BMW owned MINI has unveiled second generation of its crossover, 2017 Countryman weeks before its global debut at the LA motor show next month.
The new Countryman is made on BMW’s UKL2 platform. It has grown in every dimension and is now longer by 200 mm and wider by 30 mm than its predecessor and also offers 75mm of larger wheelbase. Inside space is also increased by about 220 litres and now offers 450 liters of bootspace that can be extended to 1309 litres with the rear seats folded.
Most of the design part of the crossover remains the same and with sharp edgy cues and many chrome touches to make it sporty while the fenders at the front manages to give it a rugged look. The cabin of the new Countryman carries the same element and layout that is seen in the other recent MINI cars.
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The most attention grabbing thing is the big round hostage at the center console hosting a large touchscreen display at the middle with control buttons underneath.
The 2017 Countryman also becomes MINI’s first ever car to get plug-in hybrid drivetrain. It gets a 134hp 1.5-litre three cylinder engine driving the front wheels while an 87hp electric motor drives the rear wheels the coumbined out put of the hybrid system is 221hp power and 385Nm of torque.
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The Hybrid Countryman can be driven in pure electric mode for upto 40 km with a top speed of 125 km/h. MINI claims that the hybrid powertrain returns about 47.61 kmpl of fuel efficiency.
The 2017 Countryman will be available in four trims- Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper D and Cooper SD with four different engine options. There will be two options for petrol: 1.5-litre with 136 PS and 2.0-litre with 192 PS while the diesel version will have- 2.0-litre engine with two output options of 110 PS and 140 PS. Gearbox options will be 6- manual, 6-automatic and 8-automatic depending upon the variants. MINI’s ALL4 all-wheel drive system will be offered as an option in all four models.
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The new Countryman will go on sale in the US around March 2017 so we can’t expect it to come in India anytime soon.