He MINI Countryman third generation will be presented next fall. This model will play a key role in the expansion plans of the British firm in the US market, as it will grow in size until it is close to 4.50 meters long with the aim of ingratiating itself with the tastes of the North American public.
The English SUV, which will be manufactured in Leipzig (Germany), will be the brother of the bmw x1. Like this one, it will have 100% electric versions, since the FAAR modular platform on which it will be based offers a high degree of flexibility. By cons, you will lose the plug-in hybrid variant that we can find in the current model.
Stefanie Wurstdirector of MINI, affirms that the larger dimensions of the Countryman will allow the brand to retain those customers whose space needs force them to purchase a larger car. “This is for those people who say ‘I have a second child now, so I can’t take the stroller in [el actual Countryman]’. We need it for customers that we are losing because they don’t have enough space.”
The position of the current Countryman will be filled by the acemana crossover Electric about 4 meters long that will also indirectly replace the Clubman and the 5-door Hatch, although it will coexist with the latter for a while.
The electric MINI Countryman will be the brother of the BMW iX1
Due to the decision to rename the MINI Hatch as MINI Cooper, the Countryman will no longer be able to use that name to name its different versions. Initially, the range will be divided into the variants Countryman E (191 CV of power, 54 kWh battery) and Countryman SE (272 CV of power, 64 kWh battery).
The latter will be available with front and all-wheel drive. Its maximum autonomy should be similar to that of the iX1, which certifies 438 km WLTP. Later the offer will be completed with a high-performance model JCW (John Cooper Works), which will be distinguished by having a specific body kit, a sportier tuning and a more performance powertrain. Everything indicates that it will also have all-wheel drive.
The Leipzig plant in which it will be produced has four 190-meter-high wind turbines and a storage park with 700 BMW i3 packs, which together with the use of hydrogen in some processes should guarantee the sustainability of its manufacture.
“We are delighted to be able to deliver to our customers the first carbon-neutral MINI ‘Made in Germany’ thanks to the plant’s sustainable energy supply. In this way, the new all-electric MINI Countryman demonstrates what the brand stands for: electrified karting feeling and a strong focus on a minimal environmental footprint«.
Source | Coach
