It's been two years since the debut of Mini's Countryman crossover. In that time, the general public has indeed warmed to the idea of a big Mini – we grew to rather like it during our long-term test – and for 2013, a few small, thoughtful updates are on tap for the brand's range-topper.

The big change for the Countryman concerns the power window toggles, though Mini would also like you to notice the new Carbon Black ring around the center speedometer and new interior colors. Mini window controls have long resided in the center console, lost among the number of other buttons. The new Countryman breaks with that trend by moving the buttons to the door armrest, where it is located on most other passenger vehicles. We first saw this on the production Paceman that debuted in Paris earlier this year. This location also allows for a multi-button panel on the driver's side door. Previously, opening and closing all windows meant hitting each button individually.

Also of note is the removal of the two standard bucket seats in the second row, instead being replaced with a bench seat. Those who appreciate the customizable center rail in four-seat models can still select rear bucket seats, however. The 2013 Countryman is scheduled to hit European dealers sometime in November with US sales to follow shortly thereafter.

MINI press release, photo gallery and reader commentary at Autoblog...

 

I sure hope we'll be able to retrofit that center bezel.

 

As far as I was told the black interior pieces do fit the previous models. I have already asked about ordering them as well as the black line side marker lights.

 

I saw the black line trim and tail lights but not the side makers. You have a link for these ?

 

Although it's the uk site they are supposed to be coming to US as well...

http://www.minigenuineparts.co.uk/mi...2_225_568.html

 

Not happy or liking this at all... I wish I knew all of this before I placed my order... What are they going to do with brackets where the window toggles were?!?!? I HATE EMPTY TOGGLE BRACKETS!!!

I fear this is just the beginning of the BMW influence creeping into the MINI designs to try to make the brand more appealing to a wider audience. The window switches are not just moved to the doors, they're also no longer toggles... The front doors no longer have the grab bars to open and close..., They look much more bland and typical of what you would see on your average honda or Toyota sedan. It also looks like the various amterials and color differences that we have seen on MINI's for years now is getting more bland. Carbon black trim or Chrome line only? It was nice to have the matte silver around the odometer, tach, door handles, and vents... If the early spy shots of the 2014 Coopers are any indication, it's going to look much more like a 1 series and much less like a MINI... Hopefully the MINI design teams will intervene and those spy shots are just using BMW parts that were just laying around and the final product will truly be a MINI both inside and out...

I don't like where this trend could lead... KEEP IT MINI!

 

Settle down, Beavis.

God forbid some of the blatantly horrific ergonomics in our car get slightly updated.

The new interior looks *nothing* like a 1-series. They changed the speedometer bezel and the location of a few switches. Are you high?

 

the ergonomics of the interior were not "blatantly horrific"... They were unique and different which is the entire idea of a MINI.

I'm not saying that the new interior looks exactly like a 1 series,.. There's no way to tell just from some spy photos. But the steering wheel in the spy shots is identical to the wheel on the new 3 series. Even my MA has mentioned that there is talk of the designs getting more "vanilla" to appeal to a wider audience.

 

Looks like they repurposed the toggles for Dynamic Stability/Traction Control, Sport Mode and Fog/Driving Lights and removed the lower chiclet button panel.

 

ZOMG!!! It's a 1-series now!!!!!

 

I agree with Mr_Bueno. They're intentionally making it more bland, which is very contrary to the MINI brand. I like the quirkiness of the MINI interior, and conforming for the masses contradicts what MINI has been preaching for years now.

 

Window switches where you have to *look down* in front of the shifter to operate instead of being able to operate by feel is the very definition of horrible ergonomics. How many times have you been driving and encountered a twisty section of road that you wanted to be in sport mode for. You have to take your eyes off the road and hunt around for the G. D. sport button.

Face it, Mini interiors were designed to a particular aesthetic, as an homage to a 60 year-old design, not because it is the best way to lay out a car. Any slight changes they can make to make the car a bit more user-friendly are welcome. Saying that changing the shape and color of a bezel and the location of a few switches is making the car vanilla is about as dishonest as a Romney campaign ad about Jeeps.

