Rumormill: Mini Countryman Coupe in the works

Filed under: Coupe, Crossover, Mini, Rumormill

At first take, it’s not easy to accept the 2011 Mini Countryman crossover. We understand. But after our first drive of the pint-sized CUV, it started to make more sense. We’re hoping to have similar revelations about a coupe version of the Countryman, which is reportedly being considered within Mini’s product development department. That’s right – a Mini X6.

Mini is allegedly hot about the idea of doing a Countryman-based coupe after seeing Land Rover debut its Range Rover Evoque, which has a two-door configuration, small proportions and a coupe-like styling theme. Autocar reports that if this project gets the green light, we would more than likely see the Countryman Coupe around 2013 with a four-door layout that ditches conventional rear entryways for a set of suicide doors. On top of that, the coupe would have a shorter rear overhang than the CUV and much shallower side windows. Think lifted, rakish Clubman.

We’ll already be seeing a production version of Mini’s Coupe concept out on the streets in the near future, but expect the two-door Countryman to be vastly different, similar to the way that a BMW 3 Series coupe and an X6 are wholly opposite vehicles. As a crossover, we’ve grown to rather like the Countryman, but truth be told, there’s a big part of us that’s hoping this coupe project simply fades into the depths of the rumormill.

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Mini Countryman Coupe in the works originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini Countryman commercial makes mess of multiplication

Filed under: Videos, Crossover, Hatchback, Mini

Mini is continuing its advertising onslaught for the new Countryman, and in its latest spot, the company visualizes every potential path for the Countryman to run amok in the Italian countryside. The original car eventually multiplies into a fleet of over one hundred CG interpretations, all hopping curbs and harassing pedestrians in what we can only imagine is what the world would look like if a Mini exec ruled the globe. Eventually, the high-riding Countryman flings itself onto a ferry to escape into the sunset.

Mini also turned out a making-of video to document the action. If you’ve ever wondered exactly how filmmakers go about melding the physical world with the virtual, you’ll want to check out that clip, too. You can find both after the jump.

[Source: Mini]

Continue reading Mini Countryman commercial makes mess of multiplication

Mini Countryman commercial makes mess of multiplication originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mini commences Countryman advertising barrage

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Crossover, Mini

Mini has begun an all-out advertising assault for its new Countryman CUV. The pint-sized automaker has already churned out a handful of clever print ads as well as a few video spots showing off this new high-riding addition to the Mini stable doing what it does best – namely shuffling around up to four people. As we found out in our First Drive, the Countryman can hold its own against its smaller forbearers, so critics of the thyroid-happy car can rest easy.

Anyone who has ever had to fold their shins to fit into the back seat of a Cooper can tell you that a little extra leg room isn’t going to hurt the company’s reputation. Throw in all-wheel drive, America’s unquenchable thirst for CUVs and a few snappy ads and it’s only a matter of time before the Countryman works its way into the public’s heart.

We do have to wonder how much the company would charge us for our own personal sushi chef, though. Hit the jump for the videos.

Photos by Steven J. Ewing / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

[Source: YouTube via Mini]

Continue reading Video: Mini commences Countryman advertising barrage

Video: Mini commences Countryman advertising barrage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Mini Countryman

Filed under: Crossover, Mini, First Drive, Reviews

Yes, it’s a Mini. Yes, it’s a crossover. Yes, it makes sense.

Whether we like it or not, even niche automakers are expanding their lineups to appeal to a broader range of shoppers. This may seem like automotive blasphemy, but think back a few years ago when Porsche introduced the Cayenne. We all threw temper tantrums and hugged our 911s, but now we begrudgingly accept that, as far as SUVs go, the Cayenne is pretty damn good and has been the brand’s #1 selling model since day one. So in comparison, adding the 2011 Countryman to the Mini lineup isn’t nearly as big of a culture shock.

