There's a new MINI Countryman

MINI will reveal an updated Countryman at this week’s New York Auto Show with an improved range of EU6 compliant engines and reduced CO2 consumption all round. There’s even a little more power, for the Cooper S at least, which now comes with 187 bhp – up 6 bhp on the current model.

And before you ask, No, its not fitted with the latest four and three-cylinder engines recently launched in the new MINI Hatch, that would take more than a subtle mid-life refresh to engineer and will have to wait for a next gen car – assuming MINI choose to continue with the Countryman once the much larger Clubman arrives.

Other changes include a newly designed hexagonal radiator grill, subdivided by two ribs in either high-gloss black or matt silver. There’s an increased emphasis placed on the sportier models, with a red curved “S” on the front for the Cooper S and Cooper SD, while the John Cooper Works features a red radiator grille rib supplemented with the John Cooper Works logo.

There are three new colours available – Jungle Green (as in these pictures), Midnight Grey and Starlight Blue – and an optional Piano Black Exterior trim which replaces the standard chrome finish.

There are more shiny new features in the form of LED fog lights with LED daytime running lights, with are both brighter and use much less energy than before. The daytime running light is formed by a luminous ring of 15 LED units, which reduce to just five units when the parking lights are switched on.

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The Cooper and Cooper D Countryman are now available with 16-inch ‘Air Spoke’ wheels as standard, while 17-inch ‘Triangle Spoke’ wheels can be chosen for the Cooper S and Cooper SD – both save weight over their predecessors.

The displays and controls inside the new Countryman have been redesigned, with anthracite-coloured dials for the tachometer and speedometer for all models rather than just the John Cooper Works variant.

Performance of most petrol variants (except the One) improve marginally, with 0-62 mph reduced by 0.1 seconds, while CO2 emissions of the Cooper S Countryman drops by three per cent to 139 grams per kilometre, with a subsequent improvement in fuel economy from 46.3 to 47.1 mpg.

Other notable changes include the availability of all-wheel-drive on the Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper D and Cooper SD Countryman, while the optional six-speed auto is now available on all models.

New engine mapping combined with the Sport Button results in changes to the shift points when engaged. This also triggers a more sporty engine sound in the Cooper S Countryman.

The new MINI Countryman is available to order during the next few weeks and will be priced from £16,990, just £370 more than the outgoing version.