, it looks very unique like when the Mini came out in 02, I might wait to see the DIESEl version of the 123 d if it comes overhere</p>
<blockquote>it looks very unique like when the Mini came out in 02</blockquote>
<p>Dude…</p>
<p>Oh, Countryman, why are you so sad? Turn that frown upside down!</p>
<p>Okay, I’ll admit, from these images, it doesn’t look like the abomination I was expecting for the Countryman. Perhaps this will be a very good vehicle in the end.</p>
<p>I still won’t buy one, opting instead for a Cooper S, or perhaps a Broadspeed….</p>
<p>can’t wait to see it next to the other models so we can get a better approximation of the size.</p>
<p>2x on the frowny face…</p>
<p>There’s a strange, contradictory interplay between the triangular bits (fog lights, tail pipes) and the otherwise round and curvy design language of the regular MINI aesthetic. Obviously, this is just a rendering, but that’s what stuck out to me. Overall, I really like it. The wheel arches and overall proportions make it still look pretty small and squatty and with at least the illusion of big wheels. It’s a bit frown-faced, but it’s still very MINI. Very cool. I’ll be interested to see the real thing.</p>
<p>I’m liking it more and more.</p>
<p>It looks promising. Nothing really new here if you’ve seen the spy shots. I’ll be glad to see a real MINI wagon that has 5 doors in a usual configuration. Hopefully this MINI will have a nicer center stack that wasn’t designed for my son and by Fisher-Price. If MINI doesn’t price this thing out of reach. I just may have a reasonable replacement for the 2003 MINI Cooper S. The new ones have not tempted me. The price needs to be close to what a comparable new Subaru Forester costs. Disposable income is no more, now have two boys and my wife to provide for.</p>
<p>The frown is because it is sad that it is bigger than the R50 and uses more gas too. ;)</p>
<p>i just noticed the funky dip that the roofline takes behind the 2nd set of doors. i don’t see it on the spy shots, so i hope that’s just “artistic liscense” by Road and Track.</p>
<p>good call on the frowny face Jeffrey…</p>
<p>Sad face-I agree…I hope this is not the “freshening” we’ll see on the future MINIs!</p>
<p>If I’m understanding the syntax of that post it seems pretty clear that Mr. Bridger is already in possession of images of the final country man, to which I say GIVE OVER. I know you can’t show the images, but at least give us a narrative of how these photoshops differ from the real thing.</p>
<p>To my eye the massing of the car in the photoshops is much more pleasing than the swirly camo cars. I think that is because its an image that started with a Clubman, and it has the proportions of that body. I’m not seeing such nice lines in the spy photos.</p>
<p>@hardingsan, that dip is interesting and something I have never seen before. It reminds me of the dip on our Landrover Discovery, but in this case it seems the roofline is increased over the passenger area. In the Landover it allows the rear seats to be positioned higher so they have a “stadium seating affect” and can see more clearly. Overall, I like the look of this vehicle more so in this iteration than at any other time. Nicely optioned under 30K and I can see this in my garage this time next year.</p>
<p>Be happy the fuel door is on the left, the “Subaru Lane” at the gas station is always shorter (or empty) for right side fillers.</p>
<p>Beg your pardon. Fuel door on the RIGHT is a good thing.</p>
<p>Not bad, I actually like the front end (kinda aggressive) but the weird pyramid humps on the rear bumper have GOT to go though.</p>
<p>how do you know these renderings are the closest to the real thing?</p>
<p>I do hope the gas filler cap is rendered wrong as I like it to be on the left side. And what’s with the angular lines on the bumper? I thought they’re more on circular design. I don’t think the two black bars on the boot will stay though.</p>
<p>AllGo. AllGo4.</p>
<p>still meh. but then again, i’d never buy one. i bet Countryman drivers won’t wave to other “regular” minis though. having a hard time getting the clubman folks to wave…most of the R50/R53/R56 folks are on the wave train around town.</p>
