Mini Countryman E: The electric Mini in the SUV mid-size class
In addition to the new electric Mini Cooper, the BMW brand has also unveiled the new generation of its Countryman SUV model in the run-up to the IAA. The Countryman, which will be built in Leipzig, will also arrive in two all-electric variants. Data and prices were revealed ahead of the world premiere.
Unlike the Cooper built in China, the Countryman will be built by BMW itself in Leipzig. Since it shares the platform with the BMW X1 (including iX1) from the Regensburg plant, some details were already known before the world premiere. And Mini itself had already announced that the electric Countryman would also only be available with pure front-wheel drive – the iX1 is currently only available as a four-wheel drive vehicle.
The front-wheel drive model is simply called the Mini Countryman E. This variant has 150 kW of power, 250 Nm of torque and 8.6 seconds to reach 100 km/h. This variant has an output of 150 kW, 250 Nm of torque and a sprint to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds. The all-wheel drive Countryman SE ALL4 is based on the BMW iX1 xDrive30: Here, 230 kW are available, and with 494 Nm of torque it reaches triple-digit speed ranges in 5.6 seconds. While the front-wheel-drive model achieves 462 kilometres with one battery charge according to WLTP, the all-wheel-drive model achieves 433 kilometres. In both cases, a 66.5 kWh battery is installed.
Unlike the Mini Cooper, the new electric Countryman can be charged with up to 22 kW AC. Fast charging at a DC pillar is possible with a peak of up to 130 kW; here, too, Mini states “just under 30 minutes” for the standard charging process from ten to 80 per cent. Battery preconditioning via the navigation system is also installed in the Countryman, and the model also has Plug&Charge functionality.
The new Countryman also features the 240-millimetre round instrument cluster, voice assistants and Operating System 9. In addition, Mini highlights the Countryman as the “largest and most spacious Mini model”, whose interior can be adapted to the respective needs with a “high degree of adaptability”.
However, the space and performance come at a price: In Germany, the Countryman E starts at 43,500 euros, and for the all-wheel drive model 6,000 euros more are due, meaning at least 49,500 euros. However, it is unclear whether the Countryman SE ALL4 will also come with more extensive standard equipment. What is clear, however, is that at just under 50,000 euros, the 4.43-metre-long E-SUV is in a competitive market where there are already much larger models for these prices.
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