The latest edition of the 2017 MINI Countryman is about to get launched and it will receive an upgraded hybrid edition real soon.
The automobile brand has confirmed that they are about to launch the second generation version of their popular crossover before the end of this month. With days to go before the official launch, the top executives of the brand hadrevealed a petrol-electric prototype model. It is not a prototype or a concept version but rather a close to production variant. Being a production version, it might undergo very little changes and is possibly the final design that we are looking at.
Hybrids are part of the lineup for almost every new car that enters the market. The 2017 MINI Countryman is no different. The company is keen on keeping things tight under the wraps. It is expected that the new model will be powered by a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo engine and will also be connected to a powerful battery. It is extremely difficult to predict the total mile range the car can offer at the moment.
MINI’s top bosses added that when the vehicle is switched to pure EV mode, it is capable of deliveringup to 78 horsepower and has long lasting electric driving. With no word on the total capacity of the battery, it is hard to predict how good the hybrid variant of the 2107 MINI Countryman could be.
When it is out, the electric motor will be connected to the rear wheels while the petrol engine will be used to power the front wheel. It is essentially a front wheel drive model and there is an option to activate an intelligent all-wheel drive mode. The chassis and the suspension system used in the 2016 model will be carried forward to the new Countryman without any major changes.
For the convenience of buyers, the car will have three different modes to choose from. The Max eDrive with maximum performance, save battery mode and an Auto eDrive which balances both battery power as well as overall performance. The modes make it easier for the car to stay as long as possible on the road without having to hit a gas station. The battery power and the petrol engine will continue to work in unison to offer the maximum possible mile range.
The 2017 MINI Countryman also retains the style and interior components from the outgoing model with a couple of new features added to the infotainment system.