MINI Cooper is introducing an SUV: the Mini Countryman. This is the first four-door Mini, and it’s meant to appeal to closet SUV fans who don’t want to be painted with the Escalade/Hummer brush. The MINI Countryman will be available in in the US in January 2011.

The MINI Cooper SUV will be available with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, as well as an optional sport suspension. The cargo area will have 12.2 cubic feet of storage capacity, 41 cubic feet if the back seats are folded down. It will come with either six-speed manual transmission or tiptronic automatic transmission: I don’t think I’ve ever seen astick-shift SUV before.

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I was confused at first...

Thought this was something different. It almost looked like an Infiniti FX. But, nope. Still the same Countryman.

Our dealer is saying maybe December of this year.

 

One of the things I was most excited about this was the fact it will be the first MINI to seat five, but recently read that the US won't be getting the 3 place rear bench seat? Has anyone else heard this? Granted, I won't be sitting back there, but it'd fit my three kids just fine.

 

Yes its the Countryman.

Do you think they will make a Infinit FX version

Are you going to get one???

I look forward to seeing how people will find the car once its released.

 

i wan ot test drive it

 

That is correct... the US won't get the bench seat as it doesn't meet side impact (IIRC) safety standards.

I say there's nothing stopping you from ordering one and installing it, though. Likely have to order some other bits to do so (seatbelt, parts to shorten the center rail, etc).