New MINI Countryman Crossover: First Official Photos Leak Online

According to MINI's website, we weren't suppose to see the British firm's new crossover model before February 7, but the first photos of the five-door model have found their way onto the internet. Likely to be named either Countryman or Crossman, it will be first MINI to get an optional all-wheel-drive system, four doors, four full-size seats and measure approximately four meters in length.

Not surprisingly, the production model looks almost identical to the Beachcomber concept that premiered in Detroit - sans the fact that it comes equipped with doors and a rooftop.

The crossover's interior styling is typical MINI with the usual dashboard layout that employs a gargantuan-sized speedo on the center console. We assume that this model will be more practical that other MINIs.

The logos on the car reveal that it's a Cooper S model equipped with the automaker's new ALL4 all-wheel drive system.

Expect to see an official release and more photos coming out shortly.

Via: Worldcarfans

MINI Countryman Crossover: Official Details and 57 High-Res Photos

After yesterday's leak there was no point in keeping the new Countryman under wraps so MINI went ahead and released initial details and a full gallery of its first-ever crossover model. Bear in mind that the BMW Group owned automaker noted that the car may not be named Countryman in certain markets without giving out any further details.

The Countryman is not only the British firm's first-ever crossover, it's also the first modern MINI to have four doors, an available all-wheel-drive system, four full-size seats and to measure around four meters in length.

The styling inside and out is unmistakably MINI, with the Countryman trying to stand out from the rest of the range with its chunkier nose job, raised ride height and some unique styling cues such as the headlamps and the alloy wheel designs.

The company said that driver gets a slightly elevated seating position while a new feature inside is the MINI Center Rail that extends from front to rear allowing anything from a cupholder and sunglasses to audio devices and an armrest to be attached and slid wherever they are required.

The Countryman comes as standard with four seats, but a three-seat bench is available as a no-cost option.

According to MINI, the rear seats can move fore-and-aft either individually or in a 60 : 40 (three-seat bench) split, the backrests may be tilted for angle either individually or in a 40 : 20 : 40 (three-seat bench) arrangement, increasing capacity in the luggage compartment from 350 to 1,170 liters (12.2–41.0 cu ft).

When the Countryman goes on sale in Europe this fall (North America in early 2011), it will enter the market with a choice of three petrol and two diesel engines, extending from the 90HP turbo diesel in the One D to a 184HP 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol with a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct fuel injection in the rang-topping Cooper S.

All versions will come equipped with Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start Stop system and a gearshift point indicator.

MINI said that as an alternative to the six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard, the petrol engine models will also be available with six-speed automatic tranmission.

As an option, the Cooper S and Cooper D models will be available with MINI's ALL4 permanent all-wheel drive system that uses an electrohydraulic differential positioned directly on the final drive varying the distribution from front to rear.

Under normal driving conditions, the system sends up to 50 per cent of the engine's power to each axle, but in more extreme situations, up to 100 per cent can be sent to the rear wheels.

As with the rest of the MINI models, the Countryman will be offered with a wide range of customisation and equipment options on both the exterior and interior including an extra-large Panorama roof.

The official presentation of the Countryman will take place at the Geneva Salon in March, 2010.

VIDEO: First Look at the 2011 MINI Countryman Crossover

After details and first shots of the MINI Countryman crossover were released prior to its world premiere at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show in March, the British automaker has now followed up with a pair of videos showing off its latest creation.

The fourth addition to MINI's range after the regular three-door hatch, the Convertible and the Clubman, comes with a more rugged appearance, increased ride height, four doors, four individual seats (or a three-seat bench) and an available all-wheel drive system for the range-topping Cooper S and Cooper D versions. Check out the videos after the jump.

VIDEO: MINI Drops New Teaser for Crossover, Official Presentation on February 7

MINI's love affair with the psychedelic-looking swirly camouflage that it uses to wrap its prototype models during testing is so strong that the British firm decided to employ the same black and yellow design in its latest teaser video for the new Crossover model.

The film doesn't show anything that we haven't seen before, but MINI did announce that the official reveal of the crossover model will take place online on February 7. From what we gather, the automaker will most likely release the first official pics on that date.

The latest member of the MINI family is a small crossover measuring around four-meters in length that will be offered with an optional four-wheel drive system, both a first for the automaker. Sales are scheduled to start in Europe later this year and in the US in early 2011.

2010 MINI Launched, 1.4-Liter Petrol Replaced by New 1.6-Liter, Cooper S gets More Power, New Models Added

The new year brings a series of changes and upgrades for the BMW Group's MINI models with the presentation of a new range of petrol engines that offer more power and torque while reducing both emissions and fuel consumption as well as new model variants. Even better, MINI said that the powerplant upgrades will not affect pricing that remains the same.

Beginning from March 2010, all First, One, Cooper and Cooper S models in the Hatch, Convertible and Clubman ranges will be equipped with a new and improved version of MINI's petrol engine.

In particular, the MINI First and One models will now be fitted with a 1.6 liter engine, replacing the 1.4-liter unit. The new engine conforms to both European EU5 and U.S. ULEV 11 emissions standards

In the entry-level MINI First, the 1.6-liter unit produces the same output as the 1.4L engine at 75HP, but torque is up by almost 17 per cent at 140 Nm.

As a result fuel consumption in the EU cycle is 5.4 lt/100km (52.3 UK mpg or 43.5 mpg US) and CO2 emissions 127 g/km. Top speed of the MINI First is 175km/h or 109 mph while the 0-62 mph (100km/h) acceleration takes 13.2 seconds.

