Mini Countryman Untamed Edition confirmed for Aus

MINI Australia has confirmed the Countryman Untamed Edition will land locally in early 2027, offered in both petrol-powered S All4 and electric SE All4 guises, bringing a more rugged look to the brand’s largest model. 

But there’s a catch – Australian cars will miss out on several of the mechanical upgrades fitted to the Untamed overseas.

In markets like North America and parts of Europe, the Untamed gets a 15mm suspension lift (adding up to 19mm of ground clearance), bespoke Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus tyres, and recalibrated ABS, stability control, and steering systems to match.

Mini has also developed an Autohome rooftop tent and Helinox-designed camping gear to go with it.

None of that hardware is confirmed for Australia, where ride height will reportedly remain at the standard 171mm.

Towing capacity also stays put locally at 1500kg for the S and 1200kg for the SE despite petrol Untamed variants being rated to tow up to 2000kg in some overseas markets.

Even without the lifted suspension and all-terrain rubber, the local Untamed still picks up a comprehensive styling makeover.

Exterior changes focus on a redesigned front grille with vertically oriented, angular inserts finished in a new Dark Steel accent colour, which also appears across the Mini badges, Countryman lettering, grille surround, and underbody protection elements.

New side sill designs, reworked front and rear underbody protection, and a newly sculpted rear diffuser round out the lower-body changes, while textured matte-black protective film covers the wheel arches, side sills and bonnet Power Dome that is functional as much as visual, offering some protection against stone chips.

Filling the arches are new 19-inch Untamed Edition Spoke alloy wheels, drawing design inspiration from classic utility wheels, with a Dark Steel Mini wordmark on the centre caps. A mountain-motif Untamed badge sits on the C-pillar.

Buyers get five exterior colours to choose from – Hideaway Grey, Nomad Blue, Frozen Nomad Blue, Nanuq White, and Midnight Black with Frozen Nomad Blue marking Mini’s first-ever matte exterior finish in series production.

Roof finishes come in either Glazed White or Jet Black.

Inside, the Untamed gets dedicated Vescin Nightshade Blue sports seats, combining perforated upholstery with knitted panels across the shoulders and headrests, a textured pattern Mini says is inspired by rock formations, finished with Cornflower Blue piping and stitching and an embroidered mountain-panorama Untamed logo.

That knitted treatment continues across the dashboard and door panels in a new Millennial Melange colourway, blending dark grey tones with a blue base. All cabin accents switch from the usual Vibrant Silver to Dark Steel, with additional Cornflower Blue detailing on the steering wheel strap and spoke.

A redesigned centre console storage box, featuring elastic retaining straps, is pitched as a nod to outdoor backpacks and climbing gear, while rubber floor and boot mats carry a three-dimensional pattern again inspired by natural rock formations.

Mechanically, the S All4 Untamed uses BMW’s familiar 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder (variously quoted at 160kW/300Nm and 160kW/330Nm) paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

The electric SE All4 uses a dual-motor setup producing 230kW/494Nm, drawing from a 66.5kWh battery for a claimed WLTP range of 467km, a figure that should hold steady locally given Australian cars skip the heavier, more rolling-resistant all-terrain tyres fitted overseas.

Mini Australia general manager Alexander Brockhoff framed the edition as an extension of the brand’s customisation-led appeal. 

“Australian Mini drivers have always valued the freedom to express their individuality through their vehicle,” he said.

“The Mini Countryman Untamed Edition brings that spirit of customisation to life with distinctive design details and a character made for everything from the everyday commute to spontaneous weekend escapes.”

Mini Head of Design Holger Hampf added that the edition was designed to highlight traits already inherent to the Countryman.

“The Untamed Edition highlights qualities that are already part of the Mini Countryman’s DNA: robustness, versatility and a spirit of exploration,” he said.

“Our goal was to emphasise these characteristics through carefully selected colours, materials and details, while remaining true to the unmistakable Mini character.”

Production of the Countryman Untamed Edition begins in November 2026 at BMW Group’s Leipzig plant, ahead of Australian showroom arrival in early 2027. Local pricing and final specification are yet to be confirmed.

What remains unclear is why Australia won’t receive the suspension lift and all-terrain tyre package offered elsewhere, hardware that arguably does more to back up the Untamed’s rugged styling than any cosmetic change.

Without it, the local Untamed effectively seems to be a styling-led special edition rather than the more genuinely capable variant sold overseas, something closer in spirit to Volvo’s EX30 Cross Country than a true off-road-focused SUV.