 

I'd settle for even a hint of reliability instead of god knows how many hours and focus groups were spent on this decision

 

nice, thanks. i hope that's just the way that lens photographed and not some type of carbon fiber texture.

 

Seriously?...

After driving any car for a week, I can adjust to the layout of the interior controls... No matter where they are placed. You act like the buttons are razorblades, the switches are rusty nails, and they're tucked behind a thorn bush... Once you know where the buttons are and have driven the car a few days, it shouldn't be difficult for anyone to find them without taking their eyes off the road.

The idea of maintaining the quirky design of a MINI both inside and out through every redesign is the whole concept of MINI. What makes a MINI great is that not everyone has one and it's because it goes against the grain. They make things more aesthetically pleasing by sacrificing the "simplicity" of the interior. The toggles, buttons, switches, etc... Are what make the car great.

And since you seem to like analogies,.... Victoria's Secret models wear heels, corsets, and strings up their butt...because it looks better. They don't wear goddamned Garfield pajamas and socks in their photo shoots even though it would prolly be more comfortable.

MINI is more about style than convenience and comfort. - (and it's not like they really sacrificed much convenience or comfort) - It's what makes the car exciting, unique, and fun.

I hope we can re-visit this thread after the 2014 Cooper is revealed. I'm willing to bet 10 bucks and my left nut that the interior design is more tame than the 1st and 2nd generation MINI's.




That's identical to a BMW steering wheels... the climate controls look much more basic. No longer in the shape of a MINI logo. The circular a/c vents look rectangular and VANILLA. Those NAV controls are identical to BMW NAV controls. Color overall looks to be just pretty much black. There is some quirkiness there, with the sport controls being around the base, the racing helmet shifter, and the typical cupholders in front and the toggles... I also understand that it is not the finished product...

Edit:

in locating pics, I came across this which should end you're snide comments about it being a 1 series.

Directly from Motortrend:

BMW owns the Mini brand and, judging by new spy shots, the next-generation Mini Cooper will have even more in common with its corporate parent. The photos peek into the 2014 Mini Cooper, revealing a redesigned interior that will share many components with BMW models.
It’s no surprise there are many BMW-sourced components, as the next-generation Mini Cooper will be based on the same platform as the next BMW 1 Series. We’ve already spied camouflaged versions of the 2014 Mini Cooper testing in Europe. It will be broader and a little bit bigger than the current model, with a sloping rear window.
On the inside, the new Mini retains its Frisbee-sized center speedometer, again filled with an LCD screen that will be used for the infotainment system. Speaking of which, the center console reveals a new multi-button controller that appears identical to the iDrive **** used in BMWs. It looks like this more controller will replace the current tiny joystick featured in Minis equipped with navigation.

The traditional Mini steering has been nixed in favor of a three-spoke design that, too, comes directly from the BMW parts bin. The one spied in this prototype Cooper has a multitude of buttons on either side, and would presumably get a Mini badge in the currently blank center.
Perhaps the most exciting change concerns the center-stack buttons. The small, fiddly button arrangement on the current Mini has been replaced by three clear climate-control *****, a row of eight clearly labeled buttons, and just five toggle switches. All the switchgear looks to be larger and simpler than on current models, a good thing given that we dislike the awkward cabin ergonomics on current today’s Mini Cooper. Instead of the existing small button near the steering wheel, the new Mini has a red engine start/stop toggle switch in the center stack.
While the automatic transmission shifter in this car doesn’t look any different, it’s surrounded by a rotary dial allowing drivers to switch between “Sport Mode” and “Green Mode.” Minis have long offered a Sport button, and almost all car manufactures now provide an eco or fuel-saving button to improve economy. As is typical of the brand, Mini will try a slightly unique approach by using a twist-ring, rather than a normal button, to switch between engine modes.


End of story - Point proven - Dismissed.

Sounds like it would be right up your alley though... Better get down to the dealer and put your name on the waiting list.

 

those 2014 spy pics look like they finally changed the horrible e-brake handle. but the idiots look like there ditching the rail system? i like the round vents, rail, and can live with the toggle locations. but for the love of GOD, the e-brake handle covers the whole front rail and touches the arm rest when pulled up. WTF

 

Those are of the hatchback (F56, the R56 replacement), not the Countryman.