Mini Countryman

Mini's new Countryman 'crossover', the first model in the range to measure more than four-meters in length, was an expected debut in Geneva, and its been a theme that BMW has been toying with for years with numerous concepts revealed from Geneva to Detroit. Described as a 'vehicle to meet the challenges of urban mobility', it's the fourth model to be released in the BMW era, and the first to have the option of four-wheel drive.

The Mini design team has striven to maintain the classic Mini design proportions, while applying them to a much bigger and taller car. So there's a similarly prominent grille, but it's larger and naturally, set higher. In fact, the front of the car is very tall and the hood flat, giving the Countryman a solid, chunky image in the metal. Larger, more masculine headlamps give the vehicle a slightly less 'cute' visage than the regular car.

Inside, the Countryman features the expected Mini themes of the big central speedometer and large circular air vents. Buyers can opt for either two individual rear seats - that move independently fore and aft - or for a solid rear bench that turns the car into a five-seater. Spanning the length of the cabin - if it's in four-seat configuration - is what Mini calls the 'center rail', consisting of two alloy bars to which can be attached a range of interior storage solutions. These can be moved around depending on the wishes of the occupants.

With the increase of small crossover SUV's coming to market, this was a natural progression for the brand with the 'Countryman' name in its lineage. And for the moment, the new Countryman and Juke crossovers are the sole offerings in this more compact segment.