Poise and assurance on the road and beyond. Power transfer and chassis.
The MINI John Cooper Works Countryman delivers extreme driving fun on any terrain through the confluence of unbridled engine power, traction optimised to the situation at hand and assured roadholding. Its new engine develops higher output than any MINI before it, the ALL4 all-wheel-drive system transfers this power to the road to maximum effect, and the John Cooper Works chassis conjures up inspirational agility with every turn of the steering wheel.
The racing expertise of John Cooper Works, built up over many years of competition experience, is also reflected in the precise interplay of engine, power transfer systems and chassis. Spirited acceleration, enthralling handling and variable power distribution between the front and rear wheels combine to imbue the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman with a fresh take on the classic racing feeling.
MINI ALL4: the key to extreme driving fun on and off the beaten track.
The MINI John Cooper Works Countryman is the first model from the fold to send the imposing output from its motor sport-inspired engine through all four wheels. The new car’s ALL4 all-wheel-drive system uses an electromagnetic centre differential to distribute drive seamlessly between the front and rear axles. This ensures the engine’s power always finds its way to where it can be converted most effectively into forward motion.
In normal driving situations ALL4 diverts 50 per cent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels, rising to as much as 100 per cent in extreme conditions, such as on ice and snow-covered surfaces. This provides a traction-led expression of the handling talents for which MINI is famed, whatever the weather and road conditions.
The control electronics of the MINI ALL4 system are integrated directly into the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) management unit, which gives ALL4 response times of less than a tenth of a second. The system examines the data collected by DSC precisely and uses it to carry out pre-emptive adjustments in the distribution of power. And that means the driver enjoys outstanding agility combined with surefooted – in other words, typically
MINI – driving characteristics. The MINI ALL4 system’s proactive interventions optimise stability and traction through dynamically taken corners, for example, by distributing drive as required and therefore delaying the moment when DSC has to step in to prevent spinning wheels.
Sports suspension, including lower ride height, as standard.
Another central element in defining the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman’s elite sporting character is its chassis technology, which includes a single-joint MacPherson spring strut front axle and forged cross members, a central-arm rear axle, Electric Power Steering with speed-sensitive power assistance, and extremely effective brakes with red callipers. The front brake discs are 307 millimetres in diameter and 24 millimetres thick, while the rear discs measure 296 x 10 millimetres. The standard sports suspension includes extremely firm tuning for the springs and dampers, strengthened anti-roll bars and a 10-millimetre drop in ride height.
18-inch Twin Spoke light-alloy wheels with polished spoke fronts and black rim wells are fitted as standard and come with 225/45 R18 format tyres. 19-inch light-alloy wheels designed exclusively for the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman are also available as an option.
The standard DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system also comprises DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) mode, which allows a degree of wheel spin to help the driver pull away on loose sand or snow, for example. In DSC Off mode, an electronic locking function for the front axle differential comes into play. In tight corners it brakes a spinning wheel as required to improve handling. Known as Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC), this system enhances the car’s traction without adversely affecting its steering properties.
The MINI John Cooper Works Countryman’s assured road manners are complemented by a comprehensive array of safety equipment. The car’s high-strength body structure teams up with standard safety features that include front and side airbags, side curtain airbags for the front and rear seats, three-point inertia-reel seat belts for all occupants, belt tensioners and belt force limiters for the front seats, and ISOFIX child seat attachments in the rear to provide outstanding occupant protection all-round. The MINI Countryman was awarded the maximum five-star rating in Euro NCAP cra
More about the Mini John Cooper Works Countryman
-
Extreme driving fun on any terrain – The MINI John Cooper Works Countryman
-
MINI John Cooper Works Countryman more power, more space, more individuality Concept and design.
-
MINI John Cooper Works Countryman – Power transfer and chassis
sh testing.
