By : TEAM TOS
MUMBAI :
MINI India has launched its first-ever all-electric car in the country. The Countryman Electric has finally hit Indian roads. Surprisingly, BMW Group has only introduced the EV version in India whereas, globally, it is also offered with a petrol powertrain. Here’s all that we know about MINI Countryman Electric...
The Countryman EV has been introduced in a single variant and it will go up against the likes of BMW iX1, Mercedes-Benz EQA, and Volvo XC40 Recharge in the Indian market.
The all-electric Countryman has grown in size as compared to its predecessor. The height has been increased by 60mm while the length has been extended by 130mm. The overall design is a mix of the previous gen models with signature MINI elements retained in a minimalist avatar. The Countryman EV takes styling inspiration from the fifth-gen Cooper S which was launched alongside it. The all-electric hatch gets an octagonal grille and revamped headlamp units sans bezels upfront. The tail lamps are ever so slightly similar to the Cooper S. There is a black plastic cladding near the bumpers while the character line runs through the whole profile of the hatch, along the wheel arches. The C-pillar and the floating roof distinguish it from the Cooper S. The Countryman Electric rides on 17-inch Aero Spoke Lighting Grey alloy wheels as standard. However, if buyers opt for ‘Favoured Pack,’ they get 19-inch Kaleido Spoke Dual-Tone alloy wheels.
The cabin closely resembles the 3-door MINI Cooper S with the instrument cluster missing behind the steering wheel. The center console is dominated by the 9.4-inch circular OLED touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. The increase in length has facilitated 130mm of extra legroom at the rear. A special mention goes to the Level 2 ADAS features which includes semi-autonomous driving below 60kmph. A few notable features in the Countryman EV include Fisheye Camera, Harman Kardon Audio System, Ambient Lighting, Comfort Access and Tyre Pressure Indicator.
Based on the same platform as the BMW iX1, the Countryman EV houses a 66.45 kWh lithium-ion battery which returns max power of 201 bhp and peak torque of 250 Nm. It returns a driving range of 462 km on a single charge, according to the WLTP cycle. The Countryman EV does a 0-100kmph sprint in 8.6 seconds. The charging time from 10-80 percent is only 29 mins via the 130 kW DC Charger. Furthermore, 100 km of range can be achieved in mere 8 mins of charging. However, it will take around 3 hrs and 45 min to fully charge from O% by a 22 kW AC charger. The company will provide buyers a complimentary Smart Wallbox charger with one-time installation. The Countryman Electric’s high voltage battery is covered by a standard warranty of 8 years/160,000 kms.
The MINI Countryman is offered in 9 color schemes namely Melting Silver, Midnight Black, Nanuq White, British Racing Green, Chili Red II, Indigo Sunset Blue, Blazing Blue, Smokey Green and Slate Blue. Additionally, Glazed White/Jet Black paint shades are available as part of ‘Classic Pack,’ while the Vibrant Silver color can be availed under ‘Favoured Pack.’
The MINI Countryman Electric which will be retailed as a CBU unit for now, is priced at INR 54.90 lakh (ex-showroom) and bookings have already commenced. The first deliveries will begin from Sep 2024.
