2027 MINI Countryman Edition teased off-road

MINI fans may soon be able to sample a taste of the brand’s legendary Dakar heritage via a new off-road focused Countryman, though there’s no guarantee the rugged variant will make it Down Under (yet).

Tested navigating the Rocky Mountains kitted out for multi-day adventures, the ‘Countryman Edition’ will ride higher than its standard counterparts and seemingly ship with aggressive all-terrain tyres.

The prototype is wrapped in a detail-hiding camouflage wrap, but there’s no missing the exclusive front and rear bumpers that look to improve the approach and departure angles. 

Obviously, a Countryman will never worry a ladder-frame 4x4 off-road, but if the new model sports a plug-in hybrid powertrain, it’ll offer a unique selling point in the emerging all-terrain road-biased SUV market – Subaru Wilderness, Hyundai XRT etc.

“While details remain under wraps for now, one thing is clear: this MINI Countryman Edition has been created for those who are always looking for the next path, the next horizon and the next adventure,” MINI said in a statement.

“Its journey reaches the next milestone in October 2026, when the new special edition will make its world premiere and unveil a distinctly adventurous interpretation of the MINI Countryman.”

The global debut will take place at the Rebelle Rally; an almost 2500km off-road navigation rally across Nevada, California and Utah, marking MINI’s first participation off the back of a legendary WRC and Dakar palmarès.

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au