<p>This Clubman owner waves! But I do have to admit I have a heck of a time getting other Clubman drivers to acknowledge.</p>
<p>Jim</p>
<p>02 DS/W MCS
08 HC/S Clubman</p>
<p>Plenty of dealers (1800 ish) got to see the Countryman recently in London, but had cameras confiscated, and cellphone cameras covered with stickers so we couldn’t possibly take any photos.</p>
<p>These renderings are pretty close I have to say, there are some technical details incorrect, but the car will please current MINI owners in the same way the Clubman did – shocking at first, but enticing as time goes on.</p>
<p>And, in my own little opinion, the finished article is beautiful. My other half is killing me for one :)</p>
<p>I like it alot. I’m still not a fan of the R55/56, but I like the styling of this one.</p>
<p>Around my neck of woods (Los Angeles), nobody waves any more. I used to try it regardless, but it became ridiculous to see the faces of other MINI owners once they see me waiving at them. I promptly stopped doing that about a year ago…</p>
<p>So, if I end up replacing our recently purchased Jetta SportWagen with the R60, I dont think I am going to care whether anybody waves at me or not, because nobody does when I am in my R53 anyways. This is the reason that I dont really care about the “R60 is going to divide the MINI community, etc etc” comments.</p>
<p>If you belong to a MINI Club, you are already surrounded by “enthusiasts” who will never buy this car; so, “your” community will not be divided at all. Besides, you’ll have a lot to talk about the R60 during club meetings (good fun). If you go outside of the “club”, then the community doesn’t really exists any more, especially in the big/metro areas. It could be a different story in other parts of the country (e.g., if you see 1-3 MINIs per week on the road and/or your closest dealer is 3 hours away).</p>
<p>Anxiously waiting to see this car in the showrooms!</p>
<p>I see a gradual downward curve towards the back but not a dip. The side bumps end before the back though.</p>
<p>As with the Clubman before it. BMW/MINI has a real knack for making their concept cars & cammo cars ugly as sin. Once the real Clubman was unveiled it didn’t look bad to these old eyes.</p>
<p>Now this is the first rendering of the MINI crossdresser SAV. To me it still ain’t pretty, but looks a whole lot better than earlier concepts & spy shots led me to believe. The one item that gets my gag reflex going is that roof line at the rear. Just like a Toyota Effing J Cruiser, What’s up with that?</p>
<p>Here’s hoping it turns out looking decent. I still think the idea of a MINI SUV is stupid, but BMW knows what folks want, like the X6… LOL!!!</p>
<p>April 1st could not come any sooner.</p>
<p>Count me out. BMW 3 series sportwagen, here I come!</p>
<p>Call it a MORRIS Countryman or something… Minis are not supposed to be big (IMHO)(a MAXI MINI ?)….. only seeing the real thing will finalize my opinion though.</p>
<p>Unfortunately they have replaced the “split grille” with the iconic “bulldog” profile with a “frown” – ugh!</p>
<p>Also those vertical “handles” on each side of the hatch don’t seem appropriate now that we know the tailgate no-longer hinges to the side like the proto-type.</p>
<p>I also hate that rear step-down of the roof line and those weird trapezoids above the tailpipes.</p>
<p>Since the renderer put the gas cap on the right side, it makes me think a lot of the other “details” are just guesses.</p>
<p>No judgment until I see the real deal. That rear bumper is pure fantasy. In fact, I think the whole rear end may be accurate with regard to proportion, but not design. This is, after all just a rendering. I do hope that the frown is not accurate, but the latest spy shots suggest something like this. Let’s hope is was just part of the camo.</p>
<p>Don’t like the frown, the roof stepdown or the entire rear end effect, but I’ll reserve final judgement until I see it in person. It does look better than the camo monstrosity, but that’s not saying much. I’ll be replacing my 05 Scion xB soon. I’ll cross shop this with the Nissan Cube.</p>
