MINI Countryman Launch In Brief
Now that we’ve reviewed the Countryman in detail our thoughts turn to products details and launch dates.
We expect production ready vehicles to start rolling off the line this September in Austria with European and UK dealers getting the first allotments shortly afterwards. MINI will launch with five models in Europe initially: Cooper, Cooper D, Cooper D ALL4, Cooper S, and Cooper S ALL4.
For the US market, MINI USA is doing everything they can to move up the launch from February to late January however final dates are still being determined. However rest assured each dealer will likely hold launch parties of the car on the weekend of launch. For the US market the models will be paired down to three; Cooper, Cooper S and Cooper S ALL4.
We’ll have more details on the R60 leading up to the launch this fall. Until then you can always read our exclusive initial take on the Countryman from last week’s preview drive in Austria. Still not enough? Head over to the exhaustive MotoringFile R60 section for more.
<p>great news, but any news on the refresh this year for the cooper S convertible, should be able to order in Aug?</p>
<p>I’m not in the market now but I was hoping the Cooper ALL4 would have made it here instead of just the Cooper S ALL4.</p>
<p>Was at the factory on Saturday, and we were told preproduction starts in July, with stock for sale happening in August. Launch at UK dealers is 18th of September.</p>
<p>Also we were told that if you like the look of the Cooper S, but want diesel, then hang on until the end of quarter 1 2011. Meaning Cooper S diesel launches then.</p>
<p>Even if the launch is pushed up to late January, by the time of delivery (unless you buy one off the lot), most of the winter weather here in the Northeast will be winding down. If I buy this model, it will be my winter car, and I will get the ALL4 version. With this timing, I may wait until the fall to see how the kinks are being ironed out. Guess that means another winter in the xB.</p>
<p>So how do you write that out? I want a MINI Countryman Cooper S ALL4? That is a mouth full!</p>
<p>So two questions…………..What do you think about purchasing the Countryman All4 in January. Reliabilty and all that and am I going to get this car for less than 35K with the packages and automatic?</p>
<p>@ftttubrgcm – I don’t believe that there is Cooper ALL4 model. I read in a previous MF article that the Cooper engine couldn’t meet the torque requirements for the ALL4 drive. You need the S engine or the diesel to have that much torque. So no Cooper ALL4 anywhere.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I was hoping the Cooper ALL4 would have made it here instead of just the Cooper S ALL4.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>As previously reported over the past six months MINI won’t be releasing a Cooper ALL4 due to the engine lacking the necessary torque needed for optimal performance. In other words it would be too slow to wear the Cooper name.</p>
<blockquote>So how do you write that out? I want a MINI Countryman Cooper S ALL4? That is a mouth full!</blockquote>
<p>Actually, I think the official name will be MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4…. if you think about it, right now we say “Cooper Clubman” or “Cooper Convertible”…. so it would probably be “Cooper Countryman” and not “Countryman Cooper”. If they go with the latter, then we will have to start calling the other models “Clubman Cooper” etc.</p>
<p>Steve; why would you want the automatic?</p>
<p>OK, so I’ll be looking at the MINI Cooper S Countryman All4 with automatic. For me, the automatic is so my wife can drive the car with kids in booster seats in the back when she can’t drive her car. The ’03 Cooper S is a little tough to get little ones and in and out of. There is no room for the stroller.</p>
<p>UK Clubs were invited to a reveal on Saturday I went along on behalf of the British Mini Club, and must say how impressed we were with the Countryman. They had on display a Cooper Diesel and a Cooper S. The base spec seems to have increased on the Cooper as well. Gert Hilderbrand was at the event and took us through both cars. If you have time please view some images from the day at <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishminiclub" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishminiclub</a></p>
<blockquote>Also we were told that if you like the look of the Cooper S, but want diesel, then hang on until the end of quarter 1 2011. Meaning Cooper S diesel launches then.</blockquote>
<p>Is this the diesel JCW that has been mentioned before? For both the Countryman and hatchback? Any specs?</p>
<p>I hope we get the DIESEL S here on the other side of the pond!!!</p>
<blockquote><p>Is this the diesel JCW that has been mentioned before? For both the Countryman and hatchback? Any specs?</p></blockquote>
<p>What is mentioned here is the Cooper S D. There is a proposed hotter JCW version but that is still up in the air at this point.</p>
<p>I would honestly be shocked if we don’t see a JCW R60, especially since BMW has gone into the sports SUV business with the X5M and X6M.</p>
<p>Will honestly be amused to see them throw the money into the program versus not fixing the serious short comings of the JCW sub brand. Its been a long while since I have seen any European reports on hot hatches that even mention the iffy performance of the current JCW cars. I still would be happy to see the JCW brand die and be replaced with something more along the lines of ///M.</p>
<p>No more half measures MINI please!</p>
<p>Yes, Gabe and Jay, I know that I have read that but I was holding out for the final acknowledgement of MINI not producing a Cooper ALL4, hoping for a last minute torque/HP bump.</p>
<p>Filip, just as many say “Camaro SS” there are others who say “SS Camaro” where as SS is the performance level of the Camaro body style. So to me, I would refer to the R60s as follows: MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 or MINI Cooper Countryman(of course, you can add “automatic” at the end of both if needed).</p>
<p>The automatic is for three reasons…..actually two.
1) Working in NYC. Don’t you love the traffic.
2) Too many years of catching and playing racquetball.
Oh my aching knees!</p>
<p>No the Cooper S diesel is what I was told about on Saturday, and launch in the UK is end of quarter 1.</p>
<p>JCW Countryman in petrol will be taking place, but I wasn’t given a date on this.</p>
<p>JCW diesel is still just a thought with no fixed plans or dates at this time.</p>
<p>Was also told to look out for something a bit special next year in terms of something a bit more stripped back to replace my GP, either hatch or speedster based.</p>