The Mini Countryman ‘Hasn’t Played All Of Its Cards Yet,’ Says Design Boss

• Mini plans to lean more into the outdoor aesthetic with the Countryman.
• Head of design, Holger Hampf, says the SUV ‘hasn’t played all of its cards yet.’
• More Countryman iterations are likely on the way.

Off-roading and overlanding are all the rage these days. More automakers are leaning into that rugged aesthetic, be it with heavily cladded iterations of their unibody crossovers or entirely new SUVs designed to go off the beaten path.

Mini probably isn’t the first name you think of when you hear “off-roading.” Historically, the British brand has been all about urban mobility. And yet, the company’s newest head of design aims to play more in the outdoor space with the Countryman SUV.

Speaking with Motor1 in a recent interview, Holger Hampf admits he has big plans for the Countryman. The design boss says there may be a major opportunity to push the compact SUV further into the outdoor lifestyle space than ever before.

“One thing that I can point out is the trend of outdoor activity and independence—freedom that the car has always given us,” Hampf notes. “That is something I would like to explore more with Mini.”

“You will certainly see some of that in the next couple of years,” Hampf continued. “The Countryman hasn’t played all of its cards yet, and I’m very eager to explore where else Mini can play.”

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Motor1’s Take: Given that the latest Countryman is only two years old, debuting for the 2024 model year, it’s safe to say that more iterations could be on the way. With so many automakers leaning into off-road trends, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Mini do the same.

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