MINI Countryman Makes its US Debut
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Today MINI officially takes the wraps off of the Countryman in the US. We don’t have pricing yet (but we have a good idea on that) and we don’t have final specifications but we do have a press release. Look for photos later this week live from the show floor.
Official Release: The all new MINI Countryman, MINI’s biggest and boldest model, will make its U.S. debut during the New York International Auto Show.
Equipped with four doors, four individual seats and a four-wheel-drive system known as MINI ALL4, the MINI Countryman will be hitting the U.S. city streets and snow-covered back-roads early next year. Measuring 161.3 inches long and with a wheelbase of 102.2 inches, the MINI Countryman offers more passenger space than any other MINI vehicle, along with nearly 40 cubic feet of cargo space.
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“The Countryman is the most striking addition to our vehicle lineup so far,†said Jim McDowell, Vice President, MINI USA. “And development of this vehicle has inspired our engineers and designers; the brand is taking on a new, even feistier, fun-loving attitude.â€
As a small crossover, the MINI Countryman bridges the gap between the classic MINI concept and a modern crossover vehicle. The MINI Countryman is a completely new car, unprecedented in the history of the MINI brand, though its likeness to the rest of its family is immediately apparent. While it is MINI’s largest production vehicle ever, it is still only a size “small,†and the company remains committed to the its core values… practicing fiscal, environmental and adrenal responsibility at all times.
MINI Countryman offers MINI fans more space and greater flexibility, as well as typical MINI fun. The extra interior space is made possible by the additional height of the body, and by the car’s longer wheelbase, which has grown nearly six inches compared to the hardtop.
A key feature that is unique to this model is the innovative Center Rail. The aluminum track stretches from the front to the rear of the cabin and offers storage for personal items, electrical and USB connections for seamless integration of smartphones and other devices and a large number of attachments to fit customers’ lifestyle.
MINI Countryman powertrain options include Cooper, Cooper S or Cooper S with ALL4. The Countryman will be the first crossover on the market to feature a turbocharged and direct-injected engine with VALVETRONIC technology, which together provide optimum performance and efficiency. And for those who are focused on gas mileage, MINI Countryman is expected to offer the best fuel economy in the crossover segment.
MINI Countryman is a one-of-a-kind crossover, and will stand out among its competitors in the segment and provide dynamic handling and an overall fun motoring experience. Like all MINI vehicles, the MINI Countryman promises a compelling value story through low free scheduled maintenance, great fuel efficiency, and the brand promises will be a competitive price point (Final pricing for the U.S. will be announced closer to the arrival on dealer lots).
<p>There’s a lot I like about the idea of this vehicle, but without seating for five I can’t use it.</p>
<p>Very cool. With a baby on the way, this could be a real option in the future! :)</p>
<p>Just tell us how much$$$ already?</p>
<p>I don’t about anyone else, but I’m seeing some body roll in that video above.</p>
<p>The best part of this car is the switch to black plastic resin – it transforms and elevates the R56-based interior design. Should be an interesting test drive to see how the elevated ride height and wide cabin mesh with the usual nimble MINI feel…</p>
<p>Re: show floor pictures…PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try to nab a few shots of a Countryman that isn’t the same two we’ve seen over and over for the past few months!</p>
<p>It looks like “ALL4” is only available in the Cooper S since it most likely will need the extra power.</p>
<p>Still don’t like the “notched” roof line, but since it was also part of the roadster concept, I guess it’s here to stay.</p>
<p>Again, that stupid center rail system appears to be on the released version. I’m thinking that since the US market won’t get the available 3 rear seating that there is nothing they can come up with to put in the rear center space but the rail system. It messes up the vehicle for me….that and since it will be manufactured in Austria, it won’t have any British heritage.</p>
<p>Can we please get it already???
Hold some drive events or something so that people can put their deposits in already…</p>
<p>AND WHAT IS THE PRICE???</p>
<blockquote>Again, that stupid center rail system appears to be on the released version. I’m thinking that since the US market won’t get the available 3 rear seating that there is nothing they can come up with to put in the rear center space but the rail system. It messes up the vehicle for me….that and since it will be manufactured in Austria, it won’t have any British heritage.</blockquote>
<p>Just take a look at the R60 section – we’ve already answered all questions regarding the US spec.</p>
<blockquote>Can we please get it already??? Hold some drive events or something
</blockquote>
<p>Apparently MINI will have the Countryman available to see at <a href="http://www.miniusa.com/#/play/go_a_motoring/states-m" rel="nofollow">MINI Takes The States</a> this Summer. They may even make it available to drive.</p>
<p>No debut of the mid-cycle refresh at this show? Some show reports are appearing in the forums and the refresh doesn’t seem to be there. When is the next event where it might appear?</p>
<p>Why do they still say COOPER? will every mini model always be called coopers no matter what? I don’t even think the clubmans say clubman on them.</p>
<p>“Why do they still say COOPER? will every mini model always be called coopers no matter what? I don’t even think the clubmans say clubman on them.”</p>
<p>NOT ALL MINIS are COOPERS! It says “Cooper” on it because that’s what performance level it is. The models are hardtop, convertible, and Clubman. Like a Camaro has “Z28” or “SS” MINI markets the Cooper, Cooper S, and the JCW levels here in the US. The Countryman in the US will most likely have those same levels. If you are in the UK, you can get different performance levels below Cooper which are “First” and “One”. If you have a MINI One or MINI First, you aren’t driving a MINI Cooper but the levels mentioned. That’s why seeing an actual classic Mini Cooper or Cooper S is a rarity.</p>
<p>I don’t get the logic of calling them cooper either.
