Wednesday 20th January 2010

New Mini Countryman - All The Pics

Updated: Now see the new Mini SUV from every angle

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Following some very harsh comments about the 'Magic Eye' style teaser pics of the new Mini Countryman (see original article below), this full set of images has been rushed out.

The Countryman goes on sale later this year, and is expected to cost from £17k. A four wheel drive version will be available using a variable electro-hydraulic diff that splits power 50:50 between front and rear axles in normal driving.

Engines are said to range from an 89bhp diesel in the entry model, to a 181bhp turbocharged 1.6 petrol in the 'sporty' Cooper S version.

So are these new pics good enough to crank the Countryman up a few notches on the P.H. O'Meter? Let's see...

 

Yesterday's article:

Taking inspiration either from Magic Eye books or some mind-bending drug fashionable in the 1960s, Mini has released these first official images of its new SUV due later this year.

As these 'psychadelic bumble bee' pictures reveal, the new car, expected to be called the Mini Countryman, will stick closely to the same basic lines as the Beachcomber concept from the Detroit show.

When it goes on sale in autumn, the Countryman is expected to cost around £17k and, with a length of just over four metres, the Mini SUV is slowly moving the Mini brand closer to 'full-size' motoring.

[SAndals]

If you stare for long enough at the pattern, underneath you'll see the image of a big pile of poo!

[EDLT]

It doesn't have to be any good, they'll sell millions of them anyway.

[VPower]

Cross your eyes ans it don't look half as LARDY!

[Gun]

Nasty!

[Papa Hotel]

How long before a "proper" Mini SUV is released? Ze Germans, zey do know what the word "mini" means, don't zey? For the most part, they speak better England than most Brits, how has "mini" escaped from their vocab?

fking awful thing, I hope they sell ten.

ETA: I can see how ze Germans interpret "mini" - they use it in reference to the inside space, not the external dimensions.

Edited by Papa Hotel on Tuesday 19th January 13:53

[rhinochopig]

Makes about as much sense as tits on a boar pig!

[Don]

SAndals said:

If you stare for long enough at the pattern, underneath you'll see the image of a big pile of poo!

Yep.

[edo]

EDLT said:

It doesn't have to be any good, they'll sell millions of them to Foxtons anyway.

EFA

[soad]

Bloody ugly thing

[Johnpidge]

[kambites]

Could this be a candidate for the lowest PH-o-meter score ever?

[Twincam16]

It may well be a good car, and it's great for Oxford if it sells, but when will we see the MINI range expand to include, well, a Mini?

If they were feeling lazy they could just exploit their PSA engine connections to get their mitts on a Citroen C1, and slap a Mini grille, head and taillights on it. I notice it's even got the distinctive 'pod' dashboard instruments already fitted.

The 107/Aygo/C1 is a fun little car with sharp handling and could use a tiny little more power. A Mini Cooper version would go down a treat, could even make headway in the IRC, if not some junior rally championship somewhere, and provide some competition substance to the range (JCW are doing a brilliant job, but to what end?).

They could even do another old-mini-name-plunder and call it the Mini City.

[FraserLFA]

kambites said:

Could this be a candidate for the lowest PH-o-meter score ever?

down to 1.84 and counting!

truly vile thing!

[drewcole81]

Wish they would stop making these bloody things.

[900T-R]

10/10 for the camouflage, though. Hope it'll be a no-cost option on the production version.

[Papa Hotel]

I over-rated, is there any way I amend my score?

[anniesdad]

Brilliant! Where does the queue start?



This isn't a car that the world needs...is it?

[yoshimisumi]

Another pointless tarring of the mini name.

down to 1.54 now...

[AndyBe]

What. The.

[Biker's Nemesis]

1.45