Jakarta Java Kini - Jakarta's City Magazine

A rugged version of the legendary MINI Cooper is making its Indonesian debut.

Who hasn’t heard of the MINI Cooper? For decades now, this internationally renowned British classic, a souped up version of the original Mini, has been a firm favourite. In early 2012, BMW Group Indonesia brought the latest model to the country in the shape of the more family-friendly MINI Countryman. This is the first model in the MINI range to feature four doors and a wide-opening tailgate. Combined with increased ground clearance and a raised seating position, this is basically a jeep version of the MINI Cooper.

The interior of the MINI Countryman is in keeping with the brand’s familiar style but also boasts a selection of newly designed functional elements. The slightly raised seating position allows easy entry, optimises the driver’s view over the road and reinforces the powerful character of this new model.

Power output ranges from 120 hp in the MINI Cooper Countryman to 184 hp in the MINI Cooper S Countryman. With its twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection, which is now complemented by fully variable valve management, the 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine in the range-topping MINI Cooper S Countryman offers by far the best balance between output and fuel consumption in its displacement class. The engine is also equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission that features Steptronic.

_{Our testing notes}

_{Last February, we got the chance to test drive the new Countryman down at Senayan City Mall and we have to confess that we absolutely loved the car. The first thing that caught our attention was the visual technology, which is able to integrate with the iPod. This technology is really new, can only be found in the MINI Countryman and enables the driver to monitor everything from tyre pressure to iPod or iPhone playlists. The Harmon audio system is also a winner and pumps out a super-crisp sound. It was raining when we went out for our test drive and the rear wipers turned on automatically, as the car comes complete with rain-sensor technology. The wiper speed even adjusts itself automatically, depending on the intensity of the rain. And as the rain became quite heavy, the bi-xenon, auto-levelling headlamps also came in handy.}

_{The suspension stood up pretty well next to other models in the MINI series, as the Countryman’s ground clearance is higher. The Steptronic transmission was also able to whip up some rapid accelerationvvv and responded well to our stampings on the accelerator pedal. The rear-sonar-parking sensor makes squeezing into narrow spaces a breeze and as you move the gear stick to the R position, a neat visual display fires up immediately and shows the position of the car with respect to surrounding objects. Driving the new MINI Cooper Countryman proved to be a fun experience indeed. www.mini.co.id}

The front-end of the MINI Cooper Countryman is characterised by three silver, horizontal grille slats which create a free-floating impression while the exterior bodywork is accentuated by chrome lines which give the car a striking presence.  The new Cooper also features a roof that is the same colour as the body, roof rails, an electrical glass roof and a mirror cap that also matches the body colour.

The entertainment and communication system in MINI Cooper Countryman features a Radio MINI Boost CD, as well as a Bluetooth hands-free system with a USB interface. In addition, the MINI Connected offers Apple iPhone users access to innovative functions which have been designed to enhance driving fun, entertainment and social networking. The intelligent link-up allows users to send posts while on the move via the online social networks of Facebook and Twitter.

Moving onto vehicle safety, the MINI Countryman features the highest standards of safety equipment, including DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) and DSC (Dynamic Stability Control). There are ABS anti-lock brakes, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Brake Assist and Hill Assist.  The new models also come equipped with six airbags as standard.