Mini brings Countryman C to India, opens bookings: Here’s what’s on offer

Mini has started accepting pre-bookings for its Countryman C petrol SUV from Wednesday. Beyond the initiation of bookings, the lower-spec, two-wheel-drive petrol variant of the third-generation Countryman will be manufactured at BMW’s Chennai plant, as reported by Autocar magazine.

The other performance-focused variants of the Countryman, including the electric version, will continue to be brought in as CBU imports. All previous versions of the Countryman were also assembled locally, with the first in 2013 and the second in 2018.

Mini Countryman C powertrain expectations

The Countryman petrol is expected to be based on the same front-wheel-drive platform as the BMW X1, which is also assembled in India. The car may share BMW SUV’s 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Alternatively, Mini may offer the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine from the Countryman S.

More from Auto

The Mini lineup now spans multiple powertrains and performance levels. While the Countryman C focuses on comfort, space, and petrol-powered efficiency, the Countryman S caters to enthusiasts with its performance-oriented setup. There is also an electric version that represents the brand’s push towards electrification in India.

Mini India currently operates through 12 sales touchpoints across nine cities. The Countryman marque was launched in 2010 and later received a facelift in 2020. The third generation of the Countryman was launched in 2023.

Production in India was part of an expansion across three key locations, including the plant near Chennai, as well as facilities in Kulim, Kedah, and BMW’s manufacturing plant in Rayong, Thailand, established in August 2013.

The Countryman is the first car from Mini to subscribe to the new design language called “Charismatic Simplicity.” The styling is distinctive, as it has been streamlined over the existing platform of the BMW X1.