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2017 MINI Countryman Spied with Less Camouflage

MINI’s engineers are testing the MY 2017 Countryman and we spotted one with slightly less camouflage than before.
2017 MINI Countryman 9 photos
Photo: Stefan Baldauf/SB-Medien
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The prototype in the photo gallery of this article is the second generation of MINI’s crossover/SUV. Our friends at SB-Medien have spotted the model during testing and have sent us a set of new spyshots that are a bit more revealing.

As the testing procedure moves forward, the prototypes start to lose camouflage. At the beginning of 2015, the pre-production prototypes spied had loads of camouflage, but now we can see a bit more of the vehicle.

A quick look reveals MINI's will to maintain an unconventional design, which is pretty much the company’s strategy with its Countryman SUV and with other models. For some, it has worked out, and the Countryman is a success story. Once criticized by purists for lack of purpose in the portfolio of a brand named “MINI," after all, the SUV made by the British marque ended up as a big sales volume generator for the company owned by Germany’s BMW Group.

The second-generation MINI Countryman is expected to be launched sometime this year as an MY 2017 car.

As you can see from the spyphotos attached to this story, the headlights of the Countryman have changed significantly, and so has the entire front fascia. The bumper has been completely redesigned and boasts a new shape while the grill has a different pattern and size, as well as a modified form.

The A-pillars of the vehicle seem to have changed the least on the Countryman, but we notice different lines on the side windows, a different design for the doors, along with a modified rear end. Regarding the technical platform, the SUV will receive the UKL platform developed by the BMW Group, as did its recently launched smaller brothers.

BMW has already proven that particular solution is suitable for both all-wheel-drive and plug-in hybrid applications, which are expected on the new Countryman as well, so the new generation should sport even more powerplant options.
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About the author: Sebastian Toma
Sebastian Toma profile photo

Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland.
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