2011 Mini Cooper Countryman Preview

A MINI Cooper SUV may seem like nothing more than an oxymoron, but as of January 2011, it will become a reality. The MINI Cooper Countryman is MINI’s first crossover utility vehicle, intended to attract upscale customers who appreciate the signature MINI look but need more practicality. The 2011 MINI Cooper Countryman can seat up to five and offers plenty of cargo capacity. Although a bit pricey for its size, the Countryman does offer a plethora of high-tech features typically only found in high-end luxury vehicles. Read on for our preliminary auto review of the 2011 MINI Cooper Countryman crossover.

Specifications

Here is the information MINI has released on the 2011 Countryman’s specs thus far:

• Pricing: $30,000 - $40,000 MSRP; no invoice data available
• Fuel economy: estimated city/highway car ratings of 28/37 mpg for base model and 26/34 mpg for S model
• Engine: front-wheel or all-wheel drive 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine producing 120 horsepower; turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower on S model
• Drivetrain: six-speed manual transmission comes standard; six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters optional
• Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds with the Cooper S Countryman and 10.5 seconds with the base model
• Car safety features: anti-lock brakes, stability control, side airbags, head airbags, and traction control
• Suspension: Cooper S Countryman has front strut/rear multilink suspension
• Warranty: four-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranty, 12-year/unlimited mileage rust protection, and four years or 500,000 miles of 24/7 roadside assistance

Exterior Features

As you can see in photos, the 2011 MINI Countryman looks exactly like what it is—a tiny SUV. MINI has taken its basic Cooper shape and added more overhang in the front and rear and stretched the wheelbase. The Countryman’s wheelbase is five inches longer than the traditional MINI Cooper hatchback. A factory roof rack is optional, and buyers have their choice of three roof colors: white, black, and body-colored. The 2011 Countryman is already fairly low to the ground, but MINI will also offer a sports suspension that lowers its stance by an additional 0.4 inches. MINI will offer the Countryman in the base Cooper trim and the faster Cooper S trim.

Interior Features

The 2011 Countryman seats five as long as buyers order the three-place bench seat at no additional cost. Otherwise, the backseat consists of two bucket seats. Both the bench and bucket seats slide fore and aft and recline. With the seats upright, the MINI Cooper Countryman offers 15.4 cubic feet of space, which is adequate but not abundant. However, with the rear seats folded down, drivers will get a whopping 41 cubic feet of cargo space. MINI also promises state-of-the-art technology in the cabin of the 2011 Countryman, including iPhone and smartphone integration.

Performance

Car reviews will undoubtedly call the MINI Cooper Countryman’s base engine inadequate, although no official road test has been conducted yet. The base 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine puts out only 120 horsepower and takes an agonizing 10.5 seconds to make it to 60 mph. Handling and acceleration will undoubtedly be superior in the turbocharged version of the four-cylinder with a more respectable 184 horsepower. The sport-tuned suspension option should offer a fun ride and responsive driving dynamics. No information is available yet on the braking capabilities of the 2011 MINI Cooper Countryman.

credit to :

http://www.automobile.com/2011-mini-cooper-countryman-review.html