Exclusive: Radical All-New 2024 MINI Countryman Interior Revealed
Today we’re excited to bring you an exclusive first look at the radical all-new 2024 MINI Countryman Interior. We’ve heard from MINI for years to expect an evolution on the outside and a revolution on the inside of the next generation MINIs. Today we see our first look at just how different these new MINIs will be.
Thanks to our intrepid spy photographers we have a direct look at an early test mule with the final form of the interior design clearly evident. The most obvious change is that massive circular display sprouting from the dashboard. But based on what we know, there’s a few more secrets in plain sight than just an enormous display. Or more specifically that plastic shroud.
Massive Leap In Technology & Infotainment
Yes that is a massive circular screen. And yes it’s identical to what we saw a few months ago on the upcoming 2024 MINI electric hatch. But there’s seemingly one difference here – that massive plastic enclosure that connects the screen to the dash. However we believe that enclosure is actually camouflage and the final design will feature a floating circular display like we you see to the right from the 2024 electric MINI hatch leak.
Beyond the massive screen there’s a lot to take in here. The switches and knobs (which are actually marked) are also identical to what we saw in the electric hatch leak meaning that MINI is moving to a consistent user experience across all models no matter where they’re produced or what platform they’re on. That’s an essential move if MINI wants that digital experience to be a selling point of the brand.
The gear selector (which will be almost identical to BMWs) is actually not here in production form but will be a small lever or toggle where the white plastic is in the top photo. Also gone is the iDrive multi-function controller. In it’s place will be a digital experience that’s more touch-based and (we’re told) easier to use.
For all those hoping the digital cluster would change shape or size, you’ll be disappointed. However look for it to become all screen as it’s becomes much more of a part of the overall digital experience.
2024 MINI Countryman Level 2 Autonomy
Seen clearly in the spy shots is a large center sensor in the grill. That will be part of this massive upgrade to driver assistance systems that are typically only see in much larger cars. With the optional Driving Assistant Professional package, Active Cruise Control can be used at speeds up to 130mph, with Steering and Lane Control Assistant helping drivers to maintain their current course with subtle steering corrections.
What does that mean? Steering and lane guidance assist isn’t just that annoying buzz that alerts you when you hit a white line on the side of the road. When turned on, this system will gently turn the steering wheel and follow well marked roads without your input. Granted the system will require eyes on the road (with an eye tracker) and hands on the wheel. But make no mistake, systems like this (which have been on BMWs and others for a few years now) represent real benefits in highway driving by lessening the cognitive load on drivers.
Driving Assistant Plus will include Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function which will bring the car to a complete stop in traffic and start again when the cars in front of you move. In Europe it will also include automatic Speed Limit Assist which works in conjunction with local speed limits and overtaking bans in specific markets.
Over the Air Software Updates
Following the tech world’s lead, MINI will be leveraging the integrated 5G in these new cars and offering remote software updates. These will likely follow BMW’s pattern of quarterly updates that add new functionality and even performance to the cars.
2024 MINI Countryman Launch Details
Given what we know and how far along these test mules are, we believe we’ll see the 2024 MINI Countryman make its debut in the second half of 2023 as a 2024 model in the US. We’ll likely see petrol powered Cooper and Cooper S models first before MINI launches its first ever all electric Countryman. And don’t worry; an even higher horsepower JCW Countryman is coming.
If we compare spy shots of the next generation MINI Countryman with the next generation BMW X1, albeit both heavily camouflaged and sharing the same upgraded FAAR platform, the rear overhang of the MINI is discernibly a little shorter than that of the BMW. The MINI version must always be smaller than the BMW version to justify its MINI badge.
Btw, in the March 2022 edition of CAR Magazine, Georg Kacher, European Editor, is reporting that the forthcoming all-new all-electric MINI 4dr Crossover, which effectively will replace the F55 in the market place, is looking increasingly likely to be called Paceman. Unlike the R61 Paceman, it will have four doors and a less sloping rear roofline.
So still no BSM or Android Auto?!?!?!
Will the Resolute Edition allow choosing different wheels? Different seats? Etc. Or is it only available exactly as shown?
Also, will there be an article about the changes for 2023 since MINI annoyingly hasn’t updated their website even though you can’t order 2022s anymore? Apparently, the Signature trim Cooper SE will only be allowed to have bodycolor roof for 2023, like the “Classic” trim ICE versions.
