The new generation Mini Countryman, the largest Mini model, is in its final testing phase. The start of production at the BMW Group Plant Leipzig in November 2023 will be the first time a Mini is produced in Germany.

With five doors and a variable-use interior, the largest model in the new Mini family of vehicles is leading the brand into an era of locally emission-free electromobility. With its optional all-wheel drive, the allrounder can also ensure driving pleasure off the beaten track.

The first generation of the Countryman was already a success for Mini. In 2010, it expanded the model family to include a compact SUV vehicle with all-wheel drive, five doors, and, for the first time in a Mini model, over four meters in length.

In 2017, the second generation featured the Mini Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 as the first plug-in hybrid Mini model offering an additional 65 kW/88 hp electric motor on the rear axle.

Fully electric

The new generation of the largest Mini model is now fully electric and locally emission-free. The Mini Countryman E delivers 140 kW/191 hp, whereas the Countryman SE ALL4 is the brand’s first all-wheel-drive fully-electric vehicle. Two highly integrated drive units on the front and rear axle generate an output of 230 kW/313 hp, including a temporary boost.

The battery capacity is 64,7 kWh. With an estimated range of around 450 kilometers, the Countryman E feels just as comfortable in city centers as on longer distances across the countryside. With the all-electric Countryman, Mini further expands the proportion of electrified models. Today, every fifth Mini is already electric.

With its length increased by 13 centimeters to 4,43 m, the newcomer offers more space and seat comfort. The height grew by almost 6 centimeters to 1,61 m, offering more headroom.

Sustainable production

The new Countryman combines locally emission-free electromobility with the greatest possible environmental compatibility in production as well. This includes dispensing with all decorative elements in the exterior and interior and manufacturing the cast light-alloy wheels from up to 70% secondary aluminum.

In combination with the use of green electricity in production, CO2 emissions can be significantly reduced compared with conventional manufacturing processes.

The surfaces of the dashboards, steering wheel, vehicle headliner and floor, and floor mats are made of recycled polyester obtained from PET bottles and carpet remnants. BMW wants this alternative to be high-quality, colorful, and comfortable; it reduces CO2 emissions along the value chain by up to 85% and emphasizes the focus on minimizing the ecological footprint of the next Mini model generation.

The long-term sustainable strategy for energy generation and consumption of the BMW Group’s ‘green plant’ at the Leipzig site includes four wind turbines with a height of 190 meters on the factory premises. This could generate more than 20 GWh of electricity from wind energy per year.

In the ‘Battery Farm’, up to 700 second-life high-voltage batteries from BMW i3 vehicles are used to store energy, such as that generated by the wind turbines. By storing the energy on the premises, local energy management can be optimized, and the electrical grid kept stable.

The BMW Group is expanding on-site e-component production capacity by eight production lines by 2024 and investing more than 800 million euros in Leipzig. The decarbonization of production by replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen is the focus of what is already considered one of the most modern and sustainable automotive production facilities in the world, according to the manufacturer.