First Look: 2011 Mini Countryman

An afternoon after footage began leaking onto the Internet, Mini officially released knowledge on its new Countryman -- its first foray back to the crossover field. Though we tend to reported yesterday, the Countryman closely resembles the remainder from the Mini number, less than incorporates a bunch of cues which permit it to appear somewhat rugged. The angled front fascia, whole allowing for the taller front bumper plus modified headlamps, closely resembles the Beachcomber concept shown at about that year's Detroit auto display. In contrast to that show automobile, however, the Countryman sports a traditional hardtop, four full-sized doors, and a one-piece rear hatch. Inside, the Countryman continues to resemble alternative contemporary Minis. The speedometer -- together together with a hot information display -- could be placed right during the center of the instrument panel.
Mini's Center Rail concept, first seen in the 2008 Crossover concept, permits for versatile configurations of storage bins and other clip-in accessories in the first and 2nd rows. This, after every one, mandates four bucket seats, but a three-passenger rear bench is reportedly a no-cost decision. We've got however to detect the finalized unharness on the U.S.-spec Countryman, but it has safe to surmise that powertrain offerings is sufficient to reflect the ones of alternative Mini models. The revised 122-hp, 1.6-liter I-4 are going to be employed in the Cooper Countryman, whereas the hot 184-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter I-4 will power the Cooper S Countryman. In Europe, a six-speed manual is customary apparatus, while a six-speed automatic is optional. Also optional is the legal recent "ALL4" all-wheel-drive system. In ordinary stipulations, the system splits power evenly between the front and back wheels, but can transfer all power to the back wheels ought to the fronts begin to slide. Cooper S Countrymans equipped with the ALL4 system also receive run-flat tires as standard equipment. Mini plans on officially launching the Countryman at the 2010 Geneva motor show, and staging its U.S. premiere at this year's New york auto show. Additionally though the crossover is going on sale in Europe return September, it will not achieve U.S. dealers until February of
2011.