Hot new Mini Countryman rivals VW T-Roc R with 296bhp

Mini is taking renewed purpose astatine the show SUV ranks with its caller and larger John Cooper Works Countryman.

Set for UK merchantability successful 2024, it receives an updated mentation of genitor institution BMW’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which sends 296bhp and 295lb ft to some axles done an eight-speed automatic.

Those figures are flimsy decreases connected its predecessor’s but identical outputs to the Cupra Ateca and Volkswagen T-Roc R, arsenic good arsenic the new BMW X2 M35i to which it is intimately related.

Mini claims a 0-62mph clip of 5.4sec – making this blistery caller petrol enactment somewhat quicker disconnected the people than the electrical Countryman – and a apical velocity of 155mph. 

To beryllium built alongside different Countryman and BMW X2 variants successful Leipzig, Germany, the latest exemplary from Mini’s show part is marked retired from its range-mates visually by a sporting-themed makeover wrong and out.

Unique touches see a revised beforehand extremity with a high-gloss attraction for the achromatic grille, John Cooper Works-specific LED headlight graphics, a deeper and much heavy structured bumper and reddish vertical elements wrong the outer aerial ducts.

The brake calipers, reflector housings, extortion and C-pillar besides travel successful JCW’s signature red. At the rear, determination are new-look airy clusters, unneurotic with a caller rear bumper that features a cardinal diffuser and a brace of circular achromatic tailpipes on either side.

The uniquely styled wheels are 19in successful diameter arsenic standard, with 20in items optional. Larger than immoderate erstwhile Mini model, the caller Countryman has grown by a important 120mm successful magnitude and 22mm successful width, astatine 4433mm and 1843mm respectively.

Despite the car’s accrued dimensions, Mini claims a class-leading resistance coefficient of 0.26. Inside, determination is simply a caller John Cooper Works steering instrumentality and sports seats, arsenic good arsenic a dashboard with a reddish and achromatic colour scheme.

The car’s caller circular touchscreen is shared with different models successful the overhauled Mini line-up.

In keeping with erstwhile John Cooper Works models, the blistery caller Countryman receives its ain uniquely tuned suspension set-up with stiffer springs and dampers successful a bid to heighten cornering effect and stableness compared with different models successful the line-up.

Like the caller Mini Cooper hatchback, the Countryman comes with a prime of ‘atmospheric’ driving modes, each with their ain characteristics, soundtracks and displays.

The marque says that successful the JCW Countryman, “the go-kart mode provides a peculiarly sporty driving experience, and you tin perceive the motor dependable with awesome strength successful the cabin”.

Prices for the blistery crossover commencement astatine £40,720, with the archetypal UK lawsuit deliveries expected aboriginal adjacent year.