MINI have officially unveiled the new MINI Countryman accompanied by the usual press release.  There’s no doubt about it, the new MINI Countryman is a hot topic. A MINI with four doors and with all wheel drive!  This is a real change from previous MINI models and, despite the name, there isn’t a similar model from the distant past of the MINI with which to compare it.  MINI are promoting the new MINI Countryman along the lines of a ‘mini SUV’; freedom, versatility, and fun.

The MINI Countryman will initially be offered in all MINI model specifications, apart from John Cooper Works. This means that there will be Countryman versions of the MINI One, MINI One D, MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper D and range topping Cooper S form. The MINI Cooper D Countryman and MINI Cooper S Countryman will also have the option of an all wheel drive system branded ALL4.  The ALL4 all wheel drive system features an electrohydraulic differential positioned directly on the final drive, which varies the distribution from front to rear in an infinite process. Under regular driving conditions up to 50 percent of the engine’s power is directed to the rear wheels, while under more “extreme conditions” this can increase all the way to 100 percent rear wheel drive, which is certainly something never seen before on a production model MINI of any variety.

Luggage capacity is 350 litres as standard, which is 90 more than the Clubman and more than double that of the MINI. The rear seats move forward and back individually for the four seat model or in a 60:40 split on the five seat version. The backrests can also be tilted forward to increase capacity, for the three seat bench this is in a 40:20:40 split. With seats tilted forward, capacity increases to 440 litres. The maximum stated luggage capacity is 1,170 litres.  The MINI Countryman comes equipped with front, side and curtain airbags, inertia reel seat belts all round, and ISOFIX child seat fastenings.

Ambient lighting is fitted in abundance, and a unique MINI Center Rail comes as standard. This is a central mounting point where various accessories, such as cup holders, ipod docs and such, can be mounted and shared between front and rear occupants. The aftermarket possibilities for this rather quirky feature would appear to be almost limitless.  In terms of the exterior, the MINI Countryman roof features practical roof rails in place of the Clubman’s style focused “dunes”. A roof carrier system will also be offered as a cost option from MINI, and no doubt aftermarket suppliers soon after launch.

The MINI Cooper S Countryman with ALL4 will feature runflat tyres as standard, a technology which MINI have recently appeared to be moving away from, and they will remain optional across the rest of the range.  The MINI Countryman will be offered in a range of eleven colour options, with customers of the Cooper Countryman, Cooper D Countryman and Cooper S Countryman having the ability to select a black or white contrasting roof.  All petrol variants feature a 1.6 litre (1,598 cc) four-cylinder petrol engine with twin-scroll turbocharger, direct fuel injection and fully variable valve management based on the BMW Group’s VALVETRONIC technology.

You can read the original switchback.com article here.