The Mini Countryman could soon gain a special off-road-focused variant and give customers of the brand another new exciting model to choose from. A rugged Countryman could also help the brand celebrate its history of rally racing, although it’s unclear how far Mini is willing to go.
During the recent Mini Takes the States rally for owners across the United States, Mini of the Americas vice president Michael Peyton was asked why Mini hasn’t offered its customers a rugged version of one of its vehicles.
Read: 2025 Mini Countryman Kicks Off From $38,900 In The U.S. With 241 HP S ALL4
“You might see an off-road Countryman soon,” he responded to CarBuzz. Peyton failed to provide any more details about this potential new model, and it’s unclear whether it could be a production car or presented as a concept.
The closest Mini has come to offering an off-road-focused Countryman was the special ‘Powered by X-raid’ model launched in late 2020. Mini’s partnership with X-raid in the Dakar Rally expanded to the road-going Countryman, making it a little more rugged and capable.
The special Countryman featured a revised suspension with an increased ride height of 40 mm (1.6 inches), drastically improving its approach and departure angles. X-raid also installed new wheels clad in Cooper Discoverer AT3 tires and added bright orange decals. No changes were made to the engine, meaning the 2.0-liter turbocharged unit still made 189 hp and 207 lb-ft (281 Nm) of torque.
The current version of the Countryman is available in ICE and all-electric guises. Those interested in a combustion model can choose between the standard Countryman S with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 241 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm), or the John Cooper Works version with the 2.0-liter offering 312 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm). A rugged version of either of these models could prove popular among enthusiasts Mini buyers.
