According to an interesting ongoing topic over at German Car Zone, BMW have applied to register the word Countryman as a trademark. While, like many companies, BMW have registered a number of names which have, as yet at least, never seen the light of day, the Countryman name would be a solid choice for the new MINI crossover, due to take its public bow at the Frankfurt Motorshow this coming September.
The Countryman name originates from the 1960 introduction of the Austin Se7en Countryman and it’s Morris counterpart, the Morris Mini-Traveller. These vehicles were the long wheelbase versions of the Austin Se7en and Morris Mini-Minor, offering improved luggage capacity and flexibility.
The Austin Se7en Countryman featured wood panelling and rear barn doors similar to those featured on the new MINI Clubman. The long wheelbase was shared with a van and latterly a pickup variant of the “Mini”. The name Mini only officially being adopted in 1962, which was the same year all metal versions of the Countryman and Mini-Traveller became an option to purchase.
The original Ausin Se7en Countryman had a wheelbase of 2,140mm, a 0-60 mph figure of 33.8 seconds and returned an average fuel consumption of 38 mpg. Compare this with the current MINI Cooper and its wheelbase of 2,467mm, 0-62 mph figure of 9.1 seconds, and an average fuel consumption of 52.3 mpg (combined), and you can see just how things have moved on over half a century of MINI evolution.
The Countryman name, assuming it is the option BMW go for, does make sense for the new, bigger MINI. If nothing else it should prove less confusing for those who, following the release of the new MINI Clubman, seem lead to believe that the “Clubman” name has always been used on estate versions of the Classic Mini.
Tags: bmw, Countryman, mini, MINI Countryman, MINI crossover, mini crossover concept, R60, Trademark
