Following the earlier sightings of camouflaged MINI Countryman prototypes, spy photographers caught another one in the wild, and this time they were able to grab a couple of interior shots revealing the design of the dashboard for the first time. Thankfully a large portion of the interior was uncovered, allowing us to see all of the new bits. The highlight is the huge round element on the center console that is now all screen, without the cutouts of the current Countryman. While not as harmoniously integrated with the dashboard as before, the screen looks similar to the one we recently saw on leaked pictures of the 2023 MINI Hatch EV.

The circular infotainment touchscreen is combined with a small digital instrument cluster and a head-up display. Compared to the outgoing Countryman we can also see horizontally-arranged climate vents, and fewer physical buttons and toggle switches. The steering wheel is also borrowed from the upcoming MINI Hatch EV, with two spokes integrating new buttons. Obviously, not all parts of the interior are production-spec, with some dummy switches on the center tunnel that will be replaced in the final design.

 

While the exterior design will look familiar, the next generation of the MINI Countryman will be larger than the outgoing model with reports stating a length increase of around 200 mm. This will likely translate to more room for the passengers and a larger boot, bringing the car closer to the upper end of its segment in terms of size and practicality.

The next MINI Countryman will share the FAAR platform with the upcoming BMW X1 and the 2-Series Active Tourer. MINI has confirmed that besides gasoline and diesel powertrains, the Countryman will be offered in fully electric form for the first time. In terms of performance-focused variants, the S and JCW will likely feature an updated 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo engine combined with sporty design cues, beefier brakes, quad exhaust pipes, and a more focused suspension setup. There are also rumors for an EV-only coupe-SUV sibling, that could bring back the Paceman name. We expect the MINI Countryman to be revealed sometime in 2023, following the BMW X1 sibling that is expected in 2022. Both models will be produced in the same factory in Leipzig, Germany.