The Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 has been launched in the UK at GBP 31,585 (Rs 26.5 lakh). The Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is the company’s first ever plug-in hybrid and uses a similar setup as the BMW 225xe.
The internal combustion engine in the Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 powers the front wheels while the electric motor powers the rear wheels. The petrol engine is a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder transversely mounted unit which delivers 134bhp and 220Nm of torque. The brushless electric motor on the other hand is located within the axle assembly at the rear and delivers 87bhp and 165Nm of torque. The combined power output is 221bhp, which is just 7bhp shy of the Countryman’s most powerful version – the John Cooper Works. The torque output though, is significantly higher at 385Nm.
With the first 100kmph coming up in just 6.8 seconds, the Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 will keep on going until 197kmph. The electric powertrain and the batteries have made the Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 heftier by 295kg, and it now tips the scales at 1,660kg. The Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 can be driven in three modes. The Max eDrive makes use of just electric power, Save Battery uses just the petrol engine while the Auto eDrive juggles between pure electric and petrol according to the driving conditions.
The Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is GBP 1,000 (Rs 83,887) more expensive than a Countryman Cooper S ALL4. Yes, you do have to compromise in some areas like a smaller fuel tank and less storage space at the back, but then it also qualifies for a few tax sops. However, we do not expect to see the Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 go on sale in India anytime soon.
