World premiere scheduled for 2016 Paris Motor Show.
The 2017 Mini Countryman was spied testing in India for the first time, courtesy of Autocar India. The next generation Mini crossover will make its world debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show in October according to reports.
The next gen Mini Countryman is reported to be 150 mm longer than the outgoing model, accommodating a wheelbase that is 100 mm longer. The exterior styling will be an evolutionary upgrade from the older Countrman, featuring cues borrowed from the latest crop of Minis.
The interior too will feature retro-futuristic styling cues and premium materials from the Mini Cooper range. It will lose the large central speedometer for a conventional unit in front of the redesigned steering wheel. The 2017 Countryman will also feature the Mini Connected infotainment system, as well as new dials and controllers.
Also Read: New Mini Clubman to launch in India in late-2016 – IAB Report
The current Mini Countryman is the only product in Mini's range to be locally assembled at BMW India's factory in Chennai, so it's likely that the next gen model will follow suit. It will source the UKL front-wheel-drive platform from the BMW X1, as well as TwinPower petrol and diesel engines paired to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Like the previous model, it will also feature an AWD system with settings for mild off-roading.
[Source: Autocar India]
