The Mini Countryman is the company's largest and roomiest car. 08/20/2010
British car manufacturer Mini is looking to its new crossover to remedy its recent sales slump, according to MSNBC.
The 2011 Mini Countryman brings many firsts for the automaker, as it is the first model to feature four doors, as well as the first to offer all-wheel-drive. It is also the only model to be built outside of England, being manufactured at Austria’s Magna Steyr facility.
The Countryman, available in January, is slightly larger than the Mini’s signature Cooper, with 4 inches added to its width and 6 to its height. The rear also features an added 16 inches, making it the company’s largest and roomiest vehicle to date.
Mini took a hit last year during the global economic downturn, with sales down nearly 13 percent from 2008. At that time, the automaker had not released any significantly redesigned models of the Cooper, other than the convertible.
IIHS analysts believe the Countryman will help Mini rebuild its brand, projecting sales of more than 70,000 units worldwide. They estimated 25 percent of those units will be sold in the United States.