[ad_1]
Immediately after the prototype sighting for the new Mini Aceman crossover, we now have new spy shots and video of the Countryman the brand’s next premium small car.
The redesigned Countryman will be here first. It will be revealed later this year and is expected to arrive as a 2024 model. Aceman (the name Paceman is also rumored) will arrive about a year later.
The Countryman prototype in our latest spy footage is for the performance-oriented model, as evidenced by the large wheel and brake package and quad exhaust tips. We’re likely looking at the Cooper S class, as the more powerful John Cooper Works class isn’t traditionally available at launch.
We can see that the redesigned Countryman will be longer than the current generation. The extra length is mostly in the wheelbase, which should result in more cabin space. A quick glance at the dashboard shows what looks like a head-up display unit in front of the driver or maybe just a screen.
The redesigned Countryman is bigger to increase the vehicle’s appeal in more markets, particularly the US. This is also to pave the way for the smaller Aceman, a concept that was shown in July. The Aceman will be a special electric vehicle developed by Spotlight Automotive, a Chinese joint venture between Mini and Great Wall Motors founded in 2019.
Mini is developing a redesigned Countryman on the BMW Group’s FAAR platform for front-wheel drive cars. It will be a close cousin of the redesigned 2023 BMW X1, and the two vehicles will share a production line at a factory in Leipzig, Germany, making it the first Mini built in Germany. The current Countryman has been produced since 2016 at a factory in the Netherlands operated by independent vehicle manufacturer VDL Nedcar.
Mini Countryman 2024 spy shots – Photo credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
Mini has confirmed it will offer an electric version of the new Countryman. There will still be a gas-powered version, as well as a plug-in hybrid. Expect the base Cooper to continue with the 1.5 liter turbo-3. A 2.0-liter turbo-4 should feature in the Cooper S and possibly the John Cooper Works model, though we know Mini is already working on a high-performance electric powertrain for future JCW models. Take note, this will be the last generation of Countryman with internal combustion power. Mini has confirmed it will only introduce electric vehicles from 2025.
In addition to the new Countryman and Aceman crossovers, Mini is also working on a redesign for its signature hatch, which will be called Cooper instead of keeping its current Hardtop name.
[ad_2]
Source link