One step closer to the Honda/Tesla model where the cars all look the same and there’s no differentiation between any of them.
Is BMW denying the sale of the MINI brand, or just the sale of the Oxford plant? Can’t help but notice the quotes in the article seem to talk about one, but not the other.
This is the scenario:
BMW would sell the brand and the plant to the joint venture that it partially owns with Great Wall Motors. The strategy would limit BMW’s financial risk while still having a controlling interest in the brand. In other words it would allow BMW to have a hand in the brand’s future direction, design of its products and (critically) continue the practice of BMW platform sharing.
I’m guessing the major need driving this is the enormous cost for a relatively small automaker like BMW to transition to electric. BMW is already leveraging the company to do this and it may not be enough.
The quotes from BMW only reference the importance of the Oxford plant, not of the MINI brand. One could interpret it as they are prepared to sell the brand but retain ownership of the Oxford plant (to make BMWs, or to lease to Great Wall to make MINIs… who knows).
Very discouraging to say the least.
“114 miles” Come on, is this 2008? 250+ or GTFO.
Exchange the range for a ton of fun. I love my lightweight SE.
The form factor is perfect. I had a 2008 ICE Mini. Loved it. But I need a reasonable range, and I hate SUVs and crossovers.
Selling subcompact premium cars is getting harder. It’s now widely understood that large cars cost comparatively little more to manufacture than compact cars, which is why car makers love making SUVs because they are so profitable. MINI simply can’t go on making subcompact premium cars that are insufficiently profitable. Profit is after all the life blood of any business. BMW, however, has invested billions in MINI Plant Oxford.
Interestingly, Audi CEO Marcus Duesmann has recently revealed that the A1 and Q2 will not be replaced when these premium subcompact models reach the end of their respective life cycles. Neither model has ever been marketed in the US where the A3, which shares its platform with the VW Golf, serves as the entry point to the Audi range. Even Audi’s parent company VW, for the foreseeable future, will only market the GTI and R versions of the Golf in the US.
1) Gas prices feature in consumer minds again, which should help small car sales.
2) Options are where profit margins are made, and while I’m not intimately familiar with the A1, Q2, etc., options have always been a big thing with MINI.
3) Even if the small car market continues to shrink, as other manufacturers drop out, MINI would be able to corner a larger and larger share of that market. It’s not necessarily true that a falling tide lowers all boats, if I can modify the more common phrase.
Hopefully!
I have put together as best as I could, spy shots of the next generation BMW X1 courtesy of Motor1, and the MINI Countryman courtesy of Autocar, respectively. The X1 shot was taken on a high speed track, whereas the Countryman shot was taken on a public road. Both vehicles share the same FAAR platform and wheelbase.
The rear overhang on the X1 appears quite clearly to be longer than the rear overhang on the Countryman. The front overhang on the X1, to my eyes, also appears to be longer. Furthermore, the tailgate Hatch on the X1 appears to have a less steep and longer slope than the tailgate on the Countryman.
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Autocar is reporting that according to sources close to BMW, the next generation Countryman PHEV will be the BMW-owned brand’s most powerful model yet. The powertrain will pair a 1.5-litre three cylinder petrol engine with a 174hp electric motor for a combined output of 322hp, making the model substantially faster than today’s 217hp Countryman S E All4.
A 14.2kWh (usable) battery will supply it with around 55 miles of EV range, a near 100% increase. It can be charged in 2.5 hours from a 7.4kWh charger. It is not yet confirmed whether the most powerful Countryman will wear the JCW badge traditionally reserved for MINI’s performance models, but MINI has confirmed its intentions to carry the nameplate through to its electrified range.
A less powerful PHEV option with a combined 241hp will also be available, as will a 168hp 1.5-litre three cylinder and 215hp 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo petrol engine, both with 48V mild-hybrid technology, and a 2.0-litre diesel. The Countryman will follow its BMW X1 sibling in gaining a pure-electric powertrain option too, but few details are currently available.
I agree, they need a sidewall! But we sell a lot of Michelins and I’m sure they’ll have it straight by production time. Soon as they hit the market we’ll have them on our website <a href="https://www.tdtires.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">https://www.tdtires.com/</a>.
