MINI Announces Prices for Countryman Crossover, Starts from €20,200 in Germany

The first ever crossover model from the MINI brand, the all-new Countryman, will go on sale in Germany in September with prices ranging from €20,200 for the entry-level FWD One to €27,900 for the range-topping Cooper S model with all-wheel drive, the company announced today.

That comes to around US$27,800 -$38,300 at today's exchange rates, but keep in mind that German-market prices cannot be used to calculate or compare prices in other countries for a number of reasons, one being that they include 19% tax.

For example, a BMW M3 Coupe costs €68,350 or US$93,900 in Germany, but "only" US$60,575 or €44,100 (negotiable MSRP including destination & handling fees, and gas guzzler tax) in the States...

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BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroen Sign Agreement to Develop New 4-Cylinder Gasoline Engine

The BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën have signed a new agreement that will see the two companies developing the next generation of their jointly designed 4-cylinder petrol engine that will meet EU 6 requirements. The agreement was signed by Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, and Philippe Varin, Chairman of the Managing Board of PSA Peugeot Citroën, in Paris on Tuesday.

The current generation of the four-cylinder engine is being used in both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged forms on a bevy of MINI, Peugeot and Citroën brand models.

"We have always been very successful in our cooperation with our partners, and that is particularly true with regard to PSA. We are delighted to continue our engine cooperation and look into options for further collaboration," said BMW Group's Reithofer.

On the behalf of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the group's Chairman of the Managing Board Varin said: "This new agreement with BMW is confirming the success of the cooperation between our two companies which has produced 1.3 million engines since 2006. I am confident that the next generation of jointly developed engines will reach the same success as the current generation."

The two firms added that they also agreed to examine other possible areas for cooperation at systems and component level, with the aim of leveraging synergies in the development, production and procurement of selected parts.

R56 MINI Cooper S Superchiped to 195HP

UK-based ECU specialist Superchips has presented a new upgrade for the R56 MINI Cooper S. The British firm's remapped engine control unit is said to optimize the 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbocharged engine's timing, fueling and turbo boost parameters.

The result is an increases of 20bhp and 26Nm for a total of output of 196bhp and 282Nm (206lb.ft,) with over 250Nm (183lb.ft) available from 2500rpm to 5250rpm.

Superchip said that the ECU upgrade is suitable for all MY2006 onwards R56 MINI Cooper S models, with pricing in the UK set at £445.00 including VAT (17.5%).

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.

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.