Automobile Xoop

British car manufacturer Mini will be revealing a new high performance John Cooper Works Countryman at the Geneva Motor Show next March. This model is set to increase Mini’s presence in the World Rally Championship, and it is thought that the Rally team have had some input in this road car.Mini is not giving too much away concerning the technical specifications of the new model, preferring to leave everything until the Geneva launch. Industry insiders have hinted, however, that the new Countryman could have a significant power hike over the Mini Countryman Cooper S, increasing from 177bhp to 215bhp from its 1.6 litre turbocharged engine. This power hike could mean the model reaches 0-62 miles per hour in 7.0 seconds, an increase from the Cooper S which currently reaches the speed in 7.6 seconds.

Other upgrades include the rear brakes, which will be 296mm in diameter rear discs instead of 280mm currently seen on the Countryman Cooper S. In addition, the JCW Countryman will use sports suspension derived from the Cooper S but it will sit 10mm lower than the Cooper S with a ride height of 139mm.

Initially it was thought that the new Countryman would rival the Volkswagen Golf GTI but it would appear that Mini has changed its stance on this, and a new competitor should be revealed at a later date. Currently being tested in severe wintry conditions in Austria is a prototype Mini dealers will be stocking the new Countryman from summer 2012 onward, with prices to be revealed at a later date.