While Mini has been busy promoting the electric Cooper SE, it still has some unfinished business left to attend to in its core combustion car lineup. So far, the Mini Cooper Hardtop, Convertible, and the Clubman wagon have been refreshed, but the popular Countryman has been neglected.
That's soon about to change, however, because a prototype of the upcoming Mini Countryman facelift has been spotted by our spy photographers. The regular model still has some camouflage covering the front and rear hiding some minor styling changes. We also get a better look at the LED taillights featuring a Union Jack pattern.
More changes can be seen on photos sent to us of two Mini Countryman S prototypes sporting less camouflage than the regular model. Shown from the front, we get a good look at the updated grille, which now has horizontal slats, as well as a redesigned front bumper and new headlights. As expected, the styling changes introduced for the 2019 Mini Hardtop and Countryman will carry over to the updated Countryman.
Our spies didn't manage to snap any photos of the interior, but the cabin should see some improvements including a larger navigation screen and a standard 6.5-inch infotainment screen. Personalization options should also be expanded.
Engine options will likely carry over, meaning the Mini Countryman facelift will probably be offered with a 1.5-liter turbo inline-3 engine sending 134 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque to either the front or all four wheels in the Cooper model. Available transmissions will include a six-speed manual, six-speed automatic, or an eight-speed automatic, with the latter only available for the all-wheel-drive version.
The current Cooper S uses a 2.0-liter turbo inline-4 gasoline engine producing 189 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque and is available with front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and an eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual gearbox. A plug-in hybrid variant is also available. Mini hasn't announced when the refreshed Countryman will debut, but we're expecting it to arrive sometime next year.