Small
Glad to see prices are holding the line for the most part. Is the range of the MINI Cooper SE still 114 miles for the 2023 models? I was hoping they’d use the i3’s larger battery for an increased range. Even 149 miles per charge would be an big improvement.
It also makes me wonder what the prices will be like for the new 2024 models.
Cooper SE doesn’t use the i3’s battery (different shape and cell provider), so it’s more complicated to increase the range… BUT I agree with you. It would be a big improvement to get to ~150 miles of range.
Unfortunately, they made the SE a worse deal for 2023, locking the contrast roof colors behind the $4000 signature plus package.
The FAAR platform underpins essentially front wheel drive cars with optional four wheel drive, such as the next generation BMW X1 and MINI Countryman, whereas the CLAR platform underpins the larger rear wheel drive BMW’s with optional four wheel drive. Starting in 2025, however, the all-new ‘Neue Klasse’ platform, which will be entirely scalable in size, will replace both the FAAR and CLAR structure currently in use across BMW’s line-up.
Not sure I like a non-moveable arm rest or the faux key turn to start/stop in place of a button or toggle but I guess it’s easier for BMW and MINI to follow the ActiveTourer’s examples for mechanicals and switchgear.
“The next-generation MINI Countryman plug-in hybrid, due next year, will be the BMW-owned brand’s most powerful series-production model yet.”
The Countryman is, and always has been, MINI’s saviour. Let’s not forget that back in 2009, the BMW Board was seriously considering pulling the plug on MINI, and selling it off to the highest bidder.
The Countryman, however, was in an advanced stage of development and was allowed to progress to launch. As it turned out, the product planners were right, and the Countryman was an instant success and, more importantly, was very profitable. MINI was saved!
Well, it’s finally about time they paid Pat some notice.
I think this has been sorely lacking in MINIs heritage story.
Pat gave Mini a Rally win long before the “boys” ever did.
They should have done this car in Tartan red with a black roof like Pat’s, similar to what they did for Paddy.
Thrilled to see they’re making it available with a manual, Pat never used an automatic.
I should hope that MINI sends one of these over to Suzie.
But what does that mean transmission wise?
I have seen other articles state that this edition will be available as a manual 6. with the US only getting JCW will a manual be available? There is always Hope.
I won’t pay for a MINI not produced in the EU or UK.
The Paceman represents the “NOT NORMAL” side of Mini at its worst, including questionable mechanical reliability (THP…)
I’m quite excited at the prospect of a MINI with decent range. I have gone electric & the current 110 mile range offered is not usable.
That front end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????? MINI Design is almost there with Toyota: <a href="https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9ff78bc0ce7fb6fce9ff62f17b113b6377dd1fa9275c25baf6af0e4e4bd40df7.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc">https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9ff78bc0ce7fb6fce9ff62f17b113b6377dd1fa9275c25baf6af0e4e4bd40df7.jpg</a> <a href="https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5afe004dc73d1bf1a256987d9a9a97e3a12e4453a3d73669ff49c4530b49af96.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc">https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5afe004dc73d1bf1a256987d9a9a97e3a12e4453a3d73669ff49c4530b49af96.jpg</a>
So if the larger 2025 MINI Paceman SE supposedly gets a 60kWh battery and can go 250 miles per charge, would it be safe to assume that the 2024 MINI Cooper SE gets at least a 40kWh battery for around 200 miles of range? Because the current 114 miles is not doable. You have to constantly charge it and you can’t reliably take it on a road trip due to the distance between fast chargers.
Yes – our sources have been telling us target figures around 250 miles for awhile now. You can read our most recent report here: <a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2021/12/10/uncovered-all-new-2024-electric-mini-hatch/" rel="ugc">https://www.motoringfile.com/2021/12/10/uncovered-all-new-2024-electric-mini-hatch/</a>
The problem is not the autonomy, but the charging speed and the lack of certainty of recharging outside the home
I love it! This is the first redesign of MINI since Gen 1 that I have actually liked & gotten excited about. Any word on if they will finally rethink the omission of Android Auto while they are rethinking the infotainment center?
definitely one of the best-looking MINI special editions ever (love love love the green seats). Generally I feel like I’m on a totally different page than MINI’s design team these days so it’s nice to think somebody there still gets it.
You said up to triple digits… The SE is limited. Mine tops out at 94mph. Please explain your comment.