These are the first pictures of the Mini Countryman, which have leaked out just hours after the company began the build up to the car's launch with a teaser video.
Well-placed sources have confirmed the images are genuine, although Mini has yet to officially confirm the veracity of the pictures.
See the leaked Mini Countryman images
The exterior photos show a Cooper S version of the Countryman carrying an 'All4' four-wheel-drive badge. Although it rides lower than the Beachcomber concept, this is thought to be largely because it is sitting on smaller tyres.
Inside, the layout remains faithful to the new Mini, including the oversized speedo and toggle switches.
The first official images of the car had been scheduled to be released next month, before it was unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March. The Mini Countryman goes on sale this September from around £17,000.
The new model is a shade over four metres long and shifts Mini into more family-orientated territory.
The Countryman will be the first of the BMW-generation Minis to be built outside of the UK. Instead of being made at Cowley, the Countryman will be manufactured by Magna at its Graz plant in Austria.
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I have to agree with others,
Re: Mini Countryman revealed
The designers at Mini must have Swine Flu, because the Countryman looks like a Pig.
Re: Mini Countryman revealed
But any number of cars would do this quite easily. Most of them smaller on the outside cheaper and more efficient. And all of them better looking...
This hasn't answered any questions that haven't already been asked!
Apropos the Cadbury analogy - One of the big worries is that Kraft will meddle with the recipies (like Nestlé did with Rowntrees).
So, take some thing essentially British, take it over, call it the same, make it look the same but underneath change the recipe.
Sound familiar?