Paris 2010: Mini Countryman WRC looks the part

When Mini first announced it was taking the Countryman to tango with the rest of the brawlers in the World Rally Championship, we had our doubts about the crossover's ability to keep the pace. But judging by the look of the Prodrive-prepped machine, the Countryman WRC should have no problem locking horns with the big boys on the world stage. Mini gave the rally racer an official unveil at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, but the company is keeping the drivetrain details to itself for now.

Not too long ago, the internets enjoyed a rash of videos showing a Countryman WRC prototype busting through the hills of Portugal, so we have some notion of the car's capabilities off tarmac. Will Prodrive's expertise be enough to help Mini keep its head above water in the WRC? Something tells us that all depends on who they stick in the cockpit.

Mini Core Concept - Too crunchy

This is a PROPOSAL MADE for the Mini Mk3 is the most successful and talented mix with neo-retro design, modernity and a true compact that goes against the current trend is to make the Mini ever "and Maousse beefy "to the detriment of the charm, sex appeal and sportiness that has always been delighting fans of Mini.

This very attractive design, we must not for Mini or BMW, but Neil Steinhoff, a student at the University of Applied Sciences in Munich (Hochschule), automotive design option that conducted the Mini Core as part of its plan to end studies.

Mini Core Concept - Too crunchy

This is a PROPOSAL MADE for the Mini Mk3 is the most successful and talented mix with neo-retro design, modernity and a true compact that goes against the current trend is to make the Mini ever "and Maousse beefy "to the detriment of the charm, sex appeal and sportiness that has always been delighting fans of Mini.

This very attractive design, we must not for Mini or BMW, but Neil Steinhoff, a student at the University of Applied Sciences in Munich (Hochschule), automotive design option that conducted the Mini Core as part of its plan to end studies.

Mini Core Concept - Too crunchy

This is a PROPOSAL MADE for the Mini Mk3 is the most successful and talented mix with neo-retro design, modernity and a true compact that goes against the current trend is to make the Mini ever "and Maousse beefy "to the detriment of the charm, sex appeal and sportiness that has always been delighting fans of Mini.

This very attractive design, we must not for Mini or BMW, but Neil Steinhoff, a student at the University of Applied Sciences in Munich (Hochschule), automotive design option that conducted the Mini Core as part of its plan to end studies.

MINI demonstrated a rally MINI Countryman WRC Live Paris 2010

MINI at the Paris Motor Show demonstrated rally Countryman WRC. With this car MINI plans to return to the world championship in 2011, will compete with the other two factory teams, Ford and Citroen.

The machine developed by a team Prodrive, which account for three championship titles in the individual competition with the Subaru. Like all other cars WRC in 2011, MINI Countryman received four-wheel drive, 1.6-liter turbo and a standardized gearbox.

At the same time in 2011, the team is going to take part in only six races of the 13th. Thus, the speech MINI will be of a "battle test". Full participation in the championship in 2012.

Riders will severoirlandets Chris Mick, the champion of a series of IRC 2009. Contract pilot has been officially confirmed at the launch of a new car. This year, Mick was unable to defend his title with a team of Peugeot, and he decided to go to the Championship WRC.

MINI demonstrated a rally MINI Countryman WRC Live Paris 2010

MINI at the Paris Motor Show demonstrated rally Countryman WRC. With this car MINI plans to return to the world championship in 2011, will compete with the other two factory teams, Ford and Citroen.

The machine developed by a team Prodrive, which account for three championship titles in the individual competition with the Subaru. Like all other cars WRC in 2011, MINI Countryman received four-wheel drive, 1.6-liter turbo and a standardized gearbox.

At the same time in 2011, the team is going to take part in only six races of the 13th. Thus, the speech MINI will be of a "battle test". Full participation in the championship in 2012.

Riders will severoirlandets Chris Mick, the champion of a series of IRC 2009. Contract pilot has been officially confirmed at the launch of a new car. This year, Mick was unable to defend his title with a team of Peugeot, and he decided to go to the Championship WRC.

MINI demonstrated a rally MINI Countryman WRC Live Paris 2010

MINI at the Paris Motor Show demonstrated rally Countryman WRC. With this car MINI plans to return to the world championship in 2011, will compete with the other two factory teams, Ford and Citroen.

The machine developed by a team Prodrive, which account for three championship titles in the individual competition with the Subaru. Like all other cars WRC in 2011, MINI Countryman received four-wheel drive, 1.6-liter turbo and a standardized gearbox.

At the same time in 2011, the team is going to take part in only six races of the 13th. Thus, the speech MINI will be of a "battle test". Full participation in the championship in 2012.

Riders will severoirlandets Chris Mick, the champion of a series of IRC 2009. Contract pilot has been officially confirmed at the launch of a new car. This year, Mick was unable to defend his title with a team of Peugeot, and he decided to go to the Championship WRC.

MINI has shown an electric scooter in Paris 2010 Live Pictures

British manufacturer of iconic compact cars MINI revealed at an international motor show in Paris on his first two-wheeled vehicle - an electric scooter MINI Scooter E Concept. The design of the pilot car traced the traditional style of MINI.

The electric motor integrated in the rear wheel, allows the MINI Scooter E Concept swiftly carry out even complex maneuvers. As a source of power in favor of lithium-ion battery, which can be recharged from an ordinary electrical outlet.

Electric scooter offers a wide range of options for personalization, as well as the possibility of integrating smartphones into the control system of the vehicle.

MINI has shown an electric scooter in Paris 2010 Live Pictures

British manufacturer of iconic compact cars MINI revealed at an international motor show in Paris on his first two-wheeled vehicle - an electric scooter MINI Scooter E Concept. The design of the pilot car traced the traditional style of MINI.

The electric motor integrated in the rear wheel, allows the MINI Scooter E Concept swiftly carry out even complex maneuvers. As a source of power in favor of lithium-ion battery, which can be recharged from an ordinary electrical outlet.

Electric scooter offers a wide range of options for personalization, as well as the possibility of integrating smartphones into the control system of the vehicle.

MINI has shown an electric scooter in Paris 2010 Live Pictures

British manufacturer of iconic compact cars MINI revealed at an international motor show in Paris on his first two-wheeled vehicle - an electric scooter MINI Scooter E Concept. The design of the pilot car traced the traditional style of MINI.

The electric motor integrated in the rear wheel, allows the MINI Scooter E Concept swiftly carry out even complex maneuvers. As a source of power in favor of lithium-ion battery, which can be recharged from an ordinary electrical outlet.

Electric scooter offers a wide range of options for personalization, as well as the possibility of integrating smartphones into the control system of the vehicle.

Minor updates to Mini Cooper leaked

If loose lips truly sank ships, the interwebs would be at the bottom of the Pacific. A few shots of the 2011 Mini Cooper and Cooper S have hit the web courtesy of the keen-eyed crew at MotoringFile. As you might expect, Mini isn't exactly walking away from the iconic shape that has dominated the brand since it hit the scene a few short years ago. Instead, it looks like we'll be seeing (very) slightly reworked front fascias with something of a smiley face treatment and a host of LED lighting.

From what we can tell from these few leaked brochure photos, it looks like we can expect a few new colors to hit the Cooper pallete as well. The base Cooper will be available dipped in Spice Orange and the Cooper S will boast a powder blue hue in addition to the spectrum already available for the car. So far, we're not quite sure what to expect in terms of power or drivetrain additions, but our guess is things will continue to stay pretty much the same for 2011.


[Source: MotoringFile]