And from $59,990 drive-away.
MINI has announced the impending arrival of a new special-edition Countryman, that will undoubtedly appeal to those in touch with their darker sides. Or fashion themselves as goths. The Mini Blackheath Countryman is a limited-run model, with just 60 examples set to make their way onto our shores. The blacked-out Countryman is said to be inspired by the Blackheath district, in the southeast of London, but this writer doesn’t remember that area to be a sea of black…
Regardless, the Blackheath Edition won’t come cheap: At $59,990 drive-away, it represents an $11,090 premium over the Countryman Cooper S that it’s based on, though in addition to the all-black appearance there are a number of kit updates that go some way in justifying that pricetag. You won’t find any of that justification under the bonnet though, with the same 2.0-litre turbo-4 with 141kW and 280Nm sending power to the front wheels via an 8-speed auto, just like the Countryman Cooper S.
Where you may see it is in the appearance, with Midnight Black paint employed everywhere (including the roof & mirror caps), ‘highlighted’ by roof rails & side mouldings in gloss black, while there are black brushed-aluminium bonnet stripes as well. The trim for the head- and tail-light surrounds are also finished in gloss black, as are the door handles and grille trim for good measure.
Not black enough? The ‘Countryman’ badge on the rear is black, too.
Step inside and you’ll notice even more use of the shade, with Carbon Black ‘Leather Cross Punch’ interior upholstery, Anthracite headliner, and Piano Black cabin inserts. But don’t worry, there are some bits of chrome dotted around the place.
The cabin is also fitted with both the Climate and Multimedia Pro packages, which incorporate various other niceties as standard. You get a panoramic sunroof (needed, in such a dark interior), rear privacy glass, an 8.8-inch infotainment screen, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, heated front seats, a heads-up display, and a MINI Find Mate Bluetooth tag system.
Again, it’s worth bearing in mind that a not-black Mini Countryman Cooper S can be had for a little over $11k less than this Blackheath Edition, regardless of the standard kit it comes with. And arguably, for those who aren’t trying to reconnect with the emo-teenager within them, opting for a regular, cheerful Mini Countryman might be the better bet here, anyway.
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