All things considered, MINI USA had a pretty good year in 2009. Sales were off “only” 16.4 percent in a terrible market, and that was with the company fielding only four models: The MINI hardtop and convertible, the slightly larger MINI Clubman, and the much sportier MINI John Cooper Works.
All those numbers should now be on their way up, as two new MINI products are set to launch—and attract more customers—in the near(-ish) future.
The long-awaited MINI Countryman will make its debut at the suitably alpine Geneva Auto Show this month, making the brand’s first foray into the crossover segments. And it should be a successful one.
The new model will be about the same size as a Honda Fit, coming in at just over 161 inches in length. But while the Countryman may be big for a MINI—it’s more than a foot longer than the MINI hardtop—it will become the smallest four-wheel-drive vehicle on the market when it’s released in the U.S. in January 2011. Not only that, but you also get room for five passengers.
That’s a tidy little package that will get the attention of people who like SUV style but want the fuel-efficiency of a…well, a MINI. One Baltimore Mercedes-Benz dealer admits that the Countryman has come at a good time, considering that sporty, luxury crossovers are in high demand.
Coming sooner, and in far smaller quantities, is the Laurel Sport Edition MINI. It’s the second of MINI’s small-run editions, following last year’s very successful Rally Clubman.
Now, these are truly limited editions, with less than 100 Rally Clubman produced and the Laurel Sport limited to only 100 Cooper S hardtops, 100 Cooper S convertibles and 100 Cooper S Countrymen.
The lucky 300 owners who take these home will get cars boasting Laurel-only side scuttles, door sills, and a striping package for the bonnet, roof and tailgate; the aero kit from the Cooper Works model; black MINI driving lamps and jet black mirror caps; a premium Harman Kardon sound system; and a passel full of other amenities and accouterments.
The Laurel Edition cars are expected in dealerships beginning in March with MSRPs of $29,695 for the hardtop, $32,445 for the Clubman and $34,545 for the convertible.
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