MINI Cooper S E Countryman: the brand's first plug-in hybrid

The Mini Cooper S E Countryman features a 224 CV hybrid engine. It incorporates components from BMW iPerformance and establishes itself as a rival to the Audi Q2.

The British brand has unveiled today its first plug-in hybrid model, the MINI Cooper S E Countryman. However, it is worth recalling that in 2008 MINI already launched an electric model (MINI E) that served to develop the current BMW i3.

The new 2017 Countryman is available with conventional engines as well as with the innovative hybrid powertrain, which includes the ALL4 all-wheel drive system. The hybrid powerplant incorporates components from BMW iPerformance and combines a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor. Together, both powerplants deliver a combined output of 224 CV and a torque of 385 Nm. Furthermore, this MINI Cooper SE Countryman reaches 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and has an average consumption of just 2.1 litres/100 km.

A notable aspect of the MINI Cooper S E Countryman is the way power is transmitted to the axles. The electric motor sends power to the front wheels, while the combustion engine does the same for the rear wheels. It is the same system used by the BMW i8 for power transmission, only in this case it operates in reverse.
As for the exterior design, the new approach to the bumpers and headlights stands out. The front lighting units set themselves apart from the rest of the range with a new design in which LED technology fully wraps around the headlight.

In terms of size, the new Countryman is 20 cm longer and 3 cm wider than its predecessor. The wheelbase is also 7.5 cm longer, contributing to more interior space. The hybrid version of the Countryman additionally offers a boot capacity of 450 litres, an increase of 100 litres over the 2014 version.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverMINI Countryman21 versions · from 35,550 €