Photo: MINI
As promised a few days ago, MINI debuted on Wednesday at the 2018 New York International Auto Show a very special version of the Cooper SE Countryman ALL4.
Called Countryman Panamericana, the car is a plug-in hybrid with a mission: to prove that one of the world’s longest and most challenging road trips, beginning in Alaska and ending in the Argentinian Tierra de Fuego, can be taken on electric power as well.
The 30,000 miles (including adjacent roads) journey from North to South America would take the MINI through a wide range of terrain and climate, from cold to hot and from jungles to mountains. That means that the model had to be souped up a bit compared to the regular Countryman ALL4.
For the task ahead, MINI added a roof rack in which it will carry an additional spare wheel, tires with emergency running features and extra headlights.
For the challenge MINI plans to use not one, but three identical Panamericana vehicles. All will be powered by the stock combo of TwinPower Turbo engine and an electric motor, capable of developing 224 horsepower and giving the car a maximum electric range of 40 kilometers.
“The intelligently coordinated interaction of the electric drive with the combustion engine combines the possibility of local emission-free driving with the freedom of a long-range offered by a conventionally powered vehicle,” said the carmaker.
The start fo the road trip has not yet been announced. When it begins, MINI fans will be able to watch the progress of the Panamericana models on the company’s Instagram news channel account.
Alongside the Panamericana, MINI will present at the NYAIS event a series of other cars, including the John Cooper Works GP Concept, the Countryman, and the Clubman. Special models like the Hardtop, Hardtop 4 Door, and Convertible will also make their way to the MINI booth.
The 30,000 miles (including adjacent roads) journey from North to South America would take the MINI through a wide range of terrain and climate, from cold to hot and from jungles to mountains. That means that the model had to be souped up a bit compared to the regular Countryman ALL4.
For the task ahead, MINI added a roof rack in which it will carry an additional spare wheel, tires with emergency running features and extra headlights.
For the challenge MINI plans to use not one, but three identical Panamericana vehicles. All will be powered by the stock combo of TwinPower Turbo engine and an electric motor, capable of developing 224 horsepower and giving the car a maximum electric range of 40 kilometers.
“The intelligently coordinated interaction of the electric drive with the combustion engine combines the possibility of local emission-free driving with the freedom of a long-range offered by a conventionally powered vehicle,” said the carmaker.
The start fo the road trip has not yet been announced. When it begins, MINI fans will be able to watch the progress of the Panamericana models on the company’s Instagram news channel account.
Alongside the Panamericana, MINI will present at the NYAIS event a series of other cars, including the John Cooper Works GP Concept, the Countryman, and the Clubman. Special models like the Hardtop, Hardtop 4 Door, and Convertible will also make their way to the MINI booth.
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