In an effort to show Mini owners and enthusiasts that the Countryman is indeed worthy of a Cooper badge, the automaker brought a few of the new crossovers out on its 2010 Mini Takes The States cross-country road rally. Mini is wholly confident that people will be impressed with what the Countryman has to offer, not only with functionality, but with driving dynamics, as well. We saddled up to find out for ourselves.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Mini Countryman

First Drive: 2011 Mini Countryman originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog hits the road with Mini Takes The States 2010

Filed under: Convertible, Hatchback, Mini

Of all the automakers in the United States, perhaps the one with the largest enthusiast following is Mini. Sure, brands like Porsche, BMW and even Subaru have their own clubs and cult followings, but when it comes to eccentricity and personality, no one does it like Mini.

In that spirit, the pint-sized automaker is once again embarking on its Mini Takes The States cross-country road rally, an event that first occurred in 2006 and then again in 2008. This time, Mini is gathering its owners to celebrate the launch of the 2011 Countryman crossover, and we’ve been asked to tag along. We’ll be scoring some seat time in the Countryman as well, so stay tuned for our initial impressions.

Our trip started in New York and will take us to Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Columbus and finally Indianapolis before we hop a plane back home. Many of the other participants will head all the way out to Denver, where they will meet up with other groups doing similar drive routes in different parts of the country. Mini has a full host of festivities planned for the Denver crew, and many other local Mini enthusiast clubs are providing some entertainment along the way.

Mini has provided us with a Cooper S Camden Edition for the trip, which means we’ll experience turbocharged small car thrills along the highways of America. We already spent a considerable amount of time with the Camden-ized Cooper, and we’ve been getting many a thumbs-up from Mini owners out on the road. (We’ve opted to leave the Camden’s Mission Control system in the “off” position.)

Keep your eyes peeled for caravans of Coopers and Clubmans, folks. This not-so-mini road rally is taking America by storm. Want to vicariously join in on the fun? Follow the trip’s progress on Mini’s Facebook page.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

Autoblog hits the road with Mini Takes The States 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini confirms entry into 2011 World Rally Championship with Countryman

Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchback, Mini, Racing

Were it not for the efforts of John Cooper and drivers like Paddy Hopkirk on the European rally stages of the 1960s, the Mini brand probably wouldn’t have the beloved reputation that it does today – in fact, it’s possible it would never be around today at all. BMW has confirmed a longstanding rumor with today’s announcement that Mini is heading back to international rallying with the Countryman WRC beginning in 2011.

The Countryman WRC is being developed by long-time Subaru partner Prodrive for the new Super2000 regulations and will run in select World Rally Championship rounds in 2011 before taking on the full 2012 season and beyond. The rally special will have a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four with all-wheel-drive. Prodrive started work on the project early last year and testing will start this Fall.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Mini confirms entry into 2011 World Rally Championship with Countryman

Mini confirms entry into 2011 World Rally Championship with Countryman originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mini Countryman to enter Rally Italy in 2011

Filed under: Motorsports, Budget, Europe, Crossover, Hatchback, Mini, Rumormill, Racing

Rally and the original Mini went together like sugar and grits. That pint-sized Brit made a habit of showing up at stages, mopping the floor with the competition and motoring home with trophies in tow. The wringability of the little hatches helped catapult them into the storied halls of motorsports lore – something that the new generation of Mini machines has been quick to capitalize on. Now that the brand is set to introduce the Countryman, there’s some concern as to whether or not the high-riding CUV can adhere to the brand’s ethos of punching above its weight.

We’ve heard repeated murmurings in the past about a collaboration between the rally gurus at Prodrive and Mini that could result in the honkin’ Countryman doing battle in the most grueling rally arena of them all – the WRC. A new report says that the two companies will announce something pertinent to their work together later this week. We’re hoping that means a first look at the rally beater, but since we haven’t heard word one from Mini just yet, it’s hard telling. Autocar seems to think that the announcement may have more to do with the team’s schedule than anything else, saying that it expects Mini to hit the WRC by the time Rally Italy rolls around in May of 2011.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Mini Countryman to enter Rally Italy in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Three-door Mini Countryman to gun for Land Rover Evoque?

