Yesterday, MINI officially confirmed that the successor for the Countryman will be launched in 2023, offered in both ICE-powered and electrified form. Today our spy photographers caught a sporty version of the SUV testing on public roads in Munich wrapped in the usual camouflage, with design features suggesting it could be the Countryman S.
The spy debut of the 2024 MINI Countryman happened last week when a lesser version of the premium compact segment was spotted in the wild, revealing a larger footprint. The rumored 200mm (7.5 inches) increase in length will result in a more spacious cabin and added practicality. The latest prototype is clearly a performance-focused variant since it gets all the fast bits and pieces.
Read Also: MINI Teases New 2023 Hatch, Confirms Next Countryman And EV Crossover
For starters, it appears to have larger intakes on the front bumper judging from the camouflage pattern. It also comes fitted with larger diameter wheels shod in a set of wider Pirelli P Zero tires. We can also see beefier brakes hiding behind the double-spoke bi-tone rims, especially at the rear axle.
Most importantly, this prototype is featuring quad exhaust pipes, which is a first for any Countryman in existence. BMW Group is one of the few remaining automakers that doesn’t use fake exhaust and this is clearly the case with the 2024 MINI Countryman S. A similar setup with quad pipes has also appeared in the 2023 BMW X1 M35i xDrive that was spied recently, although this prototype had higher ground clearance.
See Also: 2023 BMW X1 Spied From A Close Distance Showing An iX-Inspired Interior
Speaking of the BMW X1, it will be a sibling to the MINI Countryman since they will be sharing underpinnings. More specifically, the third-generation Countryman will sit on the evolved version of the FAAR platform that debuted in the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer. MINI has confirmed it will be offered with gasoline and diesel powertrains alongside an electrified variant.
The Countryman S and JCW are expected to get an improved version of the 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine combined with a sportier suspension setup and visual tweaks to differentiate them from the regular Countryman. Mind you, the current Countryman S is fitted with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 189 hp (141 kW / 192 PS), while the range-topping Countryman JCW ALL4 takes it to 301 hp (224 kW / 305 PS).
The official debut of the third-generation Countryman is expected in 2023. The model will be the first MINI to be produced in Leipzig, Germany, alongside the BMW X1 and X2 siblings.
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