It always happens like this: when a new model comes out, the hunt starts for the one that is about to retire. A few zero kilometers here and there, a few demo cars, some leftovers on the forecourts become the most coveted objects. And every time there is a reason. An engine that no longer exists, a pleasing design, a more compact size. The latter is the motivation that is triggering the love for the Mini Countryman which is about to be replaced by the new model which has grown significantly in size: it is now close to 450 cm in length, 15 more than before. A motivation that is not only practical: now the Countryman shares the platform and much more with the BMW X1, so we are really talking about another car. Differences also strongly marked in the style, now much more squared, with almost rectangular headlights and a large octagonal grille: things that had never been seen on a Mini before.
Not just design
In reality, the love for the old Countryman is not just for the design. Yes, because despite being more compact than the new model, the Countryman has always carved out a space of its own in the Mini range, offering things that the other Minis just couldn't offer. Starting from the space which despite everything is a lot (especially for a car called Mini…): it has a boot of an impressive 450 liters which can become 1,390 litres.
Designed for travel
This means that the Mini Countryman is a car “designed” to get out of the city and embark on any type of journey. And so here are the technological choices for engines and traction: the range of engines moves upwards, towards Twin Power turbos and rechargeable Plug-in hybrids and the ALL4 electronically controlled four-wheel drive improves safety in the most difficult situations. But it is in digitalisation, connections and the hi-tech world that the Countryman made the difference in its time. And so it still remains a very modern machine.
Retro look
The design of the dashboard, for example, despite having a vaguely retro look (the large round central instrument is typical of the original model) now sports an 8.8″ display in the centre, the perfect position for the on-board navigation and infotainment hub, baptized “Mini Connected”. Then there's the new digital instrument cluster that replaces the conventional speedometer. It consists of a 5.0″ color screen in a black panel and provides data such as revolutions per minute, speed, fuel level, mileage, temperature and directions.
At the time, work was also done on the design to increase the hi-tech level of the machine. And this always makes it very modern. For example, the LED headlights give a touch of style but were then created to guarantee optimal lighting in weak light conditions and lateral lighting when cornering, to allow the rider to also see parts of the road that otherwise might not be visible. And then if the Countryman's front camera detects oncoming vehicles, the automatic selection function turns off the high beams to avoid disturbing other road users.
The personal assistant
The heart of the multimedia system is, in any case, the “Mini Connected”, a package of functions, apps and intelligent services that allows you and other passengers to connect to the Mini and stay connected in a safe way, and to make everyone's life easier. even simpler day. This is in fact a kind of mobile personal assistant that helps plan trips, find the car parked in a multi-storey building and remotely control some functions. Its intuitive features have been designed down to the smallest detail. The touchscreen, for example, makes driving the Mini even safer and more fun. Thanks to the Natural Language Understanding (NLU) function, the old Countryman is in fact able to recognize your voice. In this way the driver can control the car while driving using voice commands. You don't need to remember any specific commands. Additionally, when using Apple CarPlay, you can also activate Siri on your iPhone by pressing and holding the voice command button on the steering wheel.
Alexa
So Mini Connected keeps you connected and entertained throughout the journey. After connecting the smartphone to the multimedia system, in addition to making calls or listening to music, you can access numerous apps, including those developed by third parties. And, if you want, you can get help from the voice assistants Alexa and Siri during your travels. You can control some smart home functions with your voice, for example turning on the heating before returning. Or order dinner and have it delivered immediately upon arrival. But Alexa cannot control the functions of the Mini: it cannot be asked – so to speak – to open the windows or change the driving mode. An extra security system.
And then there's the Mini App for planning trips and sending destinations directly to the car. Check if you have locked the car and lock the doors even remotely. When the time comes to go to the workshop, you will receive a notification and you can book service appointments directly at your trusted Mini Service Centre. Does it look like an old car to you?
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