MINI’S MAJOR MOVE

The wraps have been taken off MINI’s first ever plug-in hybrid.

The all-new 2017 MINI Cooper Countryman features a three-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor with zero tailpipe emissions.

The vehicle will accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in just 6.9 seconds, and boasts electric driving speeds of up to 126 km/h, with a range of up to 40 km.

Everything also looks familiar in the cockpit, though the start/stop button in the centre of the dashboard glows yellow instead of red.

As usual, drivers simply press the button to start the car – but this vehicle remains silent as the hybrid model always starts in electric mode. The rpm counter in the instrument cluster on the steering column has been replaced with a power display.

The high-voltage battery under the rear seats provides power for long-lasting electric driving.