The 2018 Mini Countryman is the largest model from the brand; gets several cosmetic and interior updates over outgoing version
The all-new generation Mini Countryman was officially revealed at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show. The car has now officially been launched in India today, having made its debut at the 2018 Auto Expo in February. It has been on sale in Europe from early parts of last year. The second-generation Mini Countryman comes with design update at exterior and interior and powertrain updates as well.
The new-gen Mini Countryman comes as the biggest car in the company’s 59 years of history. Based on the same UKL front-wheel drive platform as the BMW X1, the car sports an evolutionary design. But the basic silhouette remains identical to its predecessor. At front fascia the car features distinctive LED headlamps with peripheral LED daytime running light ring, an aggressive grille with chrome trim around it. Apart from that it also gets chrome trims around fog lamp enclosures, skid plate.
Also read: Mini Cooper S Carbon Edition Launched in India at Rs 39.9 Lakh
At side profile, the car features 19-inch light alloy wheels, black side body cladding, sporty roof rails, altogether delivering sporty vibe. At rear the comes with roof spoiler, LED taillights with chrome trim around it, a muscular bumper with skid plate and twin round shaped chrome tipped tailpipes. Dimensionally, the new-generation model appears 20 mm longer and 3 mm wider, while the wheelbase has been increased by 7.5 mm.
It has 350 litres of bootspace capacity and that can be expanded to 1,170 litres when rear seats folded. Inside the cabin too, the new-generation Mini Countryman has received updates, and becomes more premium. It gets new 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Touch Controller on centre console, Harman Kardon developed hi-fi sound system, head-up display, LED interior and ambient lighting.
The new-generation Mini Countryman comes with two petrol and two-diesel engine options globally. The petrol engines are a 136 hp producing 1.5-litre turbo three-cylinder unit, and a 192 hp generating 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder unit. A hybrid variant is also available equipped with the 1.5-litre petrol unit combined with electric motor generating 224 hp peak power.
Interestingly, this is the first model from the company to get a plug-in hybrid powertrain. On the other hand, diesel engines are 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder units kicking out power in two different tunes 136 hp and 190 hp. Transmission options include 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic and an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
As far as India is concerned, it is available across Cooper S, Cooper SD, and Cooper S JCW variants. The S and S JCW use a 1,998 cc four-cylinder petrol engine making 192 hp and 280 Nm with an eight-speed automatic and eight-speed Sport automatic transmissions respectively.
The Cooper SD variant gets a 1,995 cc four-cylinder diesel engine pumping out 190 hp and 400 Nm and is connected to an eight-speed Steptronic auto. The petrol version can do 0-100 kmph in 7.5 seconds and the diesel is two tenths slower in comparison.The base Cooper S costs Rs 34.90 lakh while Cooper SD at Rs 37.40 lakh and the performance-based Cooper S JCW Inspired at Rs 41.40 lakh (ex-showroom, India).
2018 Mini Countryman Images
