The new Mini Countryman will be the first Mini model produced entirely in Germany after the automaker moved production away from the UK due to Brexit. The new model will roll off the same production line as the BMW 1-Series, 2-Series Gran Coupe, and 2-Series Active Tourer at the end of this year. BMW has not released many details about the new model, but it has said that the all-electric version of the hatchback will feature a high-voltage battery and a flat floor, providing additional space and comfort.
While BMW has been secretive about the new Mini Countryman, dozens of prototype images have been released. The all-electric version of the hatchback is bathed in yellow and black camouflage, similar to the prototypes recently uncovered by spy photographers.
Styling differences between the electric and combustion-powered Countryman will be minimal, with the EV receiving a unique set of wheels and a simplified front fascia with fewer cooling ducts and openings. The lack of tailpipes will also give away the hatch’s identity as an EV.
The new Mini Countryman will roll off the production line in Leipzig from the end of this year.
According to rumors, the new Mini Countryman EV will receive the same powertrain as the BMW iX1, which means it will have a 64.7 kWh battery pack that works alongside a pair of electric motors to deliver 308 hp.
BMW notes that the high-voltage batteries powering the Countryman will be produced at the same Leipzig factory as the car itself. The automaker is investing over €800 million ($847 million) to expand e-component production at the site.
“We are delighted to be able to hand over the first MINI ‘Made in Germany’ to our customers in a CO2-neutral manner thanks to the plant’s sustainable energy supply,” said head of Mini, Stefanie Wurst. “In this way, the new all-electric MINI Countryman demonstrates what the brand stands for: electrified go-kart feeling and a strong focus on a minimal environmental footprint.”
Source: Mini
