Structural look of the 2017 Mini Countryman

At the 2014 New York International Auto Show, it was unveiled in a facelifted avatar. MINI is readying the second generation 2017 MINI Countryman and in the latest, images from Motoringfile give an early look at the all-new model’s structure.

To begin with, the renderings of the structures of both first and second generation models shows that the MINI Countryman will go through an evolutionary redesign in its second generation. Along with the exterior changes, the renderings also show changes made to the body for improved safety. The next-gen Countryman will have upper side impact beams which should improve side impact safety.

The next-gen MINI Countryman will be based on the UKL front-wheel drive platform that’s currently employed in the MINI 3-door, MINI 5-door, MINI Clubman and MINI Convertible.

The 2017 MINI Countryman should be offered with the same MINI TwinPower Turbo three- and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines from the four UKL platform-based models, paired to 6-speed manual or 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. The all-new Countryman range will likely include both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models. There will be plug-in hybrid and John Cooper Works variants also.