Best Look Yet at the 2017 MINI Countryman Interior
It’s not totally clear but this is our best look yet inside the 2017 MINI Countryman. As expected the Countryman takes the basic layout and design of the Clubman and evolves the styling in a more aggressive and rugged way. Noticeably the vents on either side of the center screen are taller and larger which is likely a theme that will be carried over the doors and center console.
This particular version of the Countryman has the standard 6.5″ screen with iDrive controller and the wonderful sport seats with thigh bolstering – something the current Countryman sorely is lacking.
The F60 Countryman will ride on the same UKL2 chassis that the Clubman is based off of and thus will be all around larger than the current R60. While final dimensions aren’t known MotoringFile has learned that the new Countryman will be fractionally wider and noticeably longer than the new Clubman.
MINI will debut the new Countryman at the Paris Motorshow this September with a full launch happening in October (for the EU) and December for North America. Launch models of the US market will include the Cooper and Cooper S. The Countryman has been design from the ground up to accommodate both a plugin hybrid drivetrain and diesel with urea injection. Sources have told us that MINIUSA intends to bring the hybrid to market. Originally plans were also approved for the diesel but that may be reevaluated due to low fuel costs and less interest in the technology in the wake of the VW scandal.
Source: Auto.sohu.com
<p>Jaguar Land Rover, JLR, has recently signed a contract to build a new factory in Nitra, western Slovakia, at a cost of £1 billion and is the first British company to do so. The Slovakian Government described it as, “The investment of the decade”. The new factory will be an addition to existing JLR factories, and the first JLR vehicles are expected to roll off the new production lines in late 2018.</p>
<p>So what has this to do with the new F60 MINI Countryman? Well, quite a lot actually. Earlier this year, JLR reported that it had signed a “short term contract” with Magna Steyr to build additional Land Rover vehicles temporarily at its factory in Graz Austria, as soon as production of the Countryman and Paceman finishes. In its latest report, JLR said that production of Land Rover vehicles in Graz will start “soon”.</p>
<p>So how soon is “soon”? My guess is that production of R60/R61 will finish as early as next March. It’s an open secret that F60 goes on sale in Europe next October, which means that full production will need to begin next summer at the latest. In the meantime, MINI will not want to be left with obsolete stock on its hands. As a very satisfied long term owner of a Countryman, I am eagerly looking forward to the launch of the new F60.</p>