The original Mini was intended to be a simple economical car for the masses, but John Cooper saw its potential in competition and developed it for racing. Then it also began to appear in rallies, turning out to be an ideal rallycar with its nimbleness. In its time, it won no less than 31 international rallies like the Monte Carlo Rally, and 4 championships.
The modern MINI also made a name for itself in off-road events, though the car that was used was really a specially developed competition vehicle. This was the MINI Countryman-based rallycar developed by the X-raid Team which won the Dakar Rally 4 times in a row (2012 – 2016).
The campaigns in the Dakar Rally – considered the world’s toughest off-road competition – helped promote the MINI and its ALL4 all-wheel drive technology. Now MINI shows that this technology can also be used for off-road motoring in fully electric vehicles like the new Countryman SE ALL4.
Fully electric all-wheel drive
Two powerful electric motors with a total output of 230 kW/313 ps and maximum torque of 494 Nm provide plenty of power to travel over any terrain. At the same time, the Countryman SE ALL4 can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 5.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 180 km/h, so it does not take long to reach the point where the road ends.
The battery pack can store up to 66.45 kWh of electricity, and the range from a fully charged pack is said to be around 460 kms. With rapid DC charging at up to 130 kW, just under 30 minutes WILL the battery from 10% to 80%.
With the Driving Assistant Professional, the Countryman SE ALL4 can operate Level 2 autonomous driving for the first time. This is essentially adaptive cruise control, which is common in many models in the MINI’s class today, with the added ability of assisted lane changes.
Still the largest MINI today
The largest MINI model has the new styling of the latest generation, with a modern, minimalistic design of clearly designed surfaces and wider wheelarches. The design underlines the character of the crossover model through the vertical orientation of the body details. It has a distinctive front grille, flanked by equally distinctive headlights, as well as a more sculpted bonnet.
The distinctive alloy wheels of the Countryman SE ALL4, measuring up to 20 inches, are aerodynamically optimised, just like the rest of the bodywork, contributing to the low Cd of 0.26. This is important for an EV as wind resistance impacts range because the motors need to work harder to overcome that resistance.
Significant increase in size
The car has grown significantly from before, now measuring 4,33 mm in length, 1843 mm in width and 1656 mm in height (130 mm longer, 80 mm taller). Sir Alex Issigonis, the man who designed the original Mini, would be shocked to see how his little car has physically grown up.
As a result, the new Countryman offers improved interior space, with cargo capacity of up to 1,450 litres when the rear backrest is folded down. The front occupants also gain significantly in comfort with almost 30 mm of additional shoulder and elbow width. The seats in the rear are also increased by 25 mm shoulder width.
With clearly defined shapes and the 2-tone textile design of the , the cockpit looks modern and clear. The panoramic glass roof lets in extra light from above, brightening the interior and giving an increased sense of spaciousness.
Advanced technology, high-quality materials
The focal point of the cockpit of the latest generation is the round OLED display. The central instrument with a diameter of 240 mm and a high-quality glass surface simultaneously controls the infotainment and assistance systems. With the new MINI Operating System 9, all vehicle functions can be operated intuitively via touch or voice assistant.
The MINI Experience Modes are available for particularly immersive driving experiences. In addition to specific graphic elements on the OLED display, the occupants can experience the entire interior in a new way through special lighting graphics in different colours and patterns. In addition, the new MINI Driving Sounds create a unique ambience while the Countryman SE ALL4 is on the move.
“The new all-electric, all-wheel-drive MINI Countryman is the epitome of versatility and driving pleasure. It is the first MINI ‘Made in Germany’ and makes a statement for environmentally friendly mobility. Thanks to its increased dimensions, it is a vehicle for the entire family,” said Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI.
For those who aren’t ready to go electric, the new Countryman range will still be available with combustion engines – petrol and diesel – with ALL4 and also a high-output JCW version.