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(Olaolu Olusina) The Group Product Communication Manager for BMW Group South Africa, Edward Makwana, has assured BMW/MINI Countryman dealers across the Sub-Sahara African markets that they will soon have the new-look MINI to offer to their customers. He also assured that all the necessary after-sales support will be provided to the dealers to make the new plan for the 2017 MINI Countryman a huge success.
Makwana, who also oversees Product Communication for the BMW Group Sub-Saharan Africa Region, gave the assurance while hosting a select group of African auto journalists at the National Media Launch of the new MINI Countryman in Durban, South Africa, recently.
He disclosed that the all-new MINI Countryman has been enhanced and upgraded in line with the plan to move the car from the compact segment to the premium segment of the market.
According to Makwana, “Our focus is to maximise the MINI experience by cutting down the models from seven to five…We are giving the MINI a fresh look in terms of identity, much more modern, cleaner and attractive for the modern time. We are giving our dealers a new look MINI and moving the market from the compact market to the premium market .”
Continuing, Makwana said : “MINI is about individualisation and there is a lot of individualisation you can choose from,” even as he disclosed that the target of the new MINI Countryman are customers looking for more space even when they are single and those with families looking for a bigger car.
Featuring an entirely newly-developed engine technology, Makwana said for the market launch, there are two petrol and one diesel engines of the latest generation available to choose from, each with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology.
With five fully-fledged leather seats, clear increase in space and versatility, electrical tailgate control as well as touch-less opening and closing of the tailgate, central instrument with touchscreen function for the first time and much more, MINI, the tradition-steeped British brand, is set to continue its advance into the premium compact segment. Also coming with park distance control, rear view camera, among other options, the new MINI Countryman is the biggest and most versatile model in the brand’s 57-year history. And having been completely developed, the new MINI Countryman now reflects considerable advancements in the areas of space, functionality, athletic flair and premium characteristics.
The new MINI Countryman also comes with exotic features such as a 6.5 inches navigation colour display screen on the dash, specialised tyres with light alloy wheels option, 20 centimetres ground clearance improvement, good cruise control and sensor to warn of a close object from the back.
BMW sole representative in Nigeria, Coscharis Motors, is already warming up to receiving the new MINI Countryman for the Nigerian market, as the car is expected to arrive in the country between May and June.
