Mini’s SUV, the Countryman, will soon be available in an all-electric version for the first time since its 2010 debut. The Mini Countryman Electric is expected to arrive in February 2024 and will be the first of three all-electric models to be launched by the automaker. The other two models will be the Cooper Electric hatchback and the Aceman crossover, which will revolutionize Mini’s lineup, according to CEO Stefanie Wurst.
At a recent preview event attended by Autocar, Wurst shared powertrain and styling details for the upcoming 2024 Countryman Electric. To accommodate the upcoming Aceman electric crossover, the new Countryman will be larger than the current model, in an attempt to retain customers who require larger vehicles.
The new Countryman will share the FAAR platform with the third-generation BMW X1 and will feature a squarer front end, larger front and rear overhangs, and a more rugged overall appearance. The front end will feature a similar design to the Cooper Electric and Aceman, with a more angular interpretation of Mini’s new bulbous headlights.
See also: All-Electric MINI Countryman To Be the First MINI ‘Made in Germany’
Mini’s CEO revealed that the Countryman Electric will offer two battery choices: a 54 kWh battery in the base model and a 64 kWh battery in the range-topping model. The base model will feature a single-motor powertrain, while the range-topping model will have a dual-motor AWD setup. The entry-level model will have 188 horsepower, while the range-topping model will offer 268 hp. The Countryman will be the only Mini model to offer four-wheel drive, with the Aceman being FWD-only.
Replacing the outgoing Mini Countryman PHEV, the 2024 Countryman Electric is expected to have a similar maximum WLTP range of 272 miles as the BMW iX1. It will also feature a performance-oriented JCW variant, which will offer more power and sharper exterior styling cues.
See also: MINI Aceman reportedly be ready for production in 2024
Production of the next-generation Mini Countryman – both BEV and combustion-powered variants – will take place at BMW Group’s Leipzig plant in Germany starting in late 2023, making it the first Mini model to be produced entirely in Germany. The high-voltage batteries will come from the plant’s own production facilities, with BMW Group investing more than $840 million (800 million euros) to expand capacities for e-component production in Leipzig.
With a future production area of 37 acres (150,000 square meters) for the manufacturing of e-components, the Leipzig plant will have an allocated workforce of over 1,000 employees by 2024.
