Countryside Babe
- Published: 29/01/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Motoring
The wraps come off Mini's fourth model. And it could be the most desirable ever - and most expensive.
Styling & Packaging
After two teasers in the name of Crossover and Beachcomber Concepts, Mini has finally unveiled the production version of its SUV: the Countryman as seen here in these first official pictures.
Countryman has accentuated fenders.
Mini's new lifestyle vehicle becomes the fourth model after the Hatch, Convertible and Clubman and is the brand's first-ever, modern-day four-door with a crossover body style.
Lots of design cues have already been previewed in earlier concept cars such as the hexagonal grille, squarish head lamps, upright tail lights and accentuated wheel arches.
Inside, there's a centre rail running from the front to the rear that houses cupholders and serves as a receptacle for small things like hand-phones and external audio devices.
This effectively makes the Country a 2+2, although a more conventional three-seat bench with 40:20:40 folding capability will also be available for buyers to choose from.
The fancy spare tyre casing, as featured in the Beachcomber, has been omitted. Run-flat tyres will be available to choose from.
Engine & Transmission
Fascia filled with typical round themes.
The powertrain options are nothing else than the ones to be shared other Minis: the updated ones (see Motoring, Jan 22) ranging from the basic 90hp diesel up to the 184hp turbo-petrol 1.6s mated to either six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
Front-wheel drive is most likely to make up for most sales, although Mini is offering a four-wheel version that sends 50% of drive to the rear wheels under normal driving conditions and 100% in situations that call for it.
Due to the obvious weight disadvantage of the Countryman against the Hatch, 0-100kph acceleration times are slower.
The Countryman in Cooper S guise, for instance, takes 7.6sec (0.6sec slower) and Cooper 10.5sec (1.4sec).
Market & Pricing
Centre rail takes small stuff and holds cups.
The Countryman is set to land on Thai shores in the final quarter of this year with prices heading north of other Minis to make it the most expensive car to roll out from BMW's fashionable car brand.
Prices haven't been announced, but the top-model Countryman would exceed B3m. The less powerful Cooper could come below that level.
Sources at Mini are still tight-lipped of what's exactly coming to Thailand, but the obvious choices are the Cooper and Cooper S, both of which have automatic gearbox.
There's strong likelihood that Thais would prefer just front-wheel drive, although the 4x4 could serve as an image-booster in showrooms.
Expect the Mini boys in Thailand to host a gimmicky launch of the Countryman (Mini says it could be called differently depending on markets).
Relate Search: MINI COUNTRYMAN
source : bangkokpost.com
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