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Mini Countryman spied looking less and less Mini

As the entire Mini lineup continues to grow in size, our latest spy shots for the upcoming Mini Countryman testing in Germany reveals the automaker's biggest car will stick to the trend of increasing semantic contradiction. This latest prototype drops some of its camouflage over the previously spied model that was spotted testing in the winter. Unlike the last test mule we saw, the disguised vehicle ditches the hexagonal grille for one that mimics the current model's design with a more traditional layout. The prototype also loses the sporty, multi-spoke wheels for a more boring, plastic-like set. The side and back end of the vehicle are heavily camouflaged, hiding the rear design of the prototype. But Mini's iconic taillights are still evident with the most current prototype only having one exhaust outlet, while the previously spotted model sported two. As expected, the next-gen Countryman should grow longer and wider. The increase in size will coincide with a switch to BMW's UKL2 platform. We also expect the Countryman to share the same three- and four-cylinder turbocharged engine options as vehicles on the same platform, namely the Mini Clubman and BMW X1. This prototype, with its low-end wheels and single exhaust outlet has us thinking that Mini is testing out one of its more fuel-efficient models. After the Countryman's debut, which is expected to happen at the Paris Motor Show in October, a performance-oriented John Cooper Works model and a plug-in hybrid variant should follow suit. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Mini Countryman Spy Shots View 9 Photos Image Credit: CarPix Spy Photos MINI Crossover Hatchback SUV

Mini might build a sedan because it's running out of shapes

Rumors suggest we could soon see a Mini with a trunk to haul your junk. Autocar cites unnamed insiders who claim the sedan is part of the brand's plan for upmarket growth. There's even a possibility the new model could use the Riley moniker in reference to the Elf (pictured above) from the 1960s, which was a Mini with a tiny trunk. The Mini sedan would use BMW's front-wheel-drive platform that underpins the X1 and Clubman and might share the wheelbase and frontend styling with the Clubman as well, according to Autocar. Mini's execs think the four-door would perform especially well in North America and China, where there's less demand for hatchbacks. Ralph Mahler, vice president of Mini's product management, hinted at the possibility of the four-door to Autocar. "For example, in Asia and the US, the sedan segment is very big. This is very interesting to us, of course," he said. Mahler admits that many people don't know about the Mini-based vehicles with trunks from the '60s, like the Riley Elf, so it would be hard to market the new model on that heritage. This could be the perfect time to add a Mini sedan to the lineup, and it might not be a completely new idea for the brand under its BMW stewardship; a rumor from 2012 shows that Mini's bosses considered a four-door at least once before. The company launched new versions of its Hardtop, Convertible, and Clubman, and even added four-door and all-wheel-drive versions of the Hardtop to further blur the lines between that car, the Clubman, and the Countryman. The next-generation Countryman crossover should debut later this year, and the brand reportedly cancelled the Superleggera Vision roadster and Rocketman compact, as Mini has chosen to go big with its new models and its lineup breadth. There are only so many versions of a hatchback a company can make, and the short-lived Mini Coupe wasn't exactly a huge success. If Mini is going to try a new body style, a sedan actually makes some sense, even if we'll probably prefer the look and practicality of the hatches. Related Video:

Mini sells 500,000th car in US

Mini has officially sold 500,000 vehicles in the United States. The achievement came just a few days after the company commemorated its 11th anniversary in America. When the automaker first opened its doors to US buyers in 2002, it sold just 24,590 unis. Last year, the automaker moved 66,123 vehicles thanks in part to an expanded lineup that now includes the Clubman, Countryman, Coupe, Roadster and Paceman in addition to the stalwart Hardtop and Convertible. The company plans to have some 130 dealerships nationwide by the end of 2013; there are currently 116 Mini dealers in the US.
Mini helped reignite an interest in small cars with plenty of personality when it debuted the Cooper 11 years ago. The move helped pave the way for machines like the Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Sonic. Check out the quick press release on the 500,000th Mini model below.