Almost every manufacturer is riding high on the crossover craze and has at least one in their product line-up, and those who are not have to do something about it if they want their share of the market.
A MINI Cooper is cute and fun to drive, but for hauling the family, it’s pretty unpractical. So the English-but-German-owned brand is seeking to push the MINI concept a step further and create a pint-size crossover.
Before you think that MINI is losing its marbles and is will start producing bigger models, know that the new Cooper Countryman is small. With its 2,595-mm wheelbase and 4,110-mm overall length, this MINI is about the same dimensions as many compact hatchbacks like the Suzuki SX4 and the Volkswagen Golf; it’s a little smaller than a Jeep Patriot, but a little bigger than a Nissan cube.
Despite sporting four doors, the Countryman looks unmistakably like a MINI. It keeps the Cooper’s familiar shape, like its oval headlights, its vertical taillights, its black fender flares, its short overhangs and its half-circle grille. But the Countryman includes a more upright snout and a higher stance so it looks more like a crossover.
Like every other Cooper model, a wide selection and paint colours and detailing will be available. Exterior features such as a power panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, park distance control and adaptive xenon headlights will be offered as options.
Two models will be available. Both will share their front-wheel drive layout and powertrains with other Cooper models, and some minor revisions have been applied to the engines for the 2011 model year.
The base Countryman is equipped with a 16-valve, 1.6-litre inline-4 that develops 122 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque, while the Countryman S gets a twin-scroll turbo and an intercooler that increases output to 184 horses and 177 pound-feet. Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters.
The Countryman S, however, will also all-wheel drive as an option, which is something new for MINI. Under normal driving conditions, the system can send up to 50 percent of engine power to the rear wheels, or up to 100 percent when the going gets really ugly. Called ALL4, the system adds about 155 pounds to the vehicle’s weight.
A MINI Cooper is cute and fun to drive, but for hauling the family, it’s pretty unpractical. So the English-but-German-owned brand is seeking to push the MINI concept a step further and create a pint-size crossover.
Before you think that MINI is losing its marbles and is will start producing bigger models, know that the new Cooper Countryman is small. With its 2,595-mm wheelbase and 4,110-mm overall length, this MINI is about the same dimensions as many compact hatchbacks like the Suzuki SX4 and the Volkswagen Golf; it’s a little smaller than a Jeep Patriot, but a little bigger than a Nissan cube.
Despite sporting four doors, the Countryman looks unmistakably like a MINI. It keeps the Cooper’s familiar shape, like its oval headlights, its vertical taillights, its black fender flares, its short overhangs and its half-circle grille. But the Countryman includes a more upright snout and a higher stance so it looks more like a crossover.
Like every other Cooper model, a wide selection and paint colours and detailing will be available. Exterior features such as a power panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, park distance control and adaptive xenon headlights will be offered as options.
Two models will be available. Both will share their front-wheel drive layout and powertrains with other Cooper models, and some minor revisions have been applied to the engines for the 2011 model year.
The base Countryman is equipped with a 16-valve, 1.6-litre inline-4 that develops 122 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque, while the Countryman S gets a twin-scroll turbo and an intercooler that increases output to 184 horses and 177 pound-feet. Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters.
The Countryman S, however, will also all-wheel drive as an option, which is something new for MINI. Under normal driving conditions, the system can send up to 50 percent of engine power to the rear wheels, or up to 100 percent when the going gets really ugly. Called ALL4, the system adds about 155 pounds to the vehicle’s weight.
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| Photo: BMW |