Mini Could Launch Not-So-Mini SUV Positioned Above Countryman
The brand's lead designer thinks it could work.
by Chris BruceMini allegedly is contemplating introducing an even larger crossover that would sit above the Countryman. Oliver Heilmer, the brand's lead designer, appears to be pushing for an even bigger Mini.
"The Countryman works pretty well in terms of size but in other markets [such as] China and the US, the expectation is different, they could imagine having something bigger," Heilmer told Auto Express. "In short, there is no limitation for us. But it has to stay and feel like a Mini, but not the size necessarily."
Gallery: 2021 Mini Countryman
In Heilmer's view, fitting into the Mini brand has more to do with space efficiency that overall size.
Mini recently unveiled the refreshed 2021 Countryman, but the changes were hardly monumental. The crossover now comes standard with LED headlights, and there's a different design for the interior of the grille. The taillights gain the Union Jack design from the Hardtop. Inside, there's a new 5.0-inch digital instrument display. There's a new Cooper SE Countryman plug-in hybrid with 17 miles of purely electric range. Otherwise, the powertrains carry over from before.
If you're looking for completely new Mini products, then prepare to wait a while. Earlier this year, a Mini spokesperson Maximilian Schoeberl said the company decided to extend the lifespan of its models beyond the normal six-year average. The move came as a result of Brexit and BMW's desire to cut €12 billion in costs by the end of 2022.
The Mini brand is facing declining sales in the United States. For 2019, the company's deliveries fell 17.4 percent to 36,092 vehicles. The first quarter of 2020 was even worse with a 35.1 percent drop in volume at 5,237 units.
Source: Auto Express