According to reports, it will be Mini’s most powerful vehicle.
It is not secret that Mini has been working on a new generation Countryman. The platform will be shared with the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, and the next-gen X1. All three will be made on the same production lines in Leipzig. We have already tested prototypes on public roads , and a new report suggests that the most powerful version of the model will be a plug in hybrid.
Autocar reports that the Countryman PHEV will launch as Mini’s most powerful production vehicle in history. It is even more powerful than Mini JCW GP hot-hatch. An electric powertrain that combines a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor will produce a total output of 322 horsepower (237 Kilowatts). Standard will be all-wheel drive. According to the report, a 14.2-kWh battery pack can provide power for up to 55 miles (88 km) of pure electric range. The Countryman Cooper S E All4 has 220 horsepower (160 kW) and can travel 35 miles (57km) on one charge. We don’t yet know if this new hybrid will be given the JCW badge. However, Mini has indicated that they plan to use the suffix for electrified models in future. A side note: The new PHEV’s battery can be fully charged in 2.5 hours using a 7.4 kW charger.
According to reports, the Countryman’s engine lineup will also include a less powerful version the same plug-in powertrain that produces 241 horsepower (177 kW). The development of a 1.5- and 2.0-liter turbo-gas engines is also underway, as well as a 2.0-liter diesel. A 48-volt mild hybrid technology will support the gasoline options. A fully-electric version with an all-wheel drive will be added to the lineup later. With the new FAAR architecture, an evolution from the UKL front wheel-drive platform, and the anticipated larger dimensions, the compartments for passengers and cargo will be bigger. Autocar says the new Countryman will be in the Toyota RAV4 segment and Nissan Qashqai segment, rather than the Toyota CH-R or Nissan Juke segments.