2011 MINI Countryman Arriving In Malaysia This Week

The 2011 MINI Countryman will be launched in Malaysia this week, according to certain quarters of the Malaysian media that have been invited to test drive the latest MINI in Germany. While the prices are unconfirmed, two Countryman variants, namely the Cooper and Cooper S, will be up for sale in a couple of days.

Showcased at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the Countryman is positioned as a mini-SUV, though it is easily the largest MINI model around, and the first MINI to have five doors (including the hatch). Inside, the Countryman will be offered with a three-seat bench instead of two individual rear seats. Boot capacity ranges from 350 litres to 1170 litres.

The Cooper uses a 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated Prince engine that produces 122 hp at 6000 rpm and 160 Nm at 4250 rpm. The Cooper S—which adds twin-scroll turbocharging, direct injection and BMW's Valvetronic variable valve management system to the powertrain—has 184 hp at 5500 rpm and 240 Nm between 1600-5000 rpm (260 Nm on overboost between 1700-4500 rpm) to play with.

AboutSeow Yaohan

Seow Yao Han strives to bring you the latest and the most comprehensive information on cars available in Malaysia. But it's never easy for him to talk and write cars in this part of the world because what you lust after is often not what you drive home. When the euphoria of test-driving that branded, super-expensive sports car dies down, he just goes home in his less-than-glamorous ride.