Mini Countryman could be getting an off-road model
- The Mini Countryman could be getting an off-road-focused model
- Michael Peyton, Vice President of Mini of the Americas, said there could be a more rugged Countryman coming ‘soon’
- It would be a first of its kind for the carmaker
Published on Jul 19, 2024 at 9:04 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jul 19, 2024 at 4:08 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The Mini Countryman could be getting an off-road-focused model in the future – a first for the car.
As it stands, Mini offers numerous body types but – as yet – none of them are a rugged, off-road style.
However, that could all be set to change, according to Michael Peyton, Vice President of Mini of the Americas.
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A Mini Countryman off-roader could be coming ‘soon’
He recently attended the Mini Takes the States road rally, an event in which owners of the iconic cars ‘rally together on twisty back roads through multiple states on an iconic American road trip.’
While there, Peyton caught up with CarBuzz and was quizzed about the possibility of creating a more rugged vehicle and it seems it could be on the cards.
“You might see an off-road Countryman soon,” Peyton told the publication.
As far as hints go, it doesn’t get much stronger than that, does it?
It would be the first of its kind
To date, the closest we’ve come to an off-roader is the 2020 Mini Countryman Powered by X-raid.
German off-road specialist X-raid collaborated with Mini to create the car, which had a 1.6-inch lift, revised suspension, and 28-inch all-terrain tires on 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels.
And, of course, because it was a special edition, it needed to be eye-catching, so it was kitted out with ‘orange X-raid design accents’ to ensure it stood out in the crowd.
However, under the hood the Countryman’s engine remained unchanged – which could, of course, be the same for any future off-road vehicles the carmaker wanted to produce. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it, right?
While it remains to be seen when, or even if, there will be an off-road vehicle, the 2025 Countryman would provide a solid base for such a vehicle.
The newest model is all-wheel drive, as standard, and powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which produces 241 horsepower.
It’s easy to see how few minor adjustments this could be a great little off-roader.
This is definitely one to keep an eye on.
Claire Reid
Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Across her career she's covered a wide variety of topics, including celebrity, cryptocurrency, politics, true crime and just about everything in between.