Its as if all BMW were 335, or all Honda’s were Accord… please put the name of the car on the car.</p>
<p>Gabe, I saw and am still bummed. That rail system is what is keeping my wife from trading her SUV in for one. I’m also bummed that one of the foundation of Mini/MINI is its British heritage. I’m sure many have seen now China wants to purchase Volvo from Ford. I’m sure Volvo owners feel as I do.</p>
<p>@ ftttupwmcs</p>
<p>That doesn’t make sense. If the Cooper designation refers to sportiness, then I would assume a Mini Cooper S Countryman is sportier than a Mini Cooper Countryman. However that reasoning is flawed in the sense that all R50-57 Coopers ans S’s would have no name. What is the NAME of My R53? It just says Cooper S on it.
My car wasn’t sold to me as a MINI Cooper S Hardtop as you suggest, the title says Mini Cooper S; MINI is the MAKE and COOPER S is the MODEL.
Logically BMW should name the cars MINI Countryman and Countryman S. BMW created the same confusion with the Clubman, however it wasn’t as bad since it kinda still looks like a Cooper.
The Countryman is too different to not put a model name on the car.</p>
<p>Will there be a Countryman available on the floor in NY and not just on the untouchable stand? I really hope so…</p>
<p>Hardtop, convertible, Clubman, and Countryman all refer to body styles, not trim levels as Cooper and Cooper S do. As with BMW who has sedan, coupe, convertible and touring all with different trim levels which refer t engine and features (328i, 335i, etc).</p>
<p>I really can’t wait to see it in person this weekend!</p>
<p>No its not.
A 335 is one MODEL and an X3 is another MODEL.
Then you have i, is, ix, X-drive, etc that determine the characteristics.
The Model name of my R53 is Cooper S. Its is a small 2 door hatch.
Apparently the model name of the R60 is also Cooper or Cooper S, which does not make sense since its a larger 4 door hatch; its a completely different model. Your reasoning suggests that BMW could stick the same model name on a 335 and on an X3, yet it wouldn’t be an X3, it would also say 335 on the back.
Again, the model name of my R53 is Cooper S, please explain to me why the back of the Countryman says the same thing, if its a completely different car.</p>
<p>@ ftttupwmcs</p>
<p>I am with you on the center rail. That is one gimmick I could live without. However, some of the very best 4x4s are built in Austria, so I don’t mind the fact this car is being built outside the UK. There is a huge difference between a British car being built in another European country and a Swedish car being produced in China (if that’s the case). The M-B Geländewagen and the Pinzgauer are products of Austria. I’ll take that pedigree any day over a British built vehicle.</p>
<p>Brian, I’m sure this is an April Fools joke so I won’t argue with you. All Minis/MINIs are Mini Coopers and MINI constantly makes mistakes by branding their vehicles incorrectly. MINIUSA.com has a long running April Fools joke of identifying their vehicles incorrectly there also.</p>
<p>My original 1961 Mini was an Austin Mini-850; and they also made a Morris Mini-850.</p>
<p>They added the name “Cooper S” to indicate the larger 1300 cc engine that also had a super-charger.</p>
<p>I’m not sure, but there might have been a Mini “Cooper” with the larger engine but no super-charger.</p>
<p>Now the base Mini is a “MINI Cooper” and the “MINI Cooper S” is turbo-charged; so I guess the “S” now means “Sport”; otherwise they should call it a “MINI Cooper T”. ;)</p>
<p>SFRedMCc, sounds like you had a really neato Mini. I’ve only sat in one but still haven’t motored in one. Can’t wait! But again, not all MINIs are Coopers even though in the US market, they pretty much are. In the UK, MINI markets the 75 hp MINI First, and the 98 hp MINI One which aren’t Coopers which have 122 hp. “Cooper” is a performance level but we only see it as the base US MINI performance level. More on next post.</p>
<p>People refer to their Cooper level MINI as being a “justa Cooper” or a “non-S” when they could refer to it simply and correctly as a Cooper. The Cooper level gets the bad rap because it is the base model marketed in the US even though it isn’t across all markets.</p>
<p>“more passenger space”? I’m 6’3″ and if I’m in the front seat of the coutryman there is no room for a person in the backseat. This is the same situation in my convertible but I assumed that a four door SUV would have more passenger space. I guess I was wrong. I’ll probably take clubman instead but I wish they would add a couple of inches to that models as well.</p>
<p>I love the Mini Cooper S, but never considered buying one because it’s way too small to be practical, for my needs. However, the Countryman may be just big enough. The only 3 caveats I see (and 2 of them are big ones) are the stupid rail system, missing 5th seat, and missing diesel power for the US (as usual). I might be able to get past the missing 5th seat and the stupid rail system, but I’ve already decided that my next vehicle MUST be a clean diesel. I am not even considering gasoline power anymore. VW has already shown that a 50-state legal diesel is possible. What’s the rest of the industry waiting for?!</p>