2015 MINI Countryman: Out with the old and in with the new (foglights and paint)

By Davis Adams April 15, 2014

Sometimes, new models creep onto the show floor without a big conference and without much fanfare. At this year’s New York International Auto Show, the 2015 MINI Countryman did just that, debuting with an updated paint scheme and LED fog lamps.

The new color, called Jungle Green Metallic, is one of three new colors headed to the largest MINI in the lineup, and it comes with a new set of alloy wheels, too. Otherwise, changes to the Countryman seem nominal, as the cute ute saunters onward toward 2015 with the brand’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder and turbo-four, and front- or all-wheel drive.

The Countryman will likely be one of the last vehicles to receive MINI’s new turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines, which have recently been introduced with the all-new MINI Cooper Hardtop.

We’re not sure yet when the Countryman will receive a complete overhaul with MINI’s new design language and engineering, but as the brand’s second-best-selling model in the lineup, we’d expect to see the vehicle move to the new platform in the next couple of years.

In the meantime, we think this new Jungle Green Countryman looks surprisingly at home out in the woods, and we’re OK with the idea of a MINI that likes to play outside as much as some of Jeep’s softer products.

Interested in seeing more auto show news? Check out our coverage from New York.

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Whether you're talking about gadgets or cars, Davis always seems to prefer "next year's models." He's a neophile to the core…

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