It will reportedly become Mini’s most powerful model to date.
Mini is rumoured to be working on a new generation Countryman. It will be constructed on the same production lines in Leipzig, Germany, as the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and the next-generation X1, and will be based on the FAAR platform. Prototypes have already been spotted on public roads, and according to a new source, the model’s most powerful version will be a plug-in hybrid.
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The Countryman PHEV, according to Autocar, will be Mini’s most powerful production car ever, even more powerful than the Mini JCW GP hot hatch. A 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder gas engine will be coupled with an electric motor for a combined output of 322 horsepower (237 kilowatts). The vehicle will come standard with all-wheel drive. According to the study, a 14.2-kWh battery pack will supply enough energy for a totally electric range of up to 55 miles (88 kilometres).
The Countryman Cooper S E All4, by comparison, has 220 horsepower (160 kW) and can travel up to 35 miles (57 kilometres) on a single charge. We don’t know if this powerful new hybrid will get the JCW moniker just yet, but we do know that Mini intends to utilise the suffix on electrified cars in the future. Aside from that, a 7.4 kW charger can fully recharge the battery of the new PHEV in around 2.5 hours.
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The next Countryman’s engine lineup will reportedly include a less powerful version of the same plug-in powertrain with a system output of 241 horsepower (177 kW). A 1.5- and 2.0-liter turbo gas engine, as well as a 2.0-liter diesel, are in the works. A 48-volt mild-hybrid technology will assist the gasoline choices. Last but not least, a completely electric variant with standard all-wheel drive will apparently join the roster at a later date.
The new FAAR architecture, which is an extension of the UKL front-wheel-drive platform, will result in larger passenger and cargo compartments when combined with the predicted increased dimensions. According to Autocar, the new Countryman will compete in the Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Qashqai segments, rather than the Toyota CH-R and Nissan Juke.
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