Here's to hoping the 5 bolt pattern is the same as the BMWs... then the 135i's 6 piston brakes, wheels and tires are all possible! hello JCW Countryman with huge front brakes, awd and staggered BMW setup... that'd be fun to see

It's possible

Staggered setup only OK with all 4 model not for front wheel drive versions

might depend on how much clearance there is and on what size wheels might work.

Figure stock sized front wheel and slightly wider rear maybe 1/2 to 1" more if there is enough offset to make it work. Likely 18" wheels would be OK and not too heavy vs 17" which is stock.

i'm just more interested in the fact that supposedly the AWD system in the Countryman is 50/50 most the time and then goes 0/100 when it's accelerating! if that's true, then it's basically like HELLO RWD MINI! and you know someone is going to make that happen, take out the clutch diff in the middle and just make it RWD only, at that point a staggered setup could be great! add in all the bolt on glory for the engine already and ECU tuning, and a Golf R killer could be on our hands relatively easily!

only issue would be what's the PRICE of the MINI vs the Golf R... i mean those things are DAMN well sorted cars, but the mini in theory should be superior in suspension setup... so if that fight ever comes to be, it could be a close one. but i still say if MINIs offical numbers are correct than the Countryman ALL4 S/JCW could be one hell of a contender! weighs the same as a GTI basically but with AWD, has more power output out of hte box, taller (unfortunately) but the suspension package they're offering should fix that... and although i honestly didn't like the idea at first cuz of the weight difference, the concept of the Countryman has really taken my eye (especially if they make a real beachcomber...)

but back to topic... if the ALL4 S really is based on a RWD AWD system (meaning the AWD system is extended from a RWD one rather than say the old Golf R34 and older Audis which were FWD based) than this MINI should be a different beast all together in corners, potentially and hopefully in a better way. not that anything's wrong with FWD based AWD systems, i just love Rear wheel biased AWD systems cuz they usually allow for a little more tail out action and slightly less understeer near the limit, and hopefully more neutral balance.

(and here's hoping they add the Rally version of the countryman to Forza3!!!!!!)

^^^I agree with you, but this wait is killing me. I put away 40k after selling off my gti & saving. I'm torn between a countryman all4 with jcw goodies or the redesigned jcw hardtop? Both would suite my needs, but until the configuator is up and running, I'm in the dark & my local mini dealer really has no clue. Test drives would seal the deal as well.

I'd say go all4 with jcw goodies! Apparently the suspension package will lower the countryman a great deal, add that to the extreme tuning potential of the new double vanos engine and you'd have a winning combo on your hands if u ask me.

Thats what I'm thinking after testing the limits of fwd with my vw.

From what I read, it will be 100/0 and can go 50/50 when needed. So FWD based.

Yeah I just read that as well... Primary reports I read said red based but after seeing the press release the awd countryman is more of a safety feature than a performance enhancer

I read way back when the Countryman was announced that the bolt pattern will not be the same as the BMW. Sorry to bring you bad news.

Google translate. Up to the first back slash.....

Failed to read the article, the article may have been deleted out. File Path: D:

I think your meant to read the article at the link, but it may be gone.

Of course it is SPAM.