It was fun all the way last week in Durban as auto journalists from the seven countries of the newly-created BMW Group Sub-Sahara Africa Region converged in batches on the South African city to have a feel of the all-new MINI Countryman. Olaolu Olusina, who was part of the fourth batch as a member of the four-man Nigerian delegation at the National Media Launch of the all-new MINI Countryman, relives the experience
The new MINI Countryman is really a driving fun for all occasions. I had a direct experience last week in Durban as some auto journalists from the seven countries of the newly-created BMW Group Sub-Sahara Africa Region converged in batches on the South African city to have a feel of the all-new MINI Countryman.
As a member of the four-man Nigerian delegation in the fourth batch of the National Media Launch of the all-new MINI Countryman, I can confirm authoritatively that the newly-enhanced second generation MINI is simple luxury packed in compact form.
From the test-drive in Durban, it became evident that the MINI Countryman is set to offer some additional ways of enjoying the brand’s hallmark driving fun when the MINI was launched in 2010.
It was the first MINI with four doors, a large tailgate, five seats and optional all-wheel drive with a total of more than 540,000 sold worldwide. From my experience during the road test, I can confidently affirm that the new MINI Countryman is surely continuing that tradition as it comes with the latest MINI innovation and charisma.
Apparently, a clear departure in terms of design and performance from the first generation MINI, the new MINI Countryman is an amazing ‘small car’ with the features and performance of a ‘big car.’ And if you want to judge the new MINI Countryman by its size, you will simply be getting it wrong. Little wonder then, that the effort now is to move the car from the compact segment to the premium segment of the auto market as it has all it takes to compete favourably in that market now.
The Group Product Communication Manager for BMW Group South Africa and BMW Group Sub-Saharan Africa Region, Edward Makwana, puts it succinctly when introducing the new MINI Countryman at the pre-event media briefing held the night before the real test-drive.
Presenting a business update on the MINI, Makwana, who was ably assisted by the Product Communication Manager, MINI, Thando Pato, said: “Our focus is to maximise the MINI experience by cutting down the models from seven to five…We are giving the MINI a fresh look in terms of identity, much more modern, cleaner and attractive for the modern time.We are giving our dealers a new look MINI and moving the market from the compact market to the premium market … and here comes the Countryman.”
Featuring an entirely newly-developed engine technology. Makwana said for the market launch, there are two petrol and one diesel engines of the latest generation available to choose from, each with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology.
With five fully-fledged leather seats, clear increase in space and versatility, electrical tailgate control as well as touch-less opening and closing of the tailgate, central instrument with touchscreen function for the first time and much more, there is no doubt that the tradition-steeped British brand is set to continue its advance into the premium compact segment.
Also coming with park distance control, rear view camera, among other options, it is evident that the new MINI Countryman is the biggest and most versatile model in the brand’s 57-year history. And having been completely developed, it now reflects considerable advancements in the areas of space, functionality, athletic flair and premium characteristics.
Re-affirming that about 540,00 units of the MINI had been sold worldwide with one in every four MINI today presently in South Africa, Makwana said the target of the new MINI Countryman are customers looking for more space even when they are single and those with families looking for a bigger car. He stressed that “MINI is about individualisation and there is a lot of individualisation you can choose from.”
Coming with exotic features such as a 6.5 inches navigation colour display screen on the dash, specialised tyres with light alloy wheels option, 20 centimetres ground clearance improvement, good cruise control and sensor to warn of a close object from the back, Makwana maintained that BMW products are tailor-made for the markets.
Disclosing that 50 units of the new MINI Countryman, which are being pulled from The Netherlands, will be delivered to the Nigerian market between May and June for a start, he said “if demand increases, we are ready to meet it.” Already, the sole BMW dealership in Nigeria, Coscharis Motors, is warming up to receiving the new MINI Countryman even as Makwana disclosed that all the necessary after-sales support will be provided.
With all the background information , I was very eager to experience the new MINI Countryman. And for almost five hours, cruising through the busy streets of Durban to Pietermaritzburg, Nottingham and down through the hinterland of the Kwazulu-Natal province in South Africa and back to King Shaka International Airport, on Friday, March 31, 2017, I was behind the steering of the two variants of the new MINI Countryman available at launch in the sub-sahara African markets.
The two variants are the new MINI Cooper Countryman and the MINI Cooper S Countryman, though there is also the new MINI Cooper Countryman All-Wheel Drive (AWD), which is not available yet in the African markets. Maneuvering the car through the beautiful landscape of the South African roads, I drove both the new MINI Countryman and the new MINI Countryman S in the more than 420-kilometre road trip and I can state categorically that I was not disappointed in any way.
My take-off experience was quite amazing as I quickly discovered to my utmost chagrin that the car was not just going to be another small car but a solid car with a firm grip and balance on the road. That the MINI has really ‘grown’ from what it used to be to the present form is not in any doubt. With the key placed anywhere in the car, all you need do is to simply press a button and the engine starts once you press the brake; and off you go. And the moment you pull the car to a stop, the engine shuts on its own and starts automatically when you press the brake in preparation to continue the journey.
The first thing I did was to test the braking system and it was super, giving me the confidence to cruise the car under top but controlled speed . I pulled the car through the busy streets of Durban and off road through the rough, bumpy and difficult terrains in the hinterland of Kwazulu Natal without any stress.
The suspension was great and the cruise control was super. The take-away from the road trip is that the new MINI Countryman is not only a city car but also a car that is well suited for a cross-country trip as it can perform on all terrains, even the most difficult ones. Ready to roll into the sub sahara African markets between May and June, according to Makwana, I was also impressed by its fuel efficiency as there was no need to refuel throughout the more than 420-kilometre road trip.
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