Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Mini’s Countryman successor will be larger and more rugged to offer an “authentic” SUV feel

By

Mini-Countryman_2015_front angle
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Mini is in the process of refining its lineup, but the latest news about one of its upcoming core models suggests the automaker won’t necessarily be returning to its roots.

Autocar is reporting that after the Cabriolet version of the new Cooper is introduced, Mini will reveal the second generation of the Countryman, the brand’s largest model. Mini is describing its successor to the compact crossover as an “authentic SUV.” That’s probably not what fans of the classic compact Minis want to hear, but apparently its what Mini buyers want.

Recommended Videos

When the vehicle debuts late next year, it will feature a more rugged construction based on design cues of the Mini X-Raid, which has won the Dakar Rally four times since 2012. The Clubman’s UKL platform will also be used for the new Countryman, meaning the vehicle will be much more spacious, longer, and wider than the present generation. The next generation Countryman will also borrow the four-wheel drive system from the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer.

MINI-X-Raid Dakar
Image used with permission by copyright holder

While still contradictory to Mini’s roots as a fun, compact vehicle manufacturer, the Countryman has accounted for more than a third of the brand’s total sales, so it makes sense that the successor builds on the purposes of the model that was introduced in 2010.

Related

While Mini’s parent company, BMW, continues to make changes to Mini’s model lineup, Mini’s president, Peter Scwarzenbauer, has stated that there will be five “superhero” models, excluding the Superleggera that was just given the production nod. Among those, the next generation Countryman, Cooper Hatchback, Cooper Cabriolet, and the Clubman have already been determined and will be on sale by late next year. That leaves a single mystery model to be revealed.

Presently, the most likely candidate to fill the final spot is a city car that will be developed by BMW and Toyota as a spiritual successor to the original Mini. The Rocketman concept is the best indicator of how a modern city car from Mini could turn out. If the city car doesn’t pan out, then a secondary option could be an MPV to mirror BMW’s 2 Series Active Tourer. While the smaller vehicle is most appealing to fans of the brand, the automaker has made it clear that it wants to move upmarket, and a new entry-level model might not fit into those blueprints.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Miles Branman
Miles Branman
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…
Tesla’s fix for faulty Cybertruck pedal is simpler than you might think
Tesla Cybertruck

Less than five months after handing over the first Cybertrucks to customers, Tesla has had to recall the electric pickup to fix an issue with the accelerator.

In a notice issued on Friday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that the recall impacts Cybertruck vehicles manufactured from November 13, 2023, to April 4, 2024. This suggests that all -- or almost all -- of the 3,878 Cybertrucks being recalled are those that have been manufactured to date.

Read more
Ford Mustang Mach-E 2024 vs. Mach-E 2023: What’s new in Ford’s electric Mustang?
Blue Ford Mustang Mach-E on a rooftop

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is easily one of the best EVs for the price, offering a solid range, sleek design, and pretty good tech on the inside. In recent years, it has gotten even cheaper -- thanks in large part to a price war between it and the Tesla Model 3. And, the company just took the wraps off of the latest and greatest version of the Mach-E, labeled as the 2024 model.

The 2024 Mustang Mach-E is notably different from the 2023 iteration in some meaningful ways. So much so that we decided to take a look at the two head-to-head -- to see if it was better to pay for the 2024 model or save some cash on any remaining 2023 stock.
Design
The Mustang Mach-E looks relatively unique -- in a good way. And thankfully, Ford has largely kept the overall design the same for the 2024 model, at least when it comes to the more consumer-focused models. The car retains the slatted taillights and crossover size. It also offers a large selection of colors, including the very blue Grabber Blue Metallic, as well as Rapid Red Metallic. It's a good selection of colors, and there should be an option for most buyers.

Read more
Tesla to begin production on new, more affordable models
Tesla Model 3

With competition increasing from Chinese and other automakers, Tesla boss Elon Musk revealed on Tuesday that his company is planning to begin production of new, more affordable models in “early 2025, if not late this year.” Notably, that's earlier than the previously stated date of late 2025, though whether Musk actually succeeds in meeting the earlier production time frame is another question entirely.

The news came as Tesla released its latest quarterly figures. Revenue for the electric vehicle maker came in at $21.3 billion, down from the $23.3 billion it reported for the same three-month period a year earlier and also down from the $25.2 billion reported in the previous quarter. Profit reached $1.1 billion, marking a 55% fall compared to the same period a year ago.

Read more