Upcoming Off-Road Mini Countryman Wants to Live up to Its Name

The Mini Countryman’s name and its quasi-SUV stylings would like to have you believe it’s capable of playing in the dirt, but of course, the reality is that it, and most other little crossovers, would be quickly flummoxed by anything more hardcore than a lightly rutted gravel road.

Evidently, Mini wants to change that, because it’s just released some pictures of a mystery new Countryman variant out testing in the Rocky Mountains (the southern end of them, if that Mars-like landscape is anything to go by), and clearly, this ain’t your average Countryman.

We don’t have any other details on the new model for now. What it’s called, exactly what changes are being made, whether it'll be a limited edition or a regular member of the range, or even whether it’s based on the petrol-powered or electric version of the Countryman are all currently under wraps.

What we can glean is that it’s getting some of the changes typical to this emerging trend of rugged-ified crossovers, which are particularly big business in the US: some knobbly all-terrain tyres and a light suspension lift. It doesn’t look like anything transformative, but it’s evidently enough to help the Countryman cope with some semi-serious off-road trails. That suggests all-wheel drive, currently available on the hot petrol JCW Countryman and the all-electric Countryman SE, might be part of the package.

Whether that roof tent will be part of the standard package or an optional accessory remains to be seen. Hopefully the latter, for the sake of fuel and/or electricity consumption.

Mini boss Jean-Philippe Parain says: “We are incredibly excited to be just one step away from introducing this new, rugged addition to the MINI Countryman family. True to the MINI spirit, it combines capability with character and will open up even more opportunities for unforgettable adventures.”

That’s about all we know for now, but all will be revealed when this rufty-tufty Countryman makes a full debut in October.