Countryman Becomes The First Mini Model Produced At The BMW Group Factory At Leipzig

The latest countryman. (Doc. BMW Group)

JAKARTA - The latest Mini Countryman has made history for this British company. Apart from being the first Mini series to come in the form of electric vehicles (EVs), this model is also the first Mini assembled at the BMW Group plant, located in Leipzig, Germany. Thus, Countryman will share assembly with other BMW models, including Series-1 and Series-2.

At the Mini Countryman production launch event in the assembly hall recently, high-ranking BMW Group and Mini were present, along with regional executives and factory employees.

"The first ministries produced in Germany represent environmental excellence, not only as a product, but also in terms of production," Stefanie Wurst, Head of Brand Mini, said on the official BMW Group website, Saturday, November 11.

Since 2018, BMW Group has invested around 700 million euros to increase factory production capacity at Sachsen. The plant has played a role in launching various electric models, starting from BMW i3 ten years ago.

The latest generation of Mini Countryman is considered very important for the future of the Leipzig factory. With the production of this car at this facility, the number of employees at this assembly site is expected to increase by more than 1,000 people by the end of 2024.

The countryman of the latest generation has dimension greater than its predecessor, with a length of 4,433 millimeters, a width of 1,843 millimeters, and a height of 1,656 millimeters. This car was exhibited at IAA Munich on September 5.

This third-generation exterior Countryman design features expressive minimalism with a distinctive character. This car maintains the iconic proportion of MINI, including short overhangs, short engine hoods, and contrasted long-wheeled axis distances. 20-inch rims, wider wheel arches, and chrom detail reduction provide a modern look.

The 2024 interior Countryman is equipped with a curved dashboard covered with a textile surface on several levels and an OLED screen measuring 9.44 inches. The operating system is Operating System 9 which can receive voice commands via the nickname "Hey Mini" or push-to-talk button at the wheel that activates the Mini Intelligent Personal Assistant.

There are two power variants offered: Countryman E and Countryman SE ALL4. Countryman E has a range of 462 kilometers WLTP with a power-powered motor of 204 dk and a torque of 250 Nm. Countryman E can reach 0-100 km/h in 8.6 seconds with a maximum speed of 169 km/hour.

Meanwhile, Countryman SE ALL4 is more powerful with a WLTP reach of 433 km and is equipped with a four-wheel drive configuration and a double electric motor that produces a combined power of 313 dk and a torque of 494 Nm. SE ALL4 can accelerate from 0-100 km/hour in 5.6 seconds with a maximum speed of 178 km/hour.

In addition to the electricity variant, the new Mini Countryman is also available with gasoline engines, such as Countryman C with front wheels driving, Countryman S ALL4, and an enhanced JCW variant with all wheels driving.