News Source: topspeed.com

Launched in 2010, the Countryman  is one of the newest additions to the New Mini family. Based on the Crossover Concept,  the company’s first mini SUV  debuted at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show  with a range of four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines, a six-speed manual, and a six-speed automatic transmission. An all-wheel-drive model was added for the 2014 model year, a year before the Countryman received its mid-cycle refresh.

Longer, wider and taller than any other Mini, the Countryman is currently being built alongside the Paceman  by Magna Steyr in Austria. With the facelifted version of the current model having arrived in dealerships for the 2015 model year, the Brits are already working on the next-generation Countryman, reportedly due in the second half of 2016.

The new Countryman has been spotted testing in Germany as early as September of 2014, but the thick camouflage and the pre-production components offered very little hints as to what will change. Come 2016 and the test vehicles are closer to their production forms, meaning there are more details to run by. Having just received a new set of spy shots, we decided to have a closer look at the upcoming Countryman. Keep reading to find out more and stay tuned for updates.

Updated 01/26/2016: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming Countryman out for a new testing session.

Now that the production headlamps and taillights are finally in place, it’s obvious that the next-generation Mini  will have an evolutionary design. This doesn’t come as a surprise, as the British brand wants to keep every vehicle in its lineup recognizable as a Mini. However, while the design is still based on the same styling language introduced in 2000, when BMW  revamped the Mini hatch, the second-generation Countryman seems bigger than its predecessor, having a longer wheelbase and longer rear section.

The crossover is also wider, and although we have no actual specs to compare, we expect the new Countryman to be significantly larger. For instance, the second-gen Clubman is 12.4 inches longer and 4.6 inches wider than its forerunner and it’s safe to assume that the crossover will grow in size accordingly.

As far as design changes go, look for new headlamps, a slightly bigger front grille, larger taillights, and a redesigned front and rear bumper. In many ways, the upcoming Countryman will share many of its exterior features with the Clubman, except for the rear section, taller ride height, beefier wheel arch cladding, and the more rugged side skirts.

Even though our paparazzi didn’t manage to take shots of the interior, the Countryman’s new cabin isn’t much of a mystery. Most likely, the crossover will benefit from the same changes we’ve seen in the Clubman, including rectangular A/C vents instead of the familiar round ones, a center stack that’s no longer integrated into the dashboard, and a new center console that’s wider and higher compared to the previous model. The door panels should also get larger storage compartments.

Despite the changes, the Countryman will remain recognizable as a Mini and will continue to use the steering wheel, instrument panel, and round infotainment screen from its smaller, Cooper Hatch sibling.

More importantly, the Countryman’s increased size will allow it to offer enhanced shoulder and legroom, as well as significantly more storage room. Judging by the longer rear section, the second-gen model should provide significantly more than the 17.5 cubic feet of trunk space that comes with the current model. Also, cargo room with the rear seats folded flat should grow from the current 42.2 cubic feet to at least 47 cubic feet.

The second-generation Countryman will switch to Mini’s new UKL platform, which underpins the rest of the Cooper lineup as well as well as front-wheel drive BMWs such as the 2 Series Active Tourer  and the X1. 

The new architecture will also bring new engines to the crossover. In the U.S., the base model will probably use a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder rated at 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, while those looking for more output will be able to order the optional 2.0-liter four-banger with 189 horses and 207 pound-feet. Transmission choices will include a six-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic, while an electronically-controlled four-wheel drive system will be offered as an option.

The new MINI Countryman is based on the same new platform as the BMW X1 so this time MINI is trying to make the Countryman more of an SUV instead of a city car like todays version. FWD will be standard with AWD as an option. The Countryman will be available with a wide range of engines, both petrol and diesel.

The new Countryman lineup will also include a top-of-the-line John Cooper Works model with a 228-horsepower, 236-pound-feet engine under the hood.

A hybrid version bringing together the 1.5-liter three-pot and an electric motor is also rumored. The combo should deliver more than 200 horsepower and provide the most fuel efficient Countryman yet. With the current Countryman priced from $22,750, it’s safe to assume that the second-generation model will retail from around $24,000. The crossover is expected to break cover at the 2016 Paris Motor Show and hit U.S. dealerships for the 2017 model year. As the first Mini-badged crossover, the Countryman helped the British brand expand into a new niche and brought a completely new product to the market. Compact, versatile, and capable thanks to its powerful engines and all-wheel drive, the Countryman also offered Mini customers a massive array of customization options, a feature Fiat can’t deliver for the 500L. Although significantly more expensive than its direct competitor, the Countryman does come with a reasonable price tag for a crossover as long as you don’t go overboard with the options. With the second-gen model set to become larger, more powerful, and more efficient, the Countryman will likely become even more popular with drivers in need of a stylish, customizable hauler that’s compact and fun to drive.