So apparently the Mini Countryman was unveiled back in January. Somehow, I completely missed that fact.

Anyway, let's start with the basics. The Mini Countryman is a Mini (duh). The design cues are all there from the big headlights on the corners to that two-box shape. That's where the similarities on the exterior really end.

The Countryman looks massive when compared to the other offerings in the Mini range. It's taller, wider, and bolder overall. No more of that cute crap, right? I certainly hope not.

When I first saw a photo of the Countryman, only one thing came to mind. This thing looks absolutely flabbergasted. See this cat:

Now, compare it to the face of the Countryman. Absolutely no difference whatsoever. Either that or it has a moustache from a western film and a goatee rounding out the face.

The front is much more square this time around and as a result, much more imposing. The headlights aren't the traditional ovals, but look more like bloated pentagons. They look massive on the front of the car and a million times meaner.

My absolute favorite piece of design on this car is the new kink in the roof that occurs right after the C-Pillar at the back of the car. It's great to see the Mini designers taking cues from the simply stunning Coupe Concept.

The plastic that runs along the wheel arches and bottom of the car is something that I'm not particularly a fan of. However, I do see where Mini thought it would be a nice touch. The detail gives the Countryman some offroad credibility, however little it may be in a $30,000 car the size of Shaquille O'Neal's shoe.

That being said, the Countryman is frankly stunning from an overhead view. There is one specific press shot, below in the gallery, where in the helicopter view of the car, all of the doors are open. With the 4 doors out of the way, the Mini has these BEAUTIFULLY accentuated hips and shoulders. The curves just make me drool. This, to me, is the biggest problem with the Countryman.

Sure, for a MINI this car, SUV, crossover thing is wild and outrageous. The issue that I have is that for just about any other manufacturer, this new car is fairly bland. I want vents, gills, hood scoops, and most of all curves! 

theCD's take: The Mini Countryman is, all in all, a fairly good looking car and a great addition to the Mini lineup. 

Gallery: 

 

One random slightly unrelated thought: Why is the girl in one of the interior shots holding a 1st gen iPod brick? 

Video: