MINI invited us to Cascais in Portugal to get acquainted with the brand new Countryman. We’ve already proven you the totally electrical SE ALL4 mannequin however there was additionally a wholly completely different all-wheel-drive model on location. Sure, we’re speaking in regards to the totally fledged John Cooper Works mannequin. It shouldn’t be confused with the namesake John Cooper Works Trim that the Oxford-based marque can be promoting with visible upgrades however no efficiency enhancements.

Painted in Midnight Black Metallic with Chilli Purple accents on the roof and mirrors, the 2025 Countryman JCW has chunky 20-inch wheels with a two-tone end and a flag-like design. The model MINI determined to showcase had darkish roof rails, blacked-out badges, and that discreetly up to date John Cooper Works emblem. The outside theme carries over contained in the predominantly black cabin with purple contrasting accents. If the black look isn’t your cup of tea, MINI additionally had a Countryman JCW in Nanuq White in Portugal.

The brand new MINI Countryman JCW is a substitute for the BMW X1 M35i for many who need a bit extra visible pizzazz. As soon as once more, the BMW Group has finished an ideal job of differentiating two fashions that use the identical underpinnings. Not simply on the skin but additionally on the within because the OLED round show is unique to MINIs. The infotainment has a distinct interface though it runs on the identical Android Automotive OS as BMW’s iDrive 9.

Though it stays boxy, MINI has managed to decrease the Countryman’s drag coefficient to solely 0.26. One other notable change is the adoption of larger tires for improved traction to make sure optimum energy supply from the turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine. The four-pot has 296 hp and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) on faucet, sufficient for a 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.4 seconds. Flat out, it’ll do an electronically capped 155 mph (250 km/h). These efficiency figures mirror these of the X1 M35i bought in Europe.

You may’t essentially inform by these photographs, however the third-generation mannequin has blossomed into a real compact automobile. Certainly, the Countryman (“U25”) is now 4433 millimeters (174.5 inches) lengthy, 1843 mm (72.5 in) extensive, and 1656 mm (65.2 in) tall, with a wheelbase measuring 2692 mm (106 in). Not a lot of a mini anymore, is it?