countryman Archives

Official: Mini deletes center rail in Countryman, Paceman

Filed under: Crossover, Hatchback, Mini

Mini Countryman rear seat center rail

When Mini first introduced the Countryman, it only came as a four-seater, with a center rail between the two seats that could house things like cup holders and could be slid back and forth. Buyers could even opt for a full-length center rail that ran from just aft of the gear shifter all the way back between the rear seats, like we did in our long-term 2011 Cooper S Countryman All4, shown above.

Shortly after the Countryman’s launch, Mini was able to offer the vehicle with a proper rear bench seat; the company could not offer this at launch due to NHTSA guidelines that governed the minimum vehicle width for three-person seating, but those rules were changed. And now, we’ve received official confirmation of something we reported last year: the Countryman is losing its center rail and four-person seating arrangement altogether. Moving forward, buyers will only be able to spec a Countryman with the bench seat, and a cup holder will be affixed to the back of the forward cabin’s center console.

The larger-but-smaller Paceman will also be losing the center rail between its rear seats, but the car will remain a four-seater, instead having a console between the two rear seats that houses a cup holder, an iPod cozy and a 12-volt outlet, according to USA Today.

These changes affect all 2014 model year Countryman and Paceman models, which will go on sale later this summer. Both models will also have a $100 price increase (thanks to now-standard heated mirrors and washer jets), and the Cooper and Cooper S models can now be had with a John Cooper Works appearance package. Scroll down for the official release from Mini.

Continue reading Mini deletes center rail in Countryman, Paceman

Mini deletes center rail in Countryman, Paceman originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Followup: KISS-themed Mini Countryman one-offs rock on to eBay Motors for charity

Filed under: Car Buying, Auctions, Mini, Celebrities

kiss custom mini countryman

KISS and Mini create custom Countryman models for charity – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ready for your garage to rock and roll all night and party every day? Break out your checkbook. Mini has teamed up with legendary rock group KISS to create a quartet of customized Countryman crossovers for charity. Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer have applied their trademark style to the exterior of four examples of the 2011 Mini Countryman.

The vehicles, which debuted at the New York Auto Show, each have their own auction listing on eBay Motors, and the proceeds from these auctions will be donated to UNICEF. The organization is working hard to raise money for children affected by the recent disasters in Japan.

These customized ~~Countrymen~~ ~~Countrymans~~ cars aren’t wearing decals. Each vehicle was hand painted by a group of BMW employees who provided the artwork while off the clock. The four vehicles have been named after the members of KISS they mimic; Starchild, The Demon, Spaceman and Catman.

The full press release is located after the jump, and you can check out all four Mini Countryman custom cars in the gallery below.

Continue reading KISS-themed Mini Countryman one-offs rock on to eBay Motors for charity

KISS-themed Mini Countryman one-offs rock on to eBay Motors for charity originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini Countryman to get rear bench seat option in U.S.

Filed under: Crossover, Mini

Mini Countryman

2011 Mini Countryman – Click above for high-res image gallery

When Mini launched its all-new Countryman crossover, we were told that it would only be available with the four-seat configuration here in the United States – two buckets up front, two buckets in back. Now, Mini has confirmed that the rear bench seat option – something that’s currently available in other markets – will be available on U.S.-spec Countrymen starting this Fall.

This option is ideal for customers who need the occasional use of a bench seat, whether it be for hauling cargo or having the space for one extra person. (We hate to think of how cramped a Countryman would be with three adults in back.) Expect the bench seat option to show up on order forms starting in September.

Mini Countryman to get rear bench seat option in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Videos: Mini has some fun with the Countryman WRC

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Mini

mini countryman wrc

Mini takes the Countryman WRC out for some spins – Click above to watch video after the jump

Mini is excited to get back to rally racing, and its hoping the new Countryman WRC will be a good tool for the job. The automaker has been all over the place to show off its pumped-up racer, and, thankfully for us, cameras were brought along the whole way.

We have five videos waiting for you after the jump. In the first three, driver Kris Meeke does his best Ken Block impersonation by tackling a mini (or is that Mini?) Gymkhana course. The other two videos show a bit of Mini’s racing history and give a look at the official launch of the Countryman WRC.

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Videos: Mini has some fun with the Countryman WRC

Videos: Mini has some fun with the Countryman WRC originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You picked Autoblog’s long-term 2011 Mini Countryman, and the winner is…

Filed under: Crossover, Mini, Long-Term Garage

2011 Mini Countryman S All4

Autoblog’s long-term 2011 Mini Countryman – Click above for high-res image gallery

Last week, we presented you with four different 2011 Mini Countrymen and asked you to vote for the one that you want to see as the newest member of Autoblog’s long-term test fleet. The poll is now closed, the votes have been tallied, and we’ve officially sent in our order form to Mini USA. We’ll be adding a True Blue Countryman – option #3 for those of you who voted – to the long-term pool in the coming months.

