Going boldly where no MINI has gone before, the new Cooper Countryman by MINI is their take on the crossover, and just look at it! What a great translation of the MINI styling cues into a (slightly) bigger package. If you were a fan of the MINI Cooper before, but always thought, 'Boy, I sure wish it was a little bigger and maybe came equipped with all-wheel drive' well this is exactly what you were hoping for, and maybe even more.

Set to go on sale in Canada in early 2011, the Countryman will bring some fun and playfulness to a segment of the market that's typically seen attempts to bring youthfulness and usability together go awry. Can anyone say Honda Element? MINI is very proud of their heritage and want to make sure that you know the Countryman is derived from everything that is the modern MINI, mentioning no less than 13 times in their press release, the features in the design and layout of the Countryman that are "typical of MINI".

Let's get to some of those features, shall we? To start, the Countryman will be offered in three trim levels; Cooper Countryman, Cooper S Countryman, and Cooper S Countryman ALL4, which for the first time ever, features full-time all-wheel drive on a MINI. The fancy-tech hydro-electric differential can distribute power in an "infinitely-variable process", meaning that in normal conditions, power is distributed evenly front and back, but can go all the way up to 100% to the rear in extreme conditions.

As for power, the Countryman will be motivated by the same powerplants that are found in the smaller siblings; a normally aspirated 1.6 liter in the base Cooper Countryman, and a twin-scroll turbocharged 1.6 liter version in the S and ALL4 models. These engines are recent entries to the MINI marketplace, and feature fully variable valve management, boasting 120 hp/118 lb-ft and 180 hp/177 lb-ft in the base and S respectively. MINI has not yet released average fuel consumption figures, but claims best in class performance.

The interior has space for four occupants, with separate bucket seats both front and back, and has an innovative MINI center rail feature that allows you to clip in and move storage bins and different accessories, such as cupholders and a sunglasses holder, back and forth between the front and rear seats.

MINI has not yet set Canadian pricing for the Countryman, but expect it to carry a segment premium like the Cooper does in the small-car field.

Click here for a gallery of the MINI Countryman.

[Source: Autoblog, BMW PressClub Canada]