The Fabulous people at MINI launched the new CountryMan this past week, and in true MINI style it was 3 days of driving and fun.
Straight off our flight from Joburg we were treated to a fabulous overnight stay at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Umhlanga, where a press conference was held and BMW South Africa's Group Automotive Communications manager Edward Makwana took us through all the bells and whistles the new CountryMan had to offer.
I've been super excited about this launch because if you know me you know how quickly I'll take an opportunity to explore South Africa and this new beauty is my new bestie! Not just a beauty but a beast as well. The 2017 MINI Countryman delivers crossover functionality in a compact size, useful for the day to day drives - well shoots for me, nights out with ladies and well the Mr and my absolute fave road trips and my daily lunch shopping runs.
Inside the car the infotainment system features of the Wired package including MINI navigation system comprises not just the Touch Controller on the centre console but also an 8.8-inch colour screen in the central instrument with a new graphic design. It is also a touchscreen, allowing functions to be selected and adjusted at the tip of the finger, it goes beyond simple smartphone tethering for music and hands-free calls it almost feels like MINI has given me my own virtual personal assistant and I loooooooove it. It's so easy to use, simply download the App on your smartphone available for Android and Apple, next sync the app and the system informs the driver of the optimum departure time based on calendar entries and current traffic data, for example. Regularly visited places can be saved to the sat nav system automatically and frequent routes are stored so the car can inform of any traffic delays, a must-have for Joburg traffic!
As an alternative to the standard 6-speed manual transmission, a 6-speed Steptronic transmission is also offered for the new MINI Cooper Countryman. An 8-speed Steptronic transmission is available for the new MINI Cooper S Countryman.
Although it doesn’t look that much larger on the outside, you’re immediately aware of the more spacious interior the moment you slide behind the wheel. There’s now genuine room in the rear seat for two adults and more space for their luggage, too. Also noticeable is the improvement in material quality throughout the interior. Though the interior design is still playfully Mini, it looks and feels more upscale.
The optional systems include: standard collision warning with city braking function, a camera-based active cruise control, pedestrian warning with initial brake function, high beam assistant and road sign detection. In addition to this, Park Distance Control, rear view camera, Parking Assistant and Head-Up-Display are also optionally available.
Market launch with three engines.
The new edition of the MINI Countryman lines up for the start featuring entirely newly developed engine technology. For the market launch there are two petrol and one diesel engines of the latest generation available to choose from, each with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology:
MINI Cooper Countryman: 3-cylinder petrol engine, capacity: 1 499 cc,
output: 100 kW, max. torque: 220 Nm.
MINI Cooper S Countryman: 4-cylinder petrol engine, capacity: 1 998 cc, output: 141 kW, max. torque: 280 Nm.
MINI Cooper D Countryman: 4-cylinder diesel engine, capacity: 1 995 cc, output: 110 kW, max. torque: 330 Nm. *available in the third quarter of 2017.
As an alternative to the standard 6-speed manual transmission, a 6-speed Steptronic transmission is also offered for the new MINI Cooper Countryman. An 8-speed Steptronic transmission is available for the new MINI Cooper S Countryman.
what are your thoughts on this Beauty?
xxx
Missposhglam
Photography : Mpumi Ngwenya and Ark of Noah Photography