The same unit delivers an output of 98HP and 153Nm of torque (+3HP and +9% torque from before) in the MINI One that returns 5.4 lt/100km (52.3 UK mpg or 43.5 mpg US - same as the 75HP unit) on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 127 g/km.

With this engine, the One's top speed rises to 186km/h or 116 mph and zero to 62 mph (100km/h) acceleration takes 10.5 seconds, a 0.4 second improvement over the previous model.

The MINI One Clubman also benefits from the same powertrain improvements and offers 0-62 mph in 11.1 seconds and a top speed of 185km/h or 115 mph. EU cycle fuel consumption falls to 5.5 lt/100km (51.4 mpg UK or 42.8 mpg US) and emissions to 129 g/km.

MINI's best selling model, the Cooper receives a small power hike to 122HP (+3 hp) and peak torque of 160 Nm at 4,250 rpm helping the hatch to reach 100km/h (62 mph) in 9.1 seconds and a top speed of 204km.h or 127 mph.

Always according to MINI, the 2010 Cooper achieves 5.4 lt/100km (52.3 UK mpg or 43.5 mpg US) and emits 127 g/km of CO2.

Finally, the 2010 Cooper S' 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbocharged engine has been tweaked and now produces 9 hp more peak power at 184HP while peak torque is 240 Nm, delivered from as low as 1,600 rpm through to 5,000 rpm (260Nm with the overboost function).

The Cooper S Hatch sprints from 0 to 100km/h (62 mph) in exactly 7 seconds and can go up to a top speed of 228 km/h or 142 mph. MINI says that the Cooper S' combined fuel consumption of 48.7 UK mpg (5.8lt/100km or 40.5 mpg US) is lower by 3.1 mpg, while CO2 emissions are now 13 g/km lower at 136 g/km.

In addition, the 2010 Cooper S manual models will be fitted with a new self-adjusting clutch with carbon coated linings that is said to reduce service costs and improve pedal feel and gear synchronisation.

Also new for 2010 is the introduction of the entry-level MINI ONE Convertible that is powered a 98HP version of the 1.6-liter petrol engine. The four-seater drop top accelerates from 0-100km/h (62 mph) in 11.3 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 180km/h or 112 mph while recording an average fuel consumption of 5.7 lt/100km (41.3 mpg US or 49.6 mpg UK).

Finishing up with the changes/updates for 2010 MINI, the British firm has also announced the availability of the Clubman Graphite Special Edition model that features the same Dark Silver paintwork and special equipment of the hatch model, as well as three new Rainbow paint options for all models.

MINI Beachcomber Concept Live from the Detroit Auto Show

BMW Group's MINI brand brought along a new concept, or rather a new variant of the concept model that previews its forthcoming Crossover model, to the Detroit motor show. The all-wheel drive, open-body Beachcomber study was designed to capture the spirit of the original Mini Moke of the 1960s.

The Beachcomber gets a new all-wheel drive system called ALL4, as well as an elevated seating position with the British brand supporting that it can be driven without doors and a conventional roof. However, just to be on the safe side -in theory of course- it comes with a soft top and lightweight doors made out of plastic material.

The concept model is supposed to provide us with new clues about the MINI Crossover will be available in Europe later this year and in the US in early 2011. The Crossover will be the first production MINI to have all-wheel-drive, four doors, four full-size seats and measure around four meters in length.

The Italian Job: MINI Reveals Clubman Soho Special Edition

Playfully named after London's famous red light entertainment district, the MINI Clubman Soho is a special edition model, exclusively destined for the Italian market. As with any other limited run special these days, the Soho is distinguished by a number of special features and unique color combinations.

Available in One, Cooper, Cooper D and Cooper S forms, the Soho is offered with a choice of five exterior colors including Horizon Blue, Midnight Black, Pepper White, Dark Silver and for the first time on the Clubman, White Silver, contrasted by the black finish on the roof and exterior mirror caps.

Bi-xenon headlights with smoked lenses, a chrome kit and two-tone 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 195/55 or 205/45 tires respectively (depending on the model) are also part of the package.

Inside, MINI ups the luxury ante with a three-spoke, multifunction, leather steering wheel, sport seats upholstered in cloth and leather, brushed aluminum trim and upgraded standard equipment that includes air conditioning on all models.

The 2010 Clubman Soho will go on sale in Italy in the beggining of January with prices ranging from €19,900 (US$27,100) for the One model to €28,900 (about US$41,500) for the Cooper S version.

MINI Beachcomber 4x4 Concept Heads to Detroit Auto Show [New Photos Added]

Less than a year before the launch of MINI's new five-door crossover model in autumn 2010, the BMW Group-owned brand will display another take on the SUV theme with the Beachcomber Concept at the Detroit motor show in January 2010.

The door-less concept study is based on the firm's crossover model and according to MINI, "it projects the principle of the 1960's Mini Moke into the 21st century." While the Beachcomber Concept has very few -if any- chances to enter production, it's styling is supposed to hint at what MINI's crossover model will look like.

Measuring approximately four meters or about 157-inches in length, the Beachcomber Concept gets an open roof that can be covered with either a hardtop or a soft top that fold up into a compact unit.

As a further option for protection in bad weather, MINI says that there are fully functional doors made out of extra-light plastic material that connect to the A- and C-pillars.

Inside, the concept model's four independent seats are divided by a "multifunction fastening rail" borrowed from the MINI Crossover Concept.

Extending from the instrument panel all the way to the luggage compartment, the rail allows the driver and passengers to place / fasten individual elements and components such as external music players, armrests for the front and rear seats, storage boxes, shelves and holders of all sorts.

The British firm did not disclose any technical details about the concept other than the fact that it is equipped with the company's so-called "ALL4" all-wheel drive system.