KUALA LUMPUR: With go-kart-like handling, now comes greater fuel savings as MINI Malaysia electrifies its path ahead with the Countryman Plug-in Hybrid (F60) that goes on sale at all authorised MINI dealerships nationwide from April 6 onwards.
At RM255,888 on-the-road with GST without insurance, the latest premium compact sport activity vehicle (SAV) is not only the first MINI plugin hybrid to grace Malaysian shores, but also the first one of its kind to be locally assembled outside the Netherlands.
“The second generation of the MINI Countryman was a tremendous success here when we introduced the vehicle in April last year,” said MINI Malaysia head Kidd Yam.
Once new owners have chosen one of six colour options that includes Chili Red, British Racing Green, Thunder Grey and Light White while Melting Silver and Island Blue get a Black and a White Roof respectively, they will be covered by a four-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service .
Also included is a ‘5 Years Roadside Assistance’ programme (1800-88- 8808) including a 24-Hour, 365-days- a-year Accident and Help on the Phone and On the Spot Hotline, Free Towing Services when needed (over 200KM from residential home), Replacement Vehicle, Seamless Mobility, Accommodation, Mobility Services Solutions and Repatriation services.
Additionally, the new plug-in hybrid variant of the Countryman is offered with a six-year or up to 100,000km battery warranty.
To differentiate its electric presence, it flaunts an “e” badge on the side scuttles and a yellow “S” in the model inscription on the rear as well as on the radiator grille and door sill finishers.
Additionally, it comes with an ALL4 exterior body kit that includes 19-inch MINI Yours Masterpiece wheels, as well as a charging port under a flap in the area of the left-hand side scuttle.
Inside, the cabin features a MINI Yours Walknappa Leather steering wheel along with hand-finished aluminium-coloured contrast stitching, 6.5-inch Touch Screen Display with navigation and multi-touch functionality.
There’s now also an eDrive button which allows drivers three different electric drive modes that starts with standard AUTO eDrive that can be driven up to 80kph in electric mode and the SAV will automatically decide when to switch to engine or ‘eBoost’ where both motors are used.
In MAX eDrive, the car prioritises electric mode and allows to be driven up to 120kph with a range of up to 42km on a full charge before switching to engine power.
The SAVE BATTERY mode meanwhile comes into play when the battery charging status is low.
This mode enables the battery to be charged via the petrol engine or allows the charging status to be maintained at 90% and in this mode, the engine is mainly employed.
The latest Countryman utilises an eALL4 all-wheel drive system that takes on a combined output of 221hp and 385Nm with the 1.5-litre (1,499cc) turbocharged BMW (B37) tri-cylinder engine with 134hp at 4,400rpm and 220Nm of torque from 1,250Nm onwards powering the front wheels.
The rear wheels receive the electric motor’s 87hp / 165Nm and gets its juice from a 7.6kWh lithium-ion battery with a 67kW (short term) and 32kW (continuous) discharge rate that’s placed ahead of the electric motor directly beneath the rear seat.
A six-speed automatic transmission has been employed to manage the 224hp and 385Nm of performance, allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 6.8 seconds before reaching a top speed of 198kph. In terms of fuel economy, the new Countryman is able to consume just 2.1 litres per 100km
The New MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid can be charged at home by connecting it to a power socket via the Home Charging Cable for approximately five hours (230V), depending on the voltage of the household power grid.
Or, the vehicle can be charged at one of 270 public charging facilities in Malaysia for approximately three hours and 15 minutes (230V), depending on the voltage of the power grid of the public charging station.
“We are pleased to be able to introduce another premium vehicle to our Mobility of the Future portfolio here in the country. It is additionally special as it is the first for the MINI brand and will further demonstrate our expertise in working with the newest technologies for the premium automotive industry,” said BMW Group Malaysia head of corporate communications Sashi Ambi.
To reward new owners of the Countryman Plug-In Hybrid, the company will also introduce ChargeNow, offering bundled with the MINI Public Charging Cables as well as a one-Year free subscription of unlimited charging at all 270 ChargeEV stations.
Keyword: Meet the new MINI Countryman Plugin Hybrid, priced at RM256K