Photo: CarPix
Like ships passing in the night, the drivers of the BMW X1 and MINI Countryman see each other while traveling the same stretch of frozen Arctic highway. The two cars share a lot more than you'd think. Just like the BMW X1 recently entered its second generation, so too is the Countryman ready for a transformation. MINI engineers and designers have to prove that the success of the first car wasn't just a fluke while keeping one step ahead of the competition.
Of course, the X1 and Countryman will also share a platform, crucial if BMW is to keep costs down while continuing its steady onslaught of model launches.
Reviews of the X1 and the MINI Clubman haven't been all that positive, to be honest. So if MINI plans to get the formula right, now is the time to do it.
The next-gen MINI Countryman has been spotted again, and this time, it has lost a lot of the camouflage. It's not what you'd call a beautiful crossover, but we still remember how critical people were of the Cooper S hardtop until they saw it in the flesh.
Looking both wider and longer, the new model will feel less like a go kart and more like a family adventure vehicle. Judging from the success of the Mercedes GLA-Class, that's clearly the way to go, even though MINI purists won't like it.
The wider trunk opening gives an air of added practicality. We wouldn't be surprised if the Mk1 model's 350 liters of trunk space were to be substantially increased.
The Countryman will be available with a wide range of engines, both petrol and diesel. All of them will be turbocharged, giving them more torque and theoretically superior fuel consumption.
American buyers are going to love that the popular Cooper S model will pack a big 2-liter turbo engine offering performance bordering on hot hatch territory. Meanwhile, the Europeans will receive a plethora of diesel options.
Even the Cooper D will have a 2-liter diesel rated at 150 hp and offering performance similar to a Golf 2.0 TDI and probably better than the Mercedes GLA 200 d. As for the Cooper SD, that will have 190 hp, with a good gearbox that can handle all that oomph.
MINI will probably have all sorts of surprises in store to keep the Countryman relevant. However, what we need to take away from this is that, even though it won't have the spirit of a kart, it will be a more competent vehicle than your Renault Kadjar or Honda HR-V. These days, even average French cars can have features like a head-up display, but the design of the MINI crossover's interior should help set it apart from the pack.
Reviews of the X1 and the MINI Clubman haven't been all that positive, to be honest. So if MINI plans to get the formula right, now is the time to do it.
The next-gen MINI Countryman has been spotted again, and this time, it has lost a lot of the camouflage. It's not what you'd call a beautiful crossover, but we still remember how critical people were of the Cooper S hardtop until they saw it in the flesh.
Looking both wider and longer, the new model will feel less like a go kart and more like a family adventure vehicle. Judging from the success of the Mercedes GLA-Class, that's clearly the way to go, even though MINI purists won't like it.
The wider trunk opening gives an air of added practicality. We wouldn't be surprised if the Mk1 model's 350 liters of trunk space were to be substantially increased.
The Countryman will be available with a wide range of engines, both petrol and diesel. All of them will be turbocharged, giving them more torque and theoretically superior fuel consumption.
American buyers are going to love that the popular Cooper S model will pack a big 2-liter turbo engine offering performance bordering on hot hatch territory. Meanwhile, the Europeans will receive a plethora of diesel options.
Even the Cooper D will have a 2-liter diesel rated at 150 hp and offering performance similar to a Golf 2.0 TDI and probably better than the Mercedes GLA 200 d. As for the Cooper SD, that will have 190 hp, with a good gearbox that can handle all that oomph.
MINI will probably have all sorts of surprises in store to keep the Countryman relevant. However, what we need to take away from this is that, even though it won't have the spirit of a kart, it will be a more competent vehicle than your Renault Kadjar or Honda HR-V. These days, even average French cars can have features like a head-up display, but the design of the MINI crossover's interior should help set it apart from the pack.
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