<p>Alright… maybe I am crazy, but I really am liking the R60. I love the idea of expanding MINI’s line to new customers (families) and keeping a very “mini-esque” style.</p>
<p>I do love the look, though not exactly what I pictured, I am a fan. I really don’t mind the rear window drop in the roofline, it makes it unique. Thats why I love the barn doors on the clubman and why I picked it instead of the R56.</p>
<p>The lower the roof line in the back??? So now you decrease you cargo carrying ability? Hope they won’t screw it up and do that.</p>
<p>To those commenting about the fuel filler door being on the right hand side (i.e., passenger side in canadian/US market) – this is the “correct” place for most BMW products. The MINI, of course, has up to now placed the fuel filler on the driver’s side, but since this vehicle’s “hard design points” are shared with the upcoming X1, the fuel filler location is consistent with recent BMW products.</p>
<p>The MINI Crossdresser comment was a hoot.</p>
<p>In the end this is just an artists rendering so I will continue to look forward to the actual unveiling. I do believe that MINI entering the AWD market is a very good thing though, something many people are looking forward to up in the Northeast.</p>
<p>i have to say, i love how the intercooler has it’s own opening at the bottom! very nice and definitely better than the way the current MINI S has the intercooler only HALF showing… part of me kinda wishes there was something hidden in that little slot that makes this “frown”… lazers? CircSaw? maybe a saw blade shooter? grapling hook? i’m sure batman has options for it 😛 or maybe it’s made of rubber for when you hit a gawking ped that’s stopped to see your MINI but failed to continue walking, that way he has a nice rubber bounce rather than a metal clunk upon impact :P</p>
<p>For those complaining about the gargantuan size of the Countryman, examine the facts:</p>
<p>Countryman – 158 long, 63 height, 72 width, 102.6 wheelbase (from the Road & Track article)</p>
<p>Clubman – 155.8 long, 56.4 height, 66.3 width, 100.3 wheelbase</p>
<p>MCS – 146.2 long, 55.4 height, 66.3 width, 97.1 wheelbase</p>
<p>It’s a little over 2 inches longer than a Clubman – not exactly a Ford Expedition!</p>
<p>Can’t see from the pix… 4 lug bolts or 5?</p>
<p>Can’t help but laugh when I see the frown on the MINI SUV. Even it knows it is unwanted!</p>
<p>EXCELENT point, Call it a Morris Countryman!!!!</p>
<p>Why should I care? I will never own one!</p>
<p>Hope the Demon possessed overlords in munich sell tons of these abominations!</p>
<p>With all due respect to posters doting on the Countryman’s short length, citing just one dimension is disingenuous… the LENGTH may be short compared to other SUVs, but the WIDTH is massive, wider than many of the other “compact” SUV competition (e.g., Honda CRV, Ford Escape, Nissan Rogue), wider than the e90 3-series, same width as an X3 and within 0.7″ of the very bloated current generation Honda Accord, to put this in perspective. Roof HEIGHT, already relatively high on even the R50/R53, will of course be significantly higher on the Countryman too. More than the length, it is primarily the width and height (and curb weight!) of a vehicle that determines how “wieldy” it feels in urban traffic, the Countryman’s natural habitat (despite its name).</p>
<p>As a comparison here are the dimensions for a Honda Fit:</p>
<p>Length = 161.6 inches
Height = 60.0 inches
Width = 66.7 inches
Wheelbase = 98.4 inches</p>
<p>Goat – why do I think you’ve had this width/height over length argument before? ;-)</p>
<p>And it only seats 4. What a waste.</p>
<p>The middle seat in most vehicles is a joke, anyway. Big deal. It should seat 4 VERY comfortably, and may actually be able to hold, oh I dunno, something practical like a suitcase, or more than a couple bags of groceries…or a dog. Still, I’m more interested in the eventual wagon that this platform will spawn.</p>
