The MINI Countryman S All4 was made much more reasonably priced with the introduction of the CKD locally-assembled mannequin earlier this week. Its look on the ongoing Sime Motors AutoArena gave us have a look at the automobile, which is about to drop some RM90,000 over the fully-imported model.
Now retailing at an estimated RM259,000 with the usual two-year, unlimited-mileage guarantee, the Countryman S ought to now value the identical as the electrical Countryman SE, which prices RM258,888. With the elective five-year guarantee and repair package deal, this goes as much as round RM270,000. Past the considerably lowered worth, the CKD S is similar to the CBU mannequin in specs and tools.
The Countryman S appears to be like nearly similar to the SE, however instead of that automobile’s twin electrical motors is a 2.0 litre B48 turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 204 PS from 5,000 to six,500 rpm and 320 Nm of torque between 1,500 and 4,000 rpm. A 48-volt electrical motor gives a further 20 PS and 55 Nm of accelerative enhance, leading to outputs of 218 PS and 360 Nm.
Paired with an eight-speed computerized gearbox, the all-wheel-drive Countryman S is ready to dash from zero to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds on its strategy to a high velocity of 228 km/h. Gas consumption is rated at 6.8 litres per 100 km on the WLTP cycle.
Except for the “S” badges being colored purple as an alternative of lime inexperienced, the S seems similar to the SE. It too comes within the range-topping Favoured trim, bringing with it Vibrant Silver (learn: gold) accents, ornamental skid plates and a selection of both Piano Black or Vibrant Silver roof and door mirrors. It additionally rides on 20-inch Windmill Spoke two-tone alloy wheels. By way of color choices, you’ll be able to select from Smokey Inexperienced, Slate Blue, Chili Pink, Melting Silver, Nanuq White and Blazing Blue
Inside, the S will get a 3D-knit material dashboard and door card wrap that gradates to Classic Brown in direction of the rear doorways. Right here, the Favoured package deal provides JCW sport seats wrapped in Vescin Beading fake leather-based in Darkish Petrol – the Classic Brown choice has been eliminated on the CKD mannequin.
By way of tech, you get MINI’s distinctive 9.4-inch round OLED touchscreen that integrates not solely the air-con controls but additionally the velocity readout, very like the Volvo EX30. It runs on the Android-based MINI Working System 9 and comes with a “Hey MINI” voice management system, visualised by a canine avatar known as Spike. The deletion of the instrument cluster has been compensated by the addition of a head-up show.
Behind the show sit two projectors that show patterns onto both facet of the dashboard, relying on the drive mode chosen. You additionally get augmented actuality navigation, the smartphone-based MINI Digital Key Plus, MINI Driving Sounds and a 360-degree digicam system with Distant 3D View.
Different bits of ordinary equipment embrace keyless entry with proximity locking/unlocking, exterior MINI brand projection, power-adjustable entrance seats with driver’s facet reminiscence, lumbar adjustment and therapeutic massage features, dual-zone local weather management and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon encompass sound system.
Due to the shortage of battery beneath the floorpan, the S has a decrease rear ground than the SE, which ought to make for a extra comfy, much less knees-up seating place. The hands-free powered tailgate opens as much as a boot that’s listed to be truly very barely smaller (-10 litres) at 450 litres, though our photographs present that the underfloor storage is clearly rather more useable with no large hump within the center. As with the SE, you’ll be able to fold the rear seats to spice up baggage area to 1,450 litres.
Security-wise, the Countryman S comes as commonplace with the Driving Assistant package deal, which incorporates autonomous emergency braking, lane holding help, blind spot monitoring, rear collision warning and rear cross visitors alert. Additionally fitted is Parking Assistant Plus, throwing on park help, a Manoeuvring Assistant, a Reversing Assistant and a 360-degree digicam system with distant 3D view.
The automobile additionally will get all of the {hardware} vital for Driving Assistant Plus, including adaptive cruise management with cease and go, lane centring help and visitors signal recognition. Nevertheless, you’ll should pay for a subscription to activate it, which prices RM202 per 30 days – or you’ll be able to trump up RM4,481 for it to be unlocked for the lifetime of the automobile.
GALLERY: MINI Countryman S versus SE
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