Updated MINI Countryman breaks cover
New-look MINI SUV due late 2020 with a host of upgrades and customisable optionsA MINI Countryman will arrive in Australian showrooms late this year with a raft of upgrades including fresh engine technology, revised styling and more colour options.
The facelifted British-built SUV has been given a redesigned front-end that includes a new grille with hexagonal contours, a new front bumper with a lower air-intake arrangement and a new rear bumper.
All-round LED lighting is now standard for every variant, with daytime running lights (DRLs) up front doubling as indicators and adaptive LED headlights available as an extra-cost option.
As per the latest MINI hatch, the MINI Countryman’s tail-lights now feature a Union Jack motif, in a nod to the British manufacturer’s heritage.
Two new colour options previously reserved for special-edition models – Sage Green metallic and White Silver – are now available for the small SUV, while the roof and side mirrors can be had in white, black or body-colour options, depending on the variant.
Exterior chrome elements can be switched to gloss-black with an optional Piano Black exterior pack, while new wheel designs including Channel Spoke Black and Turnstile Spoke two-tone are also part of the update.
As for power, the new MINI Countryman carries over the same three engine options previously available, including a 100kW/220Nm three-cylinder petrol and 131kW/280Nm four-cylinder petrol, as well as MINI’s new plug-in hybrid option, which offers a combined output of 165kW/385Nm from a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine boosted by an electric motor.
However, MINI says it has upgraded the exhaust manifold in each engine to “ensure highly effective cooling of the exhaust gases and the turbocharging system”.
Inside the cabin, the Countryman’s central circular control unit features reorganised controls, touch-sensitive bookmark buttons and high-gloss Piano Black surfaces. Buyers can also opt for a new 5.0-inch digital instrument cluster.
The brand says it’s also updated the 8.8-inch infotainment unit, restructuring the Navigation Plus options as well as offering enhanced Intelligent Emergency services and Amazon Alexa integration.
Local pricing and specifications for the updated MINI Countryman range will be announced closer to its arrival in late 2020.
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