As much as we’d like to say it was a close race, the truth is, Countryman #3 earned a staggering 7,907 votes – 42.7 percent of the 18,446 total votes. The Oxford Green Countryman (#4) came in second place, earning 24.2 percent of your votes, while the Bright Yellow car (#2) garnered 20.1 percent and the Surf Blue Countryman (#1) brought up the rear with 12.9 percent.

We’re looking forward to taking delivery of our 2011 Countryman, complete with the 181-horsepower turbocharged inline-four, a six-speed manual transmission and All4 all-wheel drive. We’ve also outfitted such amenities as the premium package, sport package with additional sport suspension setup and cold weather package – an absolute must for those of us who live in frigid climates.

We’ll be sure to post a formal introduction as soon as the vehicle arrives, and thanks to all who participated in the poll. You can see some screen captures of the winning Countryman in our high-resolution gallery below.

Gallery: Long-Term 2011 Mini Countryman Configurator Images

2011 Mini Countryman S All4

You picked Autoblog’s long-term 2011 Mini Countryman, and the winner is… originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YOU pick Autoblog’s long-term 2011 Mini Countryman

Filed under: Crossover, Mini, Long-Term Garage

2011 Mini Countryman

Help pick Autoblog’s long-term Mini Countryman – Click each image for high-res version

When we found out that we’d be adding a 2011 Mini Countryman to our long-term test fleet, our editors headed right to the configurator to start building our perfect car. We all agree that we want the turbocharged Countryman S with the automaker’s All4 all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission, and we had no problem ticking the boxes for options like the sport, premium and cold weather packs, not to mention the new Mini Connected infotainment system. But when it came to decide on aesthetic things like interior and exterior color schemes, we hit a wall. With hundreds upon hundreds of possible build combinations, we just couldn’t agree on one car.

That’s where you come in. Our editors have narrowed down our Countryman configurations to four finalists, and we’re asking you, our readers, to decide which one will be invited to spend one year with the Autoblog staff. Again, the only differences between these vehicles are purely visual, consisting only of paint, roof, mirror, stripe and wheel colors on the exterior, and seat fabric, main color and accent color on the interior. It’s also important to note that the paint colors you see here appear slightly darker in the Mini configurator than they do in real life. Here’s the rundown:

Countryman #1 – Surf Blue, white roof, white mirrors, no bonnet stripes, 18-inch light silver alloy wheels, polar beige leather interior, carbon black interior accents
Countryman #2 – Bright Yellow, black roof, black mirrors, black bonnet stripes, 18-inch dark anthracite alloy wheels, light tobacco cloth/leather interior, carbon black interior accents
Countryman #3 – True Blue, white roof, white mirrors, white bonnet stripes, 18-inch light silver alloy wheels, light tobacco cloth/leather interior, polar beige interior accents
Countryman #4 – Oxford Green, white roof, white mirrors, 18-inch white alloy wheels, no bonnet stripes, polar beige leather interior, carbon black interior accents

We’re leaving the final decision up to all of you. Scroll down to vote in our poll for the Countryman that you want to see as Autoblog’s next long-term car. This poll will officially close on Monday, February 7 at 3:00 PM EST, at which point we’ll let Mini know which car has the most votes. You can also build your own ideal version at Mini’s online Countryman configurator; let us know what you come up with in the comments.

Our long-term Countryman order is in your hands. Choose wisely!

View Poll

Gallery: Long-Term Mini Countryman Options

2011 Mini Countryman

YOU pick Autoblog’s long-term 2011 Mini Countryman originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini rallies back to Monte Carlo with new Countryman WRC

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Europe, Crossover, Mini, Racing

Mini Countryman WRC in Monte Carlo

2011 Mini Countryman WRC in Monte Carlo – Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in the 1960s, the Monte Carlo Rally ran from Marrakech to Monaco (the opposite direction from the Paris-Dakar) and the old-guard Mini made headlines when it took the checkered flag in ’64 an ’67. These days, the Dakar rally has moved to South America, and the much shorter Monte Carlo rally is part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge instead of the premier World Rally Championship. But though the scene has changed, Mini’s back, and back in a big way.

That Mini will be challenging the WRC with a competition-spec Countryman prepared by Prodrive isn’t news – we’ve been covering that story for over a year now. But as the final version enters its last stages of development before the 2011 season, the Mini WRC has taken a rapid trip down memory lane by reuniting with its ’60s forebear at the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique.

