BMW says its Mini Countryman will be the cleanest all-wheel drive car on the market - but won't say when it'll be released in South Africa.
The diesel two-wheel drive version is rated at 116g/km of CO2. Figures for the All4 all-wheel drive version have yet to be announced but a Mini spokesman said: "The technicians are doing their best to make it less than 120g/km."
This would make the Countryman the cleanest all-wheel drive car on the market, ahead of the Toyota Urban Cruiser at 130g/km.
Fuel consumption figures for the front-wheel drive Countryman are also impressive; BMW claim an average of 4.3 litres/100km for the 1.6-litre diesel.
The petrol engines are relatively clean as well with the 90kW Cooper rated at 6.1 litres/100km and the flagship 135kW Cooper S at 6.3 litres/100km and 146g/km.
The Countryman range will be the fourth member of the Mini family, following the hatch, convertible and Clubman, and will be available in Europe in five models, three with all-wheel drive.
Mini UK product manager Lee Connolly said: "The Countryman brings new levels of space and versatility that will attract not only existing Mini owners but also new customers. We expect that about 80 percent of Countryman sales will be to customers who haven't owned a Mini before."
The Mini Cooper D and Cooper S will be available with all-wheel drive from launch with a Mini Cooper All4 version to follow in 2012.
The Countryman All4 is front-wheel driven in most circumstances but, when slip is detected on the front wheels an electro-magnetic clutch on the rear axle engages drive to the rear wheels to improve traction.
The propeller shaft from the front axle is driven constantly so the change is imperceptible and the amount of power fed to the rear wheels is infinitely variable between one percent and 100, depending on driving conditions.
The Countryman is 398mm longer than a Mini hatch at 4.097m, 316mm wider at 1.789 m and 170mm higher at 1.577m. That gives it 190 litres more luggage capacity than the hatch - 350 litres with the seats up and 1170 litres with them folded flat. Its ground clearance is 10 mm higher than any other Mini model.
The front of the Countryman is more upright than that of the hatch, projecting a confident "face" that also improves pedestrian safety, says BMW, while the wheel arches are more flared, highlighting the robust nature of the Countryman.
The interior has the trademark Mini sports seats, central speedometer and neat switchgear but adds oval interior door-trims that continue from front to rear door and a centre rail that runs from front to rear instead of a conventional centre console, making space for all kinds of storage boxes, cup holders, power chargers, music players, cellphone mounts and other accessories.
Standard equipment includes:
Roof rails.
Aircon.
Heatable door mirrors with washer jets.
Rear parking sensors.
Electronic stability programme.
Speed-related electric power steering.
Six crash bags.
IsoFix child safety-seat mountings.
Tyre pressure monitor.
Central Bass audio system radio boost and with six speakers.
Bluetooth cellphone preparation
USB port.
The Cooper Countryman has 16" and the Cooper S 17" alloy rims; 18 and 19" rims are extra-cost options.
The Mini Countryman will make its world debut at the Geneva auto show in March 2010. As soon as we hear which variants are coming to South Africa - and when! - so will you.
As an indication only, UK prices will range from £16 000 - £22 030 (R193 000 - R266 000).