The Prodrive developed and built World Rallying Championship version of the Mini Countryman is powered by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-charged engine from BMW Motorsport to comply with the new Super2000 regulations. Like the road-going model, it also gets four-wheel drive.
The Countryman WRC complies with the new Super2000 regulations and will be powered by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-charged engine from BMW Motorsport and have an all-wheel drive system. Prodrive, which ran Subaru's world championship-winning team until the Japanese automaker pulled out at the end of 2008, has been working on the development of the car since early 2009.
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That comes to around US$27,800 -$38,300 at today's exchange rates, but keep in mind that German-market prices cannot be used to calculate or compare prices in other countries for a number of reasons, one being that they include 19% tax.
For example, a BMW M3 Coupe costs €68,350 or US$93,900 in Germany, but "only" US$60,575 or €44,100 (negotiable MSRP including destination & handling fees, and gas guzzler tax) in the States...
The fourth addition to MINI's range after the regular three-door hatch, the Convertible and the Clubman, comes with a more rugged appearance, increased ride height, four doors, four individual seats (or a three-seat bench) and an available all-wheel drive system for the range-topping Cooper S and Cooper D versions. Check out the videos after the jump.
The Countryman is not only the British firm's first-ever crossover, it's also the first modern MINI to have four doors, an available all-wheel-drive system, four full-size seats and to measure around four meters in length.
The styling inside and out is unmistakably MINI, with the Countryman trying to stand out from the rest of the range with its chunkier nose job, raised ride height and some unique styling cues such as the headlamps and the alloy wheel designs.
The company said that driver gets a slightly elevated seating position while a new feature inside is the MINI Center Rail that extends from front to rear allowing anything from a cupholder and sunglasses to audio devices and an armrest to be attached and slid wherever they are required.
The Countryman comes as standard with four seats, but a three-seat bench is available as a no-cost option.
According to MINI, the rear seats can move fore-and-aft either individually or in a 60 : 40 (three-seat bench) split, the backrests may be tilted for angle either individually or in a 40 : 20 : 40 (three-seat bench) arrangement, increasing capacity in the luggage compartment from 350 to 1,170 liters (12.2–41.0 cu ft).
When the Countryman goes on sale in Europe this fall (North America in early 2011), it will enter the market with a choice of three petrol and two diesel engines, extending from the 90HP turbo diesel in the One D to a 184HP 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol with a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct fuel injection in the rang-topping Cooper S.
All versions will come equipped with Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start Stop system and a gearshift point indicator.
MINI said that as an alternative to the six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard, the petrol engine models will also be available with six-speed automatic tranmission.
As an option, the Cooper S and Cooper D models will be available with MINI's ALL4 permanent all-wheel drive system that uses an electrohydraulic differential positioned directly on the final drive varying the distribution from front to rear.
Under normal driving conditions, the system sends up to 50 per cent of the engine's power to each axle, but in more extreme situations, up to 100 per cent can be sent to the rear wheels.
As with the rest of the MINI models, the Countryman will be offered with a wide range of customisation and equipment options on both the exterior and interior including an extra-large Panorama roof.
The official presentation of the Countryman will take place at the Geneva Salon in March, 2010.