Not only did the trip prove an excellent photo opportunity – the vintage Mini rally machine driven by the same Ruano Aaltonen that finessed it to victory in ’67 appearing alongside its much larger successor – but also gave us our first look at the rally-ready Countryman WRC before it undergoes its final testing in Spain. After that, it will challenge a few select stages at the hands of Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo before contesting the full calendar next year. Follow the jump for the full press release, and don’t miss out on the photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: Mini Countryman WRC in Monte Carlo

[Source: Mini]

Continue reading Mini rallies back to Monte Carlo with new Countryman WRC

Mini rallies back to Monte Carlo with new Countryman WRC originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Mini working on road-going version of WRC Countryman?

Filed under: Performance, Crossover, Mini, Rumormill, Off-Road

Mini Countryman WRC

Mini Countryman WRC – Click above for high-res image gallery

Tail-slidin’, bump-jumpin’ heroics are all good and fun, but one of the things we love most about rallying is that the cars are closely based on production models. Often rather ordinary ones at that, like Ford Fiestas, Subaru Imprezas and the like. And what turns easily from a road car into a rally racer can just as easily be turned back into a road car.

Look no further than examples like the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evo X for evidence. And now that Mini is getting into the World Rally Championship, rumors are beginning to circulate that they’re planning a rally-derived performance model as well.

Since the Mini WRC is based on the Countryman crossover, word has it that a showroom-ready, performance-oriented Countryman could be in the works. Something with even more power than the existing JCW version and a wide-body kit for an extra dose of attitude. Even with all the Mini variants on the road and in the pipeline, this one has us particularly intrigued.

Gallery: Paris 2010: Mini Countryman WRC

Photos by Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: AUSmotive via MotoringFile]

Rumormill: Mini working on road-going version of WRC Countryman? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Preview: Mini Paceman concept relieves Countryman of extra doors

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Crossover, Mini

Mini Paceman

Mini Paceman concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

How many Minis is too many? Mini’s about to find out as its product portfolio expands faster than a jilted lover’s waistline. The hatchback that (re)started it all and the cabrio that followed shortly thereafter have since been joined by the Clubman wagon and the Countryman crossover, with WRC and Dakar rally versions, speedsters and coupes and more in the production pipeline. But that doesn’t even take into account some of the concept derivatives that haven’t (yet) made it to production, and this is the latest.

Called the Paceman, it’s essentially a Countryman minus a couple of doors. It’s set to be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January as a concept car, but could very well make it to production as well. Taking a page out of its parent company’s BMW’s playbook, Mini calls the Paceman a “Sports Activity Coupe” (sort of like the BMW X6) and insists it’s the first of its kind in the small premium segment. A “first” is pretty easy to achieve when you define the category yourself, but to our eyes the Paceman, with its sloping white roof, looks set to take on the likes of the three-door Range Rover Evoque, only smaller.

Under the hood, Mini’s fitted the JCW turbo four with 211 horsepower, mated to the same ALL4 all-wheel drive system used in the Countryman. More details are available in the press release after the jump, along with the initial images in the gallery below. We’ll be on hand at Cobo Hall to bring you live impressions from NAIAS, so stay tuned.

Gallery: Mini Paceman Concept

[Source: Mini]

Continue reading Detroit Preview: Mini Paceman concept relieves Countryman of extra doors

Detroit Preview: Mini Paceman concept relieves Countryman of extra doors originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini Countryman configurator powers up

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Mini

Mini Countryman Configurator

Right on schedule, the German brain trust in charge of marketing the heck out of (and hopefully selling a boatload of…) the 2011 Mini Countryman has uploaded the whole kit ‘n kaboodle to the Web, and you are now free to build and price out your very own Mini crossover.

If you’re willing to avoid all options whatsoever, including one of Mini’s six extra-cost colors, you can drive home in a brand-new 2011 Mini Countryman for the low price of just $22,850 (including destination). We went ahead and priced out what we figure would be a standard load of options and could just barely keep the price below $30K – ringing the tab up into the low $30s isn’t particularly difficult, even without choosing the turbo model or all-wheel drive.

In fact, stepping up to the Mini S Countryman All4 will cost you $27,650 to start. And, as is typical with the Mini brand, a full load of options can send that asking price skyward in record time. In fact, we didn’t have much trouble configuring a loaded Countryman S All4 up past $40,000 after checking a slew of option boxes – and that’s before entering the coveted John Cooper Works accessories. See our screencap above for the MSRP carnage.

Go ahead and spec one out for yourself, then come back and report to the rest of the class where your own personal Countryman fell in the pricing scale. Thanks to all who sent this in!

Gallery: 2011 Mini Countryman: First Drive

2011 Mini Countryman

[Source: Mini]

Mini Countryman configurator powers up originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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