The Countryman, no doubt, is an aspirational five-seater SUV as it beautifully balances the retro looks with state-of-the-art technology. According to Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India, “The new MINI Countryman inspires you to take the path to new experiences and new horizons of the mind. This versatile sports activity vehicle (SAV) is just as home in an urban jungle as it is in the great outdoors. Its adrenaline-pumping engine, elegant interior design features, and latest technology blend harmoniously together.”
The Countryman easily stands out in the crowd as it retains MINI’s unique boxy rugged design with signature oval-shaped angular headlights. The LED adaptive headlamps are housed in an external piano black casing. The revised mesh grille is all-black in colours like the lower bumper, which also houses the fog lamps and vertical air dams. To add a sporty flair to its exteriors, the Countryman showcases black racing stripes on the bonnet, contrasting black roof and wheel arches along with silver roof rails. Coming to the rear, the crossover gets the trademark Union Jack LED taillights with vertical reflectors on the bumpers. It also gets silver-coloured skid plates at the front and rear.
The Cooper S comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, while the JCW Inspired version gets bigger 18-inches with run-flat tyres, a white coloured roof and a Comfort Access System that allows you to open the car door and start the engine without taking the key out of the pocket. This system is also in sync with the boot, which can be opened by swiping your foot underneath the rear fender.
Step inside the cabin and the circular touchscreen welcomes you in the middle of the dashboard. Moving below and the centre console sports physical buttons and metal finished retro toggle switches. The Cooper S is equipped with a 6.5-inch touchscreen with an LED ring around it. At the same time, the JSW Inspired gets a bigger 8.8-inch infotainment unit including navigation system, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charger, Harman Kardon music system, adjustable rear seats, 2-zone automatic climate control, panoramic sunroof and an all-digit 5.5-inch instrument cluster. On the other hand, the front seats are electrically adjustable, and the driver side comes with a seat memory function. The Cooper S’s cabin is slightly subdued with carbon black interiors and upholstery, while the top variant JCW Inspired takes the luxury quotient to the next level as it gets an option of either Chester Malt Brown or Chester Satellite Grey colour trims.
Now, coming to the million-dollar question, what lies under the hood? The new Countryman is only available in petrol and is powered by the 2-litre 4-cylinder engine with TwinPower Turbo technology, which churns out 189bhp and 280Nm of torque. Just to give you an idea of how quick it is off the mark; both the variants do 0-100km in just 7.5 seconds and boast a top speed of 225kmph. The Cooper S is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), and the JCW Inspired takes a notch higher with the seven-speed Sport DCT that offers quick gear shifts, paddle shifters and launch control for faster acceleration from standstill.
To make the driving more involving, the MINI Countryman has three driving modes. The individual mode lets you customise the suspension set up and driving dynamics according to your preference. Apart from this it also comes with Green (Eco) and Sport mode.
As expected, the Countryman comes fully loaded with safety features like front airbags, brake assist, cornering brake control, anti-lock braking system (ABS), Dynamic Stability Control and much more.
The Countryman doesn’t really have any direct competition, but in terms of a compact luxury SUV, the Audi Q2, Volvo XC40 and the upcoming new Mercedes-Benz GLA are the other options available in the market along with the BMW X1. (MT)
Lexus India Launches New RX350h Exquisite Grade At INR 8.99 Million
- By MT Bureau
- December 03, 2025
Japanese luxury brand Lexus India has introduced a new ‘Exquisite’ grade to its RX 350h line-up, strengthening the model’s presence in the luxury SUV segment.
The new RX 350h Exquisite grade starts at INR 8.99 million (ex-showroom), which goes up to INR 10.09 million (ex-showroom).
The RX 350h Exquisite grade features Lexus’ hybrid system, which combines a highly efficient 2.5-litre inline 4-cylinder engine and high-output motor. It includes a bipolar nickel-metal hydride battery with enhanced performance. On the inside, it gets 10-way power adjusted front seats, heated and ventilated seating for front & rear seats and ambient lighting.
The RX 500h F-SPORT grade is the only Performance Hybrid Electric Turbocharged Luxury SUV in India. The 2.4 L-T HEV on the RX 500h features a front unit integrating a 2.4-L turbocharged engine, motor, a 6-speed automatic transmission and an eAxle with a built-in high output motor driving the rear wheels. The RX 500h features Dynamic Rear-Wheel Steering and DIRECT4 technology for acceleration.
The RX features a Mark Levinson 21-speaker audio system and offers Lexus Safety System+ with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Cross Traffic Alert and Safe Exit Assist with Blind Spot Monitor.
Between January and November this year, the RX model recorded 12 percent growth, reflecting rising demand for luxury SUVs in the country. During the same period, SUVs contributed about 40 percent to Lexus India’s overall performance, underscoring the RX’s pivotal role in driving the brand’s momentum.
