Comments on: World Debut & Analysis: The MINI Countryman (w/Full Gallery)

By: B.H.Bourgoine

B.H.Bourgoine — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:50:23 +0000

The mini countryman is a 2011 model SO what the REAL date we will see one on the showroom floor ??? My wife is on me for answer..

By: Official pictures of the new MINI Countryman | BlogHalt.com (Pre-Launch)

Official pictures of the new MINI Countryman | BlogHalt.com (Pre-Launch) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:02:11 +0000

[...] Official pictures of the new MINI Countryman [...]

By: C4

C4 — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:52:12 +0000

The “committee” design approach used by MINI these days is quite disturbing…

By: Peter

Peter — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:05:43 +0000

Exterior, good – interior – what’s with the Mickey Mouse dash.

I hope this doesn’t cross over to the new hatch, I’m on my 4th Mini now but fear this will be my last if it does. I simply couldn’t live with that central speedo flanked by the ears. Please please don’t do it…

By: Turcicus

Turcicus — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:10:12 +0000

I’m disturbed by the fact that there are no pictures of the space in the boot with the rear seats in the upright position. Makes me think there isn’t much at all.

By: TAZ

TAZ — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:19:25 +0000

And here I was, all set to hate the MINI crossover based on earlier concept renderings.

Now, the real Countryman stands up and...

Someone spank me please, I must be in heaven!!!

..."All4" even...

By: Jim W.

Jim W. — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:07:04 +0000

I like it- not EVERYTHING about it, but after reading all the posts its clear that you can't please everyone!

Can't wait til I can test drive....

By: Melis

Melis — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:29:46 +0000

From the front the Countryman Cooper S in white looks like the helmet of a Star Wars Imperial Stormtrooper, which is kinda cool in my book.

By: Aaron Woolsey

Aaron Woolsey — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:12:48 +0000

"the previous models had bench seats, but still only sat 2 across in the U.S. There is a width requirement that keeps them from offering 3 across the back in the U.S."

This further begs the question of why they don't include a bench option for the U.S. Even if it only seats 2 people, it would be a LOT more convenient for families with children rather than a rail that will be both a barrier between the seats and a difficult-to-keep-clean receptacle for everything the kids drop, spit up, drool, smear...

By: Harold Dill

Harold Dill — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:47:56 +0000

A Toyota FJ Cruiser washed in scalding hot water and dried on heavy cycle for far too long …

By: Harold Dill

Harold Dill — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:41:34 +0000

In a word — PECULIAR! If the writer had preceded “design nuances” with peculiar, I’d have no reason to pity the Countryman, moreover how about renaming it the “Spaceman!” It does have a rather well-conceived interior design and the exterior certainly looks extra-terrestrial enough!

By: C4

C4 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:22:26 +0000

Honestly... I do not care for it. This is not a MINI, but just about any other crossover that happens to bear MINI logos front and back. 4 seat capacity makes it a very stupid move in my book.

MINI of 2010 has killed whatever little spirit of the original the brand had left in its DNA. Now it is nothing but a money making machine that wants to be all things for everyone. Good luck with that MINI. See how many $40K R60s are you going to be selling before special discounts and financing/lease deals start to roll in.

I refuse to drink from the corporate "kool-aid" glass.

Bottom line: You have lost an 8+ years loyal customer. MINI, you will not be getting a cent of my hard earned money for any of these new contrived behemoths.

By: hardingsan

hardingsan — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:05:28 +0000

What are the specifics of these regulations? Why is it fine for the R50/R53/R56 to have a bench across the back in the US but not ok for the R60?

the previous models had bench seats, but still only sat 2 across in the U.S. There is a width requirement that keeps them from offering 3 across the back in the U.S.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:53:52 +0000

[...] And another one (with photos) from Motoring File: MotoringFile Archive World Debut & Analysis: The MINI Countryman (w/Full Gallery) [...]

By: Blimey

Blimey — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:04:07 +0000

This WILL be my next MINI daily driver… when the BlimeyCabrio is retired to a weekend and sunny day driver…. I’ll stand in line and pay the coin for the JCW Rally edition if possible… or get a JCW and put it on airbags… needs to be lowered on the street, but high for those times when ground clearance is a good thing…

Really excited.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:01:55 +0000

It is real!!! For the most part, I love the design and will add one more vote for the cooper grill over the S grill. I wish MINI would let people who want S power but a base front end have it. That's why I have a chrome grill on my R53. The back end is still PT cruiser-ish to me but I think that in person it will look a lot better to me.

I've been following this car's development since it was first announced and was ever hopeful that a diesel version would be my next car purchase. Unfortunately, the 4-seat configuration is a deal killer for me. I'm pretty angry about this. Does nobody on the design team have children? Don't they know that the safest position for a car seat is in the center of the rear bench? Did they think about kids in the back having to climb over the silly rail to get out the door on the other side of the car when you've parked in traffic? Did they think about parents leaning over to buckle the kid into their car seat on the other side without having to walk around the car or kneel awkwardly across the rail? Argh! Why could they not figure out what the US regulations were before they designed this? What are the specifics of these regulations? Why is it fine for the R50/R53/R56 to have a bench across the back in the US but not ok for the R60?

I'm very disgruntled about this oversight in the design for the US market. I think that will turn out to be a huge disaster for this car in the US market. Huge.

By: Dean Cory

Dean Cory — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:29:44 +0000

I totally agree with RJ when he said:

I like the front end / grille design better on the base car vs the Cooper S car. The base grille looks great; the white Cooper S car, with the little inlet incorporated into the big grille, looks like it has a look of shock or awe on its â€˜faceâ€™.

The "Just-a" Cooper version is much better! The S version appears to be in pain, or horrified that the BMW overlords built a MINI SUV!

I still Dislike the Stetson Hat look on the Countryman and the Clubman. And the dip in the back looks hideous with a white roof!

My Girlfriend likes the idea of All4.

Can't wait to see the ProDrive WRC R60!

But alas not for me. No space for 5 due to the Safety-Nazis in Washington DC! :(

Say doesn't Subaru offer a WRX Imprezza Waggon? HMM... Turbo... All Wheel Drive...

By: Dylan Bland

Dylan Bland — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:09:35 +0000

I love the front end of the S model. I hope they carry over this new design language into the S hatch to replace the front scoop. If they do, perhaps that will be the big exterior difference in the R56 S refresh that has been talked about...

Very aggressive. Very cool.

By: poerboy

poerboy — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:49:14 +0000

I’ve missed the leak and have been completely geeking out for the past half hour or so. I agree with Frederic- he metamorphosis from concept to what we see here is elegant and awe-inspiring. I am so excited by what I see here and as other have mentioned, I CAN’T wait to take one for a spin within a year or so. Unfortunately, given my income, I’ll probably have t wait 5 or 6 years to be able to afford a used Countryman….

By: Dylan Bland

Dylan Bland — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:22:04 +0000

Home run.