It was a dual delight for the self-proclaimed MINIacs as the ever-popular MINI Road Trip made its return for 2024 heading to the Cranbrook Flower Forest, Laughlands, Llandovery, St Ann, on Saturday, February 10.

“Our first MINI Road Trip for 2024 has been very exciting. We combined the road trip with a launch, which we’ve never done before. We’re happy to see so many new MINIacs come out, as well as our old MINI family members to enjoy and experience the all-new MINI Countryman,” Mellisa Bailey, sales manager, MINI Jamaica, told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.

Other than the customary fun of making the usual weekend country run, those who made the trek were treated to a first peek at the all-new 2024 MINI Countryman.

“It’s bigger. It’s better. It captures everything that is MINI, while keeping the things that have been iconic to MINI, so we’re very excited about it. We want everyone to come in and test drive and take a look at it,” said Bailey.

The most popular MINI model, locally and worldwide, the crossover sport utility vehicle has gone through a major overhaul in order to retain its top-seller status. The first — and most obvious — update are the dimensions, as it’s now larger, boasting 13 more centimetres in length and eight centimetres of height.

Minimalism is the design theme for the vehicle and the rounder body has been transformed into a more angular, boxy shape while still keeping the familiar upright silhouette for which the Countryman is known.

There is now a new, larger octagonal front grille flanked by LED headlights with matching LED rear lights. Piano black exterior accents continue from the previous model, now including standard roof rails. Most distinctive is the C-pillar, highlighting MINI’s dual roof and body colour styling trend.

Wheel and tyre packages now run from 17 to 21-inches.

On the inside, the connection to MINI history has been even more solidified as the iconic round centre speedometer of the original MINI Cooper has been interpreted for the modern generation. All driver instrumentation has been moved to the middle of the dashboard into a 240mm diameter OLED display that also acts as the infotainment screen.

The uncluttered dashboard not only adds an even greater sense of space, but allows further customisations via the various trim packages MINI is famous for. The larger body size means more passenger space with those in the rear gaining the most through sliding and reclinable seating.

To start, there will be two MINI Countryman variants, the Countryman C, and the Countryman S ALL4 — the former using a three-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a mild hybrid 14kW electric motor, and the later having all-wheel drive and a 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

Both have generous standard equipment according to Sloane Jackson, head of business, ATL Autobahn. Base trim levels are Essential, Classic, Favoured and JCW, but in MINI tradition a wide range of customisation options are available.

“The Countryman is our flagship car. It’s literally our bread and butter. It’s Jamaica’s favourite MINI. It’s the SUV for the family. It’s the biggest MINI model and it’s gotten even bigger. It’s very important to us. It’s fit for families, singles, everybody,” she added.

Apart from having total access to the idyllic location that was Cranbrook Flower Forest to explore to their hearts’ content, the MINIacs were treated to beginner yoga lessons, a sip & paint session with MINI Create, numerous games in which to win MINI swag, all while having the musical stylings of Coppershot in the background.

Bailey assured MINIacs that there was plenty more excitement to come during 2024 with even more MINI events and new vehicle launches on the way.