Report: MINI Crossover to Get Countryman Badge

[Administrator]

Recent patent filings from BMW may have uncovered the name of the upcoming crossover belonging to the German automaker's MINI brand. Speculation previously had the model named the Crossman, a clever play on the fact that it's a crossover and that the latest MINI model is called the Clubman. The name BMW has registered for, however, is the Countryman.

Little is known about the Countryman, although it has been spied several times testing in both Europe and California, where two different models were spotted driving together in the desert. Due to the different front-ends on both of the tiny SUVs, it's likely one was sporting a turbocharged motor, in keeping with the MINI product line of offering a base "Cooper" model and then a more powerful "S" model.

Whether MINI will risk selling a high-performance John Cooper works version of the Countryman remains to be seen.

The MINI Countryman is expected to debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show this September.

More: Report: MINI Crossover to Get Countryman Badge on AutoGuide.com

[Paul]

They do plan a two wheel drive, a four wheel drive, and a JCW version of the car. In fact it's strongly suggested that one of the cars in the photos shown of test mules snapped in California is a JCW version (additional intakes in the lower grille section and so on).

BMW/MINI also said on the record some time ago they did NOT intend to use the Crossman name, but that was largely overlooked.

[Mythosian]

Do you know if any MINI2 member will be at the Frankfurt show to snap tons of pictures of all of the new MINIs shown?
I already have my deposit down for a Countryman and want to see the production version to help me decide whether to get it or a new Cooper S.

[Paul]

I will be there, writing coverage for theSwitchback - MINI news and reviews from the UK but the Crossover will not. Just the Coupe and Roadster (and MINI One D) will be making their official public debuts. The Crossover is due to appear at Geneva next year now. Where I also plan to be.