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Video: Mini Countryman test drive
The British magazine AutoExpress got behind the wheel of the new Mini Countryman and pushed it to its limits. The Countryman is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with a turbocharged engine for the S model. The turbo will take the power from 122hp to 184hp. If you are lucky enough to live in Europe, you can get a few diesel options. A standard model will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in around 11 seconds, while the S version will hit it in around 8 seconds. The Countryman will not come standard with all-wheel drive. You will have to bump it up to the S level in order to get that on your Mini. Despite the cars rugged looks, it has MacPherson struts in the front and multilink in the rear, so no off-roading. Sales will begin in 2011. MINI reportedly on its way to the World Rally Championship
 
So what if Porsche beat them in their own competition; MINI’s not exactly the type of brand that just lays down to anybody. Now, they’re looking at embarking on their next challenge, and this one’s an absolute doozy. According to a report by Autosport, MINI, together with Prodrive, will be announcing a World Rally Championship program. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to translate that: MINI is headed to the WRC! Details are limited and still pending an announcement, which is expected to be done this week, but word from Autosport has it that MINI’s first WRC offering will be based on the new Countryman and has already been in the pipeline for quite some time now at Prodrive’s Banbury headquarters. The MINI WRC Countryman will also undergo its first testing pretty soon and, according to David Lapworth, Prodrive’s technical director, “When we start testing on our rally car development program, it will be intensive. We still have a good timescale to work towards for testing and we’re happy with where we’re at.” MINI’s WRC debut will most likely happen at the middle of the 2011 season where it is expected to miss the fist four races and will be launched sometime in May, possibly ahead of the Rally Italy. MINI Countryman Life Ball Editions introduced in Vienna
The 2010 Life Ball was the scene of a peculiar auction where MINI came out and provided the gathered audience with a chance to bid for one of its three special edition Life Ball MINI Countrymans. All three models, designed by notable fashion designers Francisco Costa, Kenneth Cole, and Diane von Furstenberg, were all unveiled at Vienna’s City Hall Square for the annual AIDS charity event that benefits the Foundation for AIDS Research, the largest European HIV/AIDS fundraiser. While all three MINIs were presented to the gathered crowd, only one of them was auctioned off with Calvin Klein designer Francisco Costa seeing his precious pride and joy auctioned off for €40,000 ($61,000). As for the other two MINIs, they’re going to eventually see their day in the auction stand at later dates with the proceeds for both cars also going to the Foundation for AIDS research. Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht, Senior Vice President MINI Brand Management, said: "We can now look back on a successful ten-year partnership with the Life Ball. The event is an excellent platform for the MINI brand, while our involvement allows us to contribute further to the fight against HIV/AIDS." Press Release after the jump. Full story Mini Countryman Specs Are Out
When the Mini Countryman crossover was first shown to the public by Mini, we had thought we would be getting a lot more than we did. Sure, we got a few pictures and some information, but we were never given specifications. Well, the wait is over and we now have a full list of specs on the newest Mini. The Countryman will get 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines, with the S model getting a turbocharged. The turbo will take the power from 122 horsepower to 184. If you are lucky enough to live in Europe, you can get a few diesel options. Buyers will be able to choose from a six-speed manual or an automatic transmission. Opt for the base model with the auto box and it will take around 11 seconds to hit 60 miles per hour. The S model can do that time in around eight seconds. The highest version will top out at 190…kmh that is. The Countryman will not come standard with all-wheel drive. You will have to bump it up to the S level in order to get that on your Mini. Despite the cars rugged looks, it has MacPherson struts in the front and multilink in the rear, so no off-roading. Mini Countryman Aero Kit leaked
As is the way with these things, nothing can be kept a secret. As we all know, Minis are always offered with an Aero Kit and this Countryman is no different. The kit will help the Mini look more aggressive and it might even provide better aerodynamics, but that is debatable. Since the Countryman is different than anything else in the Mini lineup, it was hard to imagine what an Aero Kit would look like. We didn’t have to wonder long. Thanks to our good friends over at MotoringFile, the Aero Kit for the new Mini has been leaked. The large front fascia sees little chance and there is a larger air dam and new side mirrors and rear apron. In fact, the side mirrors look like something off of the John Cooper Works edition and in fact, they are. We believe that they will have some JCW markings on them when we see it in the flesh. There are also big black fender flares that look pretty awful to be honest. They seem a bit too big for the wheels. Yet, these wheel arches may come in handy to the people that want to take this thing in the dirt. Stay tuned for more information. 2010 Mini Countryman Makarapa
