The second-generation Mini Countryman will be available with a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain.
Powering the model will be the 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder produced by BMW driving the front wheels and working in conjunction with an electric motor powering the rear axle. This same setup is found beneath the skin of the BMW 225xe Plug-in Hybrid where it delivers a combined 221 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque. If reports are correct, nearly identical figures can be expected for the Countryman hybrid.
Under ideal driving conditions, it is thought that the hybrid Mini will offer an all-electric range in excess of 25 miles thanks to the 7.6 kWh lithium-ion battery found under the rear seats. Power will be sent to the ground via a six-speed automatic transmission.
According to Mini senior vice president Sebastian Mackensen, the hybrid Countryman won’t just be efficient but will also be fun to drive.
“In a hybrid Mini, driving electrically must also be an exhilarating experience. This means that entirely electric driving is not limited to speeds of 30 or 40km/h (19 or 25mph), but to speeds well beyond city traffic pace,” he said.
Helping to achieve similar driving dynamics to the standard car will be the hybrid model’s use of the same chassis and suspension system of the conventionally-powered second-gen Countryman models.
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