After introducing the bonkers Clubman Vision Gran Turismo, Mini didn't see fit to come empty-handed to the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, and therefore brought a special edition of its Countryman->ke3615 crossover. Called the Countryman Park Lane, the special model was named after a London street in the upscale Mayfair district, while hardcore Mini->ke57 aficionados may remember that this is not the first ever Park Lane model featured in the carmaker's lineup. A more luxurious version of the classic Mini featured the Park Lane moniker in 1987, as did a posh modern Mini back in 2005.

At first glance, the special-edition Countryman isn't overly charismatic-looking, but, as with plenty of other British models, the devil is in the details. Particularly high-end fittings are to be found as standard on the Countryman Park Lane, with the special edition being offered in up to eight different versions, depending on the market.

Continue reading to learn more about the Mini Countryman Park Lane.

2015 Mini Countryman Park Lane

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Mini Countryman Park Lane
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The two-tone paint scheme is obviously the most eye-catching feature from afar, but the Park Lane is has a number of distinctive details. Don't call it gray, the base color is named Earl Grey metallic – not after the famous tea but harking back to the British noble – while the racing stripes, roof, exterior mirror caps, indicator surrounds and lower door sections are painted in Oak Red. Whether with front- or all-wheel drive, the Countryman Park Lane is equipped with the Mini All4 Exterior visual package, which includes silver design motifs for the side sills and front and rear apron.

"Park Lane" emblems positioned under the distinctive turn signals tell bystanders that this is no ordinary Countryman , while the Chrome Line Exterior package is available optionally at no extra charge. Sportier "S" models, whether diesel or gasoline, are fitted with xenon headlights, while the 18-inch wheels in Turbo Fan Dark Grey give the special edition a sportier stance.

Interior

Along with the addition of "Park Lane" emblems on the door sills and dashboard, the special edition Countryman features an Oxide Silver surface for the door handle surrounds and cockpit trim, while the vertical side trim around the center console is finished in Cross Stripe Grey. With the doors and center console base trim painted in Carbon Black, the interior atmosphere could be too "Earl Grey" for some tastes, maybe even a bit Germanic from some points of view, especially since the rest of the dashboard is covered in good old black plastic.

That said, the upholstery makes up for the cold atmosphere, with the sports seats being engulfed in a fabric/leather finish called Parallel Lines Light Tobacco. No matter the engine choice, the Mini Countryman Park Lane is equipped with automatic air conditioning, on-board computer, rain and light sensors, a sports steering wheel with multi-function buttons, velour floor mats and the storage and lighting package.

Drivetrain

Depending on the market, the Park Lane can be had with any of four engines, all of which are available with either front-wheel-drive or the All4 all-wheel-drive system. The less-powerful gasoline engine is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 121 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque, while the top of the range is found in the Cooper S Countryman, where the turbocharged, 1.6-liter four-cylinder has an output of 181 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. Both engines can be paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

On the diesel front, the base engine is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 111 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, while the Cooper SD Countryman features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 141 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque.

Prices

Mini hasn't announced pricing, nor a sale date, but considering that it used to charge around 4,000 EUR (approximately $4,400 as of 3/5/2015) extra for the similarly posh "Mayfair" package, I would suspect that the Park Lane will probably command a premium in the same ballpark.

Competition

Nissan Juke

Sporting unconventional styling features and a "love it or hate it" attitude, the Nissan Juke is a slightly less expensive rival for the Mini Countryman, but it makes up for it with quirkier styling and better standard equipment. In Europe, the only place where the Countryman Park Lane is likely to hit shorwooms, the Juke features an assortment of diesel and gasoline four-cylinder engines and even a Nismo RS version, while almost all versions have a choice of front- or all-wheel-drive.

The base model is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with only 93 horsepower and 103 pound-feet of torque, while the sporty Nismo RS version features a turbocharged, 1.6-liter, four-cylinder with 215 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. The only diesel available is a Renault-sourced 1.5-liter with 108 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. The Juke can be had with either a six-speed manual or a CVT.

Fiat 500X

Unveiled at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, the new Fiat 500X also tries to bring some fresh air into the mini-crossover segment, by mirroring some of the design features of the smaller, top-selling 500. Developed on the same platform as the Jeep Renegade, the latest Fiat crossover is powered by a range of four-cylinder engines from either Chrysler's or Fiat's own stable.

The least-powerful model comes with a 1.6-liter with 109 horsepower and 112 pound-feet of torque, with Europe also getting two diesel engines. The top of the range model in North America features a version of the Chrysler TigerShark engine, with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder developing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Depending on engine choice and market, the 500X can offer a five-speed or six-speed manual, while certain engines can be mated to a six-speed, dual-clutch or a nine-speed, automatic transmission.

Conclusion

While the Mini Countryman Park Lane is not exactly a must-have special edition, it benefits from a range of distinctive options. Then again, with Mini generally offering quite a varied choice of configurations that includes quirky color combinations and special interior trims, some may see just a fancy badge in the Park Lane edition, and I must admit that I am among those people.