USA - The ALl-New MINI Countryman is ready for ordering in the USA, with the ALL4 Cooper topping the range.

MINI USA announced pricing today on its all-new 2017 MINI Countryman, the best equipped MINI ever, with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $26,100 for the Cooper variant and $28,100 for the Cooper ALL4 variant. The Cooper S variant will start at $29,100 and the Cooper S ALL4 variant at $31,100.  

All prices exclude the $850 Destination & Handling fee. Pricing for the first ever MINI plug-in hybrid model, the Cooper S E Countryman ALL4, will be announced in 2017 closer to market launch in the U.S.

The all-new MINI Countryman has been completely redesigned and reengineered from the ground up, yet still is instantly identifiable as a MINI. 

Now incorporating BMW Group engine technology and vehicle architecture, the all-new MINI Countryman offers an all-turbocharged engine lineup with outstanding acceleration and the famous go-kart driving dynamics – especially when experienced with the added traction that comes from the latest generation of ALL4 all-wheel drive. 

At the same time, this new architecture delivers excellent ride quality and enables the most spacious MINI interior ever.

“The MINI Countryman has been a top selling model since it was first introduced in 2010 and we expect this new generation will be even more popular with existing owners, while also attracting new customers to the brand,” said Thomas Felbermair, Vice President MINI of the Americas. 

“The new Countryman not only provides customers with additional space for cargo and passengers, but also offers a new plug-in hybrid option with performance attributes that underline the fun to drive go-kart handling that MINI owners know and love.”

Like every MINI model in the product line up, options are available a la carte, as well as in bundled packages. This means customers can have the freedom to pay for only what they want or need or have the option to go with bundled packages.

Pre-Outfitted with Premium Features

Although the new MINI Countryman continues the MINI tradition of offering an incredible array of possibilities for custom configuration, it is also the best equipped MINI ever sold, meaning customers will find that the car is already loaded before they’ve added any options. Every MINI Countryman will come standard with:

• An expansive Panorama Sunroof
• Sensatec Leatherette Upholstery
• Comfort Access keyless entry
• MINI Connected infotainment system with 6.5-inch high-resolution display
• Rear View Camera with guidelines
• Rear Park Distance Control (parking sensors)
• Bluetooth supporting Telephone, Audio Streaming, and Siri Eyes Free
• Automatic Headlights and Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers
• Fore-and-Aft Sliding Rear Seats with Reclining and 40:20:40 Split-Folding Backrests
• 17-inch light alloy wheels (Cooper) or 18-inch light alloy wheels (Cooper S)

Models with ALL4 all-wheel drive also come standard with heated seats. Cooper S models (with and without ALL4) come with standard LED headlights and daytime running lights, bolstered sport seats, and 18-inch light alloy wheels.

In addition to the standard features highlighted above, the new MINI Countryman features a number of options to improve the overall experience for the driver and passenger using a completely new generation of technology. 

An optional Technology Package includes a new 8.8-inch touchscreen navigation system, featuring MINI Connected 5.0, a redesigned and new-generation user interface and operating system,  as well as Qi wireless device charging capability and MINI Find Mate personal item tracking tags.

The new MINI Countryman will go on sale in March 2017 at MINI dealers across the U.S. with the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 plug-in hybrid following in June 2017. Pricing for the plug-in hybrid will be announced in 2017 closer to market launch in the U.S.

Vauxhall launches some spy shots of the new generation Insignia before its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show.

• Vauxhall flagship with all-new architecture and top technologies
• Debuts in March at the Geneva Motor Show 2017
• Elegant, athletic silhouette apparent despite camouflage

Covered in camouflage, Vauxhall’s all-new flagship model, which will be known as the Insignia Grand Sport, is in its final stage of development on UK roads before it makes its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show next March.

The Insignia Grand Sport is a five-door hatchback that is based on a completely new architecture and has a considerably longer wheelbase (by over 9cm) than its predecessor. But thanks to markedly shorter front and rear overhangs, it is only 5.5cm longer than the outgoing model. 

The 1cm wider track and 3cm lower roofline emphasise the Insignia Grand Sport’s dashing presence. These altered proportions give the next generation of Vauxhall’s flagship a look that is more athletic and striking than ever before.

And by using lightweight materials, Vauxhall engineers were able to shave up to 175kg off of the new model. Optimised packaging also allows for a much roomier interior and cutting-edge technology on board.

At the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, Vauxhall gave a glimpse into the future of the automobile with the visionary Monza Concept Study: light, athletic, and efficient, with cutting-edge connectivity. The new Astra, which was named “Car of the Year 2016”, follows this philosophy. With the Insignia Grand Sport, Vauxhall now launches a model that further realises these standards and takes them to the next level.

The newcomer is noticeably larger than the current Insignia both inside and out, putting it in another league in terms of size, roominess and comfort. And of course, Vauxhall continues to make the latest technological innovations available to the widest audience at an affordable price.

“Vauxhall is raising its game even further with the launch of the new Insignia Grand Sport,” said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. “It will set new standards for design, efficiency, technology and connectivity when it debuts next year at the Geneva Motor Show.”

A frequent class-leader in the UK’s D-sector, over 900,000 Insignias have been sold in Europe and it was named “Car of the Year” in 2009.