Hikaru Ikeuchi, President, Lexus India, said, ‘The Lexus RX represents our dedication to luxury, design, performance, and sustainable mobility. As the luxury SUV segment continues to grow, the introduction of the new Exquisite grade allows us to offer guests a wider range of options and features to choose from. This enhancement reflects our continued commitment to expanding our portfolio and elevating the Lexus experience in India, supported by advanced technology and a guest-first philosophy.”
MG SELECT Crosses 1,000 Sales And 15 Experience Centres
- By MT Bureau
- December 03, 2025
JSW MG Motor India has announced that its luxury retail channel, MG SELECT, has crossed a triple milestone: reaching 1,000-unit sales, inaugurating its 15th Experience Centre and maintaining the second position in India’s luxury EV market.
The network now encompasses 15 Experience Centres across 14 cities in India, reinforcing the brand's commitment to delivering an exclusive automotive retail journey. The recent inauguration of the 15th store in Jaipur further underscores the brand's ambition to redefine luxury mobility.
The milestone also highlighted sustained market demand for the select portfolio and is a key driver behind the brand’s 32 percent YTD growth in 2025.
The company claimed that the MG Cyberster, India's highest-selling sports car, has a 4–5 month waiting period, and the MG M9 - Presidential Limousine shows strong momentum in the luxury MPV segment. The MG Cyberster is available at an ex-showroom price of INR 7.49 million, while the MG M9 is available at an ex-showroom price of INR 6.99 million.
Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said, "Our rise to become the second largest luxury EV brand in the country speaks to a singular belief. True luxury is felt in every touchpoint when precision, ambition and care move together. Through MG SELECT we have crafted an ownership world where innovation meets desire and where every interaction feels intentional. We are shaping the next era of electric mobility for India’s most discerning customers, with a commitment that is both bold and deeply personal.”
The MG SELECT Experience Centres are spaces for the brand's flagship vehicles. These venues provide an immersive, gallery-like setting, ensuring the display of these models is the focal point of the customer interaction. The Jaipur showroom, located at Tonk Road near Sanganer Flyover, exemplifies the MG SELECT philosophy of ‘Reimagining Luxury’, featuring spacious, serene, and technologically advanced environments that elevate the car buying journey.
Maruti Suzuki e Vitara Gets 5-Star Bharat NCAP Safety Rating
- By MT Bureau
- December 02, 2025
Maruti Suzuki India has been awarded a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating for its e Vitara, marking a moment for the company's electric vehicle strategy.
The e Vitara is built on Suzuki’s Heartect-e platform designed for electric vehicles to deliver strength, structural rigidity and advanced high voltage protection. The ‘Made-in-India, Made-for-the-World’ e Vitara is designed and tested for temperature conditions across the world, ensuring performance from as high as 60deg Celsius to as low as -30deg Celsius. The model is offered with 49 kWh and 61 kWh battery options.
Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, said, “Congratulations to Maruti Suzuki for achieving 5-star Bharat NCAP in both adult and child occupant protection for their e Vitara. I am especially glad that Maruti Suzuki has shown real leadership in providing 7 airbags as a standard across all variants of the e Vitara.”
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The 5-star Bharat NCAP rating for e Vitara, our first Battery Electric Vehicle, is a moment of immense pride for all of us at Maruti Suzuki. Using the Bharat NCAP 5-star rating, we will export the e Vitara to more than 100 countries of the world. Bharat NCAP’s globally benchmarked stringent vehicle test protocols have been a catalyst in empowering customers to make informed decisions. I thank the Minister Gadkari, the officials in his Ministry and test agencies for their rigorous efforts and commitment in shaping India’s journey towards safe mobility.”
The e VITARA’s body structure uses more than 60 percent ultra-high tensile and high-tensile strength steel. Its battery protection system incorporates a structural design with an energy-absorbing battery pack mounting structure.
Key safety features include 7 standard airbags (including the Driver's knee airbag), Level 2 ADAS (Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control), Hill Hold Control, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a 360-degree Surround View Camera.
Mahindra Launches First Dealership-Based Ultrafast EV Charger In Anantapur
- By MT Bureau
- December 02, 2025
Mahindra has marked a major milestone in its nationwide electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure expansion with the inauguration of its first dealership-based ultrafast charger – a 180 kW Charge_IN station.
This is the first of many such installations planned across Mahindra dealerships, forming a key pillar of the company’s commitment to building India’s ultrafast charging network.
This initiative scales up Mahindra’s Charge_IN ecosystem, complementing the 250 highway fast-charging stations already announced. The new 180 kW ultrafast chargers will enable EV users to charge quickly and conveniently at strategically located dealerships across the country, with 24x7 on-ground support.
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