The all-new 2016 Mini Countryman has been spied in India for the first time ahead of its global reveal, which is likely to take place at the Paris motor show 2016. This is the first time a BMW-group model which is yet-to-be-revealed globally, been spotted on test on Indian soil.
The second-gen SUV (Codename: F60) from Mini is based on parent company BMW’s UKL1 platform which also underpins the BMW X1 and the Mini Clubman MPV sold abroad. The new Countryman will be larger and more spacious on the inside than the current model, thanks to a 150mm addition to its length which is likely to be close to 4.25 meters as opposed to close to 4.1 meters for the current model. The wheelbase will an increase of close to 100mm than its predecessor. On the insides, the new Countryman will share parts from the current Mini range but will get plusher materials and a heads-up display.
The new Countryman will come with BMW’s variable damper control that enables chassis settings to be tweaked for moderate off-roading, although the new model, like the current car will still sit too low to be called a proper off-roader. The next-gen Countryman will also share its four-wheel drive system, an electronically controlled unit with the BMW X1, although some global markets will also get a cheaper FWD-only variant.
The new Countryman will be available globally with range of three and four-cylinder engines mated to six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission along with various high-performance John Cooper Works range. BMW is also readying a plug-in hybrid model for the second-gen Countryman. For India, expect the Mini to bring in the top-spec petrol and diesel engine mated to an automatic gearbox.
The new Mini Countryman will hit Indian showrooms sometime next year.
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