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Crossover, Mini, Rumormill

It looks like Land Rover may have accidentally kicked over a hive of hornets by rolling out its new two-door Evoque. We recently heard all about BMW musing as to whether or not to build an X4 to compete with the crossover, and now Auto Express is reporting that Mini may be game to take on the newcomer as well. We’re not talking about the Countryman here, either. The site claims that the head honchos at Mini are mulling bringing a two-door version of the high-rider to life, and that it will be called the Canyon when it arrives.

Auto Express doesn’t cite any sources or point to any hard evidence of this decision (no surprise there). Instead, the site has chosen to rely on the fact that the company has been kicking around the idea of a vehicle like the Canyon since 2005. Now that the Countryman is headed for production, the logic is that it wouldn’t take too much effort to slim the platform, throw on two doors and bolt up one very coupe-looking roof. Thing is, until we hear word from Mini itself, we’re going to have to approach this one with a whole heap of skepticism.

[Source: Auto Express]

Rumormill: Three-door Mini Countryman to gun for Land Rover Evoque? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini dishes out more info on Countryman including complete specs

Filed under: Crossover, Mini

Way back in January, Mini went ahead and unleashed a dump truck’s worth of information and images on its new Countryman crossover, and at the time we expected the full set of specifications to be released along with the car’s official debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Instead, Mini waited until now to let the full bounty loose, and we’ve parsed through detritus to find the most pertinent details.

We’ll start with the drivetrain. As expected, both the standard Countryman and the uplevel S model will get four cylinder engines displacing 1.6 liters, with the higher-spec model gaining a turbocharger to boost power from 122 horsepower to 184. Naturally, our European friends also get a couple of diesel options, but we’re not really expecting to see those units Stateside any time soon.

Either engine will be available with a choice of a manual or automatic transmission, both boasting six forward ratios. The slowest combination (base model with an automatic) will take over 11 seconds to hit 60 miles per hour, while the turbocharged S dispatches the same test in under eight (add a few tenths for the auto and another few tenths for all-wheel drive).

Interestingly, if you want Mini’s full-time All4 all-wheel drive system, you’ll need to step up to the S model (or the higher-spec diesel across the pond). The front MacPherson strut suspenders couple with the multilink arrangement at the rear to provide just under six inches of ground clearance… no hardcore off-roading here, folks.

Naturally, there’s plenty more to digest. Hit the jump for the complete 9,000-word (no kidding) release along with a listing of specifications for the standard model, the front-wheel-drive S and the All4 S.

[Source: Mini]

Continue reading Mini dishes out more info on Countryman including complete specs

Mini dishes out more info on Countryman including complete specs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW delivers pair of JDM specials – Mini Savile Row and X6 Performance Unlimited

Filed under: Performance, Japan, Crossover, Hatchback, BMW, Mini, Luxury

Black is the new black, at least when it comes to the special edition Mini Saville Row for the Japanese market. The black-as-deep-space hatch with the black roof is accented by polished chrome 17-inch wheels, gas cap, mirrors and trim outside and in. Privacy glass, bi-xenon headlights, white turn signal lamps and an anthracite headliner have been thrown into the mix as well. There will be 100 made, all with the 1.6-liter four-cylinder and automatic transmissions, costing ¥3,100,000 ($35,028 U.S.). That’s a premium of about ¥400,000 ($4,519 U.S.) over the standard Mini.

There will be just 20 examples built of the even more limited edition BMW X6 Performance Unlimited, also for the Japanese market only. Inspired by BMW motorsports, the crossover gets a twin-turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder with hybrid technology running through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The body receives silver pearl paint, a BMW Performance aero package, 21-inch alloys and a blacked-out grille, the interior gets Dakota leather and brushed aluminum pedals. It retails for a tidy ¥9,450,000 ($106,823 U.S.). You check it out, along with the Mini Saville Row, in the high-res galleries below.

[Source: BMW]

BMW delivers pair of JDM specials – Mini Savile Row and X6 Performance Unlimited originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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