The Mini Countryman, a crossover SUV (sport utility vehicle) car, is the first car of this kind placed on the market under the Mini brand by BMW. The news about the car appeared in January 2010. Its formal launch was at the traditional Geneva Motor Show of 2010. In September 2010 the car was available for sale but it was announced as a model of 2011. The vehicle was introduced as the first Mini SUV, the first model with five doors.

Customers have a choice of vehicles with a 2-wheel or a 4-wheel drive (the so called ALL4), as well as with 1.6 liter, either diesel or petrol, and 2.0 liter diesel engines with four cylinders in various conditions of tune. These vehicles possess the same range of engines as the Mini Hatch and the Mini Clubman cars, optionally having an all-wheel-drive power train, called dubbed "ALL4", which allows minimum of off-road and rough terrain driving. The standard transmission on all the models is a manual transmission with six speeds . Automatic one is found on all the models, petrol and diesel, but the One D that produces 90 bhp. The Mini Countryman possesses a wheelbase of 2,595 mm that is longer than in the Clubman. The interior room is larger and the ground clearance is higher as well.

The maximum speed ranges from 182 to 210 km/ h, which depends on the model. The pattern of the model derivatives reminds the Mini Hatch model range, having three basic versions of packaging arrangement depending on the power of the power unit (from the least powerful to the most powerful: One, Cooper, Cooper S). Models with a turbo diesel have the letter D in the name offering One D, Cooper D and Cooper SD respectively. The presence of the models varies on different markets. Russia and the USA, for instance, do not take the One versions and any models with diesel power. The option having an all-wheel-drive is present on variable models, which depends on the country as well. The car became the first Mini by BMW which is manufactured completely outside the UK, in Austria.

What do you think about this vehicle?

Sean About photo #5	REALLY like the color, the finish on the body, ,the dark windows. Best Countryman I've seen yet. Would love to know more about customizations to this vehicle after factory.
2013-01-28 06:16:19