Production of the new Countryman is all set to begin in November 2023
MINI recently confirmed that the production of the next-generation Countryman will begin in November 2023, and that it will be the first time a MINI model is produced in Germany.
The bigger news, however, is the fact that it will be an electric vehicle. The largest model in the new MINI family of vehicles is leading the brand into an era of locally emission-free electromobility.
Dubbed the MINI Countryman E, the new generation model will comprise a base variant delivering 191 hp, and the MINI Countryman SE ALL4 (the brand’s first all-wheel-drive fully- electric vehicle) will generate an output of 313 hp, including a temporary boost. Fitted with a 64.7 kWh battery, the estimated range stands at about 450 kilometres.
With its length increased by 13 cm to 4,429 mm, the crossover promises to offer even more space and comfort for its occupants. The height has also grown by six cm to 1,613 mm, offering even more headroom.
Since it is all about being eco-friendly, all decorative elements in the exterior and interior of the all-new Countryman will be made from sustainable materials.
For instance, the surfaces of the dashboards, steering wheel, vehicle headliner and floor, and floor mats are made of recycled polyester obtained from PET bottles and carpet remnants.
This high-quality, colourful and comfortable alternative to traditional materials reduces CO2 emissions along the value chain by up to 85 percent and emphasizes the focus on minimizing the ecological footprint of the next MINI model generation.
The long-term sustainable strategy for energy generation and consumption of the BMW Group’s “green plant” at the Leipzig site includes four wind turbines with a height of 190 meters on the factory premises.
According to MINI, this could generate more than 20 GWh of electricity from wind energy per year. In the Battery Farm, up to 700 second-life high-voltage batteries from BMW i3 vehicles are used to store energy, such as that generated by the wind turbines.
By storing the energy on the premises, MINI says that local energy management can be optimised and the electrical grid kept stable.
In fact, the BMW Group is expanding on-site e-component production capacity by eight production lines by 2024 and investing more than 800 million euros.
The decarbonization of production by replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen is the focus of what is already one of the most modern and sustainable automotive production facilities in the world.
