The presentation of the Mini Countryman was held in Paris in 2010. The crossover is made on an elongated platform wagon Clubman. Mini Countryman - the first in the family of Mini 5-door car with all-wheel drive (the main version before the non-drive). Developers call this model a transitional link from the classic Mini to a full-fledged and powerful SUV. Externally, the car retained the characteristics of the MINI: it is a wide arrangement of wheels, short overhangs, high windows, characteristic proportions, chrome trim of small parts, bi-xenon headlights, 6-angle grille, maximum interior space.
Having kept all the features of the unique style of Mini, the designers of the model have favorably emphasized the novelty of this unique car. The nearly vertical overhang of the hood gives the MINI Countryman a decisive appearance and allows you to optimize pedestrian safety. The body extending downwards and the underlined wide wheel arches reflect the off-road character of the car. The grille has slightly grown up, the headlights and side direction indicators have become noticeably larger, the rear light units have been replicated in new ways, and the clearance has increased significantly.
It is noteworthy that the Countryman is not going to England, but to the Austrian company Magna Steyr. The Countryman is the first car of the Mini family, which has a body length of more than four meters, which, of course, affected the comfort of the rear seat passengers. In the standard version, the car is equipped with four separate seats, but you can also order a free rear seat with three seats for free. Higher, the seats provide a comfortable fit and improved visibility. The central instrument panel and round-shaped ventilation nozzles have a colored border.
The interior is trimmed with very high-quality leather of pleasant colors with inserts of azure-blue glass, which has increased strength, and natural lime tree. A spherical panel mounted in the center of the console and working on the technology of laser design deserves special attention. The central rail through the entire cabin, first used on the Mini instead of the console traditionally used by other automakers, opens up new possibilities for accommodating various storage compartments, cup holders, external audio devices, mobile phones and other necessary devices.
Removable partitions on snaps allow the driver and passengers in their own way to organize the interior space of the crates and keep all the necessary items for the traveler at hand. The rear seats can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction independently of each other or in the proportion of 60:40 (solid rear seat), the backrest angle can also be adjusted individually for each seat or in the proportion of 40:20:40 (solid rear seat), which allows changing luggage capacity in the range from 350 to 1170 liters.
The list of standard equipment includes an air-conditioning system, an audio system with a CD player, a high-end navigation system and a unique MINI Connected system built into the cabin and allowing the driver to listen to Internet radio programs. Also MINI Connected contains a module for auto interaction with its owner. Additionally, you can order a large panoramic sunroof, xenon adaptive headlights, heated windshield, hitch, sports suspension (reduces ground clearance by 10 mm) and John Cooper Works components that improve aerodynamic characteristics. The engine range consists of five units - three petrol and two diesel.
The power units are designed using the advanced technologies of the BMW Group and meet the Euro 5 and ULEV II toxicity standards for Europe and the USA, respectively. Diesel engines include the Mini Countryman One D and Mini Countryman Cooper D engines, which have a volume of 1.6 liters, but delivering different power - 90 and 112 horsepower, respectively. As for the gasoline units, they are called Mini Countryman One, Mini Countryman Cooper and Mini Countryman Cooper S.
All three are also 1.6-liter, and also develop different power: 98, 122 and 184 horsepower, respectively. An alternative to the six-speed manual transmission that comes as standard is a six-speed automatic with a Steptronic system. In this case, the last of the engines - a gasoline, 184-strong, equipped with a two-stage turbine, which increases its power. Acceleration of the car to "hundreds" with this engine takes only 7.6 seconds, and the maximum speed reaches 215 km / h. At the same time, fuel consumption even with a high-powered motor still remains very economical: only 7.4 liters in the urban cycle, 6 liters in the mixed cycle and only 5.2 liters in the out-of-town one.
Underlining the concept of minimalism in terms of fuel efficiency, the manufacturer standardly completes all Countryman models with such systems as energy recovery during braking, an automatic stop and engine start system, an indicator of the optimal moment for changing gears, as well as a system for active control of engine auxiliary units. The ALL4 all-wheel drive system, which the Mini Cooper S Countryman and Mini Cooper D Countryman have, will give driver pleasure even on difficult sections of the track. The car has excellent grip with the road surface, which provides excellent handling.
The power between the front and rear axles is adjusted by means of a central differential with an electromagnetic clutch, which is connected to the main gear. Excellent traction characteristics are largely provided by the use of the best technical solutions in the design of the suspension, such as spring struts and forged levers of the MINI MacPherson front suspension, multi-link rear suspension and electric power steering with Servotronic.
The MINI Countryman also includes DSC Dynamic Stability Control (with DTC Dynamic Traction Control available as an option, and the MINI Cooper S Countryman and MINI Cooper D Countryman with the ALL4 all-wheel drive come standard) and cross-friction differential with electronically controlled for the front axle. The body structure in the event of an accident will ensure maximum safety due to precisely calculated transfer paths and well-designed zones of controlled deformation.
Front and side airbags, front and rear head protection curtains, three-point seat belts with inertial tensioners on all seats, pre-tensioners and front seat belt restraints, ISOFIX child seat anchorages on the rear seats are standard. The basic package also includes a tire defect detection system, and RFT tires are offered as additional equipment, which retain their carrying capacity after a puncture (included in the MINI Cooper S Countryman basic kit with the ALL4 all-wheel drive system). Considering all the advantages of the Countryman, we can safely say that BMW has managed to create a car that many will like.
Auto behaves perfectly on any road, featuring excellent stability and high aerodynamic characteristics.