<p>nervous – Nice one… and to s-t-r-e-t-c-h your analogy a bit further, for vehicles with sporting aspirations the slogan “size matters” is inverted. 😉 Actually, i’ve stated before that i’ll reserve my own personal final judgment on the Countryman until I see it in the metal at the dealer; I can see pros and cons to this latest of MINIs. However, those quick to give the Countryman a pass as a “small” SUV are simply mistaken… the specs indicate otherwise. And it was a slippery slope of “size creep” that has brought us to our current age of 3500lb 2-seat sports cars. Most telling will be the curb weight, and that is where I hope BMW surprises us with a relatively light vehicle.</p>
<p>Having actually seen the final product, you’re all getting worked up about nothing. And there is a 5 seat option as Gabe said in specific markets.</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-265159" rel="nofollow">Owen</a>: @<a href="#comment-265159" rel="nofollow">Owen</a>:</p>
<p>And perhaps the US will be excluded from having that option, just like they did with the Clubman, right?</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-265154" rel="nofollow">Hoover</a>:</p>
<p>I don’t buy that argument. If this thing is going to be wider and have 4 full doors, it better be capable of seating five. Otherwise is a waste.</p>
<p>A bit of an out-there comparo, I’ll admit:
Honda Element – 170″ long, 70″ high, 80″ wide
Kia Soul – 161″ long, 63″ high, 70″ wide</p>
<p>These are NOT large vehicles, & I would suggest the MINI would be considered quite smaller than Element, which is BTW a 4 seater.</p>
<p>Target Market? maybe folks like me who have adored MINIs but wished for a bit more room and a touch more ground clearance…while still being small and economical.</p>
<p>C4, we finally agree on something. 4-seater = waste</p>
<p>I do like the look of these renderings, but without seating for 5, I’ll have to pass her by.</p>
<p>Even the middle seat of Toyota Highlander is worthless. You <em>could</em> seat 5, but it is too small for any extended use. The added rear seat room for rear occupants and increased cargo capacity hardly qualifies as a waste, they fall under the category of “necessary” for my family…but we are big people. Vestigal middle seating positions fit my definition of waste.</p>
<p>@goat I think the Width of this vehicle might be wider comparing to those other compacts so that this will still have that MINI driving feeling of having all the wheels on the corner… making it very fun for turning. I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure that’s why they’re designing it that way. I mean to raise it gives it semi-off-road clearance but also drastically affects the center of gravity so widening this might compensate it a little.</p>
<p>I’ve sat on a RAV4 and CR-V 1st gen and I will tell you that it’s no fun sitting on a smaller RAV4 as a 5th person compare to CR-V. Either way both were uncomfortable to sit on and I’m a small person (5’3″ and 28″ waist) making this as 5 seater wouldn’t make any sense but it is in everyone’s sub conscious that a beak seat is always going to be for 3 people. Heck on drunken nights, people still try to seat 3 people on the back of my MCS’06….</p>
<p>I have a 2004 Forester XT, and wanted to get a feel for the Countryman dimensions in comparison:</p>
<p>wheelbase/length/width:</p>
<p>2004 XT: 99.4/175.2/68.3
2009 XT: 103.0/179.5/70.1
Countryman: 102.6/158.0/72.0
Clubman: 100.3/155.8/66.3
Mini Cooper: 97.1/146.2/66.3</p>
<p>The Mini specs are from rhawth99 above.</p>
<p>I was surprised that the Countryman is wider than the Forester, but as ChristianL suggested, that keeps it in proportion to other Minis and probably helps to keep the handling similar, compensating for the higher center of gravity.</p>
<p>Also interesting to me is that the wheelbase is almost identical to the ’09 Forester, but the body length is 21″ less. I wonder about the ground clearance. I haven’t seen anything on curb weight.</p>
<p>Also, I wonder about its off-road capabilities compared to a Forester, which has a fairly heavy duty long-throw suspension. The short front and rear overhangs of the Countryman are very good for abrupt inclines, but will the vehicle be rugged enough for all that?</p>
<p>I forgot to mention that we have a Clubman as well, and I like the rear half door on the passenger side and the barn door rear gate. Why not do this on the Countryman?</p>