MINI Countryman Off-Road Model Confirmed, Exclusive Renderings Inside

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On queue the automotive press is catching up with news that we broke a year ago. MINI is preparing to launch a more off-road focused Countryman in hopes of both expanding the range and appeal of MINI’s largest product.

That confirmation comes courtesy of Holger Hampf, who recently told Motor1 that the current MINI Countryman “hasn’t played all of its cards yet.” He pointed to a growing global appetite for outdoor independence and lifestyle-driven vehicles, signaling clearly that MINI intends to lean further into that space.

One thing that I can point out is the trend of outdoor activity and independence – freedom that the car has always given us. That is something I would like to explore more with MINI. You will certainly see some of that in the next couple of years. The Countryman hasn’t played all of its cards yet, and I’m very eager to explore where else MINI can play.

Holger Hampf, Head of MINI Design

The MINI Countryman rendered with it’s new off-road package

That will sound familiar if you read MotoringFile regularly. We had been hinting at an off-road Countryman since the launch of the U25. However a year ago we got further confirmation that MINI was working on a new variant of the Countryman that would have more off-road capability. Our sources outlined a subtle suspension lift, unique wheel designs, more rugged exterior trim, and all terrain tires to give the car a more purposeful stance without turning it into a caricature of an overlander. As you can see in these exclusive renders, the modified Countryman wouldn’t be a dramatic departure to what’s on showroom floors today. But it would signal a slightly different level of off-road capability to the standard car.

And before anyone rolls their eyes at the idea of a “rugged” MINI, let’s remember something.

The U25 Countryman already leans toward versatility. The idea of giving it a tougher aesthetic and a bit more real-world capability simply acknowledges where the segment is headed. It’s also something that MINI is proving out in real-time with its recent Countryman JCW entry into the America Rally Association.

Last year we took a standard JCW Countryman deep into the mountains of Montana for a proper dirt road evaluation. Loose gravel, elevation changes, long stretches of washboard surface. Not a mall parking lot, not a curated influencer trail. The experience was amazing. The Countryman handled it with composure and surprising confidence. The biggest limitation (naturally) were tires and a more compliant suspension with longer travel.

The takeaway was simple. The hardware is either there or easily added. But what it will also need are the visual queues that mark this as a new offering. That is where this new off road focused version comes in.

The MINI Countryman rendered with it’s new off-road package

Hampf’s comments suggest MINI understands that outdoor identity is no longer niche. It is mainstream aspiration. Customers want vehicles that suggest escape, even if most of their adventures end at a trailhead rather than a rock crawl. A lifted stance, chunkier tires, and dedicated trim would give the MINI Countryman that visual confidence.

Importantly, this is not about turning MINI into Jeep. It is about sharpening the Countryman’s positioning in a crowded compact SUV segment. The U25 is already the brand’s best seller globally. Expanding its personality while broadening its appeal is simply smart product strategy.

The MINI Countryman rendered with it’s new off-road package

In other words, this is less a pivot and more a fulfillment of what the MINI Countryman has quietly become. Larger. More capable. More mature. And now, potentially, a bit more adventurous.

As the broader automotive press begins connecting the dots (a little late), the narrative becomes clearer. The MINI Countryman still has cards to play. And one of them is covered in dust.

The post MINI Countryman Off-Road Model Confirmed, Exclusive Renderings Inside appeared first on MotoringFile.

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