Let’s face it, football is the first word on every man’s lips these days, so it comes as no surprise that automakers will take advantage of this fact to attract buyers to their products. For example, Mini has revamped its Countryman model with the inspiration of the famous plastic-trumpet, the Makarapa - the top-football-item in South Africa. And if you still prefer reading about cars instead watching football and have no idea what the heck a Makarapa is, then we will share our researched knowledge with you. A Makarapa, according to Wikipedia, is a hand-cut and hand painted hard hat worn by sports fans. Each hat is customized to represent the colors or emblems of the fan’s team or country. Its popularity is kind of like those drunken sports fans that have painted their faces with their team’s colors and while wearing their favorite jersey and rocking a big foam finger...except this is a little less ridiculous. According to the press release, Makarapa literally translated means ‘Migrant Worker’ and gains its origin from the safety helmets worn by the migrant laborers working in the gold mines of Johannesburg. For Mini this can be translated into a unique and quirky extension of its owner’s individual personality. It is obvious that MINI would want to follow this style and create its own Makarapa-design in South Africa with their blue, green, and yellow hard hat sitting atop their Countryman (an ideal vehicle for this type of proud display). Press release after the jump. Full story Mini prepares seven-seater SUV
Mini is famous for its Cooper vehicles - a four-door, four-wheel-drive, family-sized vehicle. So, cars like the new Countryman somehow don’t fit into the general picture. Now Mini seems to be going a step further into the realm of not-so-Mini type cars and coming out with a seven-seater SUV sometime in the future. This new seven seater will be called the Countryman Plus and, according to Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht, global head of MINI brand management, it will be the most practical Mini ever and could be made even bigger: "We could take the wheelbase from 2.60m to around 2.70m." The Countryman Plus is set to attract buyers would not typically be satisfied with the smaller vehicles that Mini has had to offer. Buyers currently looking at vehicles such as the Nissan Rogue, Volkswagen Touran, and Honda CR-V will be among the targets for the new Countryman Plus. This larger model may seem a little iffy for some consumers who already own one of Mini’s small cars. Mini drivers are very faithful and seeing a larger vehicle in the Mini lineup may not sit too well with some. Of course, customer reaction is anyone’s guess at this point, but this should definitely be a good thing for Mini to increase their profits. We also have to remind you that the legendary Moke is also set for a comeback. Who said Mini is all about small cars? Video: A walk-through of the 2010 MINI Countryman
As one of MINI’s first forays into the sports utility market, the MINI Countryman is understandably a jump into uncharted territory for MINI. After all, as a brand that hasn’t produced anything measuring more than four meters - they’re called MINI for a reason - these guys are banking on introducing the Countryman as a "genuine crossover [that] bridges the gap between the classic concept of the Mini and a modern Sports Activity Vehicle.” Our buddies over at Autospies posted a walk-through video of the Countryman, complete with a detailed description of the vehicle’s exterior looks, as well as its interior features, courtesy of MINI product manager, Vincent Kung. It’s a pretty useful video to watch if you’re thinking of scooping up one in the future. There’s no better person to explain the inner and outer workings of the Countryman than the man who pretty much headed the project from the beginning.
2010 Mini Countryman Getaway Package
With a name like "Countryman", the soon-to-be launched Mini can have some relaxing accessories added to the mix. What kind of marketing team wouldn’t take advantage of that? Mini announced today the Getaway Package just in time for the market launch of the Countryman crossover. Picture this. Driving down the countryside with the top down and the breeze whipping past you as you sail down the road watching the picturesque viewing streaming by. What’s that? A nice spot for a picnic? Be prepared with the Getaway package consisting of a seat set (€89.00), a pair of boots (€39.00), and a t-shirt (€29.00). The seat set includes two comfortable folding wooden chairs with a canvas surface in an easy Racing Check or stylized Union Jack look. Both of these accessories come in dark grey against a black background. The package also includes a Five-In-One Cover: a poncho, sleeping bag, awning, picnic blanket ,and bed cover. Might be a nice little package for Mother’s Day, but you might want to buy her the car first! Press release after the jump. Full story Video: MINIWOOD invades Geneva!
It’s been a while since we last saw MINI pull off something like this but it seems that they’ve finally gone back to their guerilla advertising ways by taking over the Geneva Motor Show, ‘MINIWOOD’ style. To celebrate the world debut of the MINI Countryman – or as MINI has come to describe as their ‘new star’ – the BMW-owned brand launched a guerilla campaign that involved multi-dimensional projection of “MINIWOOD” onto a nearby mountain that just so happens to face the city of Geneva. It, of course, is a direct reference to Hollywood – or the City of Stars – and MINI was able to accomplish it by cutting off the words ‘MINI’ and ‘WOOD’ on two circular pieces of wood and, by using the spruced up headlights of the Countryman, they were able to cast a lighted projection of MINIWOOD similar to the way Commissioner Gordon did with the Bat Signal. It’s pretty ingenious, even by the lofty standards of MINI. | featured reviews: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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