Well, since Kilometre magazine started the leak yesterday, MINI has now offered up the official release and photo set:

Photos

Press Release

Teaser Pic

Looking good. I wish they would release some dimensions on the vehicle so we can compare it's size to the clubman and hatch.

Apparently it's about 5 inches longer than the Clubman, but with similar cargo capacity.

I thought I read (somewhere) that the wheelbase is only 1 or 2 inches longer than the Clubman. It is a longer and wider vehicle though. I thing I need to know is if it is wide enough to get golf bags in the back (sideways).

Is it me, or do the tailpipes seem disproportionately small...?

I'd like to park an R53/R56 next to it in person and see just how much bigger it is than the 2 door MINI.

So, here some lengths for comparison:

R56 Cooper S = 3.71 m (146.1 in)
R55 Cooper S = 3.96 m (156.7 in)
R60 Countryman = 4.07m (160.2 in)

The length for the Countryman was from a Gert Hildebrand interview I read in one of the MINI magazines.

Compare that to a Kia Soul, which is listed at:
Kia Soul = 4.11 m (161.8 in).

A few interesting tidbits from The Switchback:

Regarding the all-wheel drive system:
The ALL4 all wheel drive system features an electrohydraulic differential positioned directly on the final drive, which varies the distribution from front to rear in an infinite process. Under regular driving conditions up to 50 percent of the engine’s power is directed to the rear wheels, while under more “extreme conditions” this can increase all the way to 100 percent rear wheel drive, which is certainly something never seen before on a production model MINI or Mini of any variety.

And regarding the storage capacity:
Luggage capacity is 350 litres as standard, which is 90 more than the Clubman and more than double that of the MINI. The rear seats move forward and back individually for the four seat model or in a 60:40 split on the five seat version. The backrests can also be tilted forward to increase capacity, for the three seat bench this is in a 40:20:40 split. With seats tilted forward, capacity increases to 440 litres. The maximum stated luggage capacity is 1,170 litres.

Now, the video:

Part 1 - Standing Still


Part 2 - Driving Scenes

It is growing on me. Just as long as the cold weather problem is taken care of it would be a great in the winter.

Tidbits from the US press release:

Length = 4097mm (161.3 in)
Wheelbase = 2596 mm (102.2 in)

Rear seats travel forward/back = 130 mm (5.1 in)

Rear storage capacity
Seats up, fully back = 345 L (12.2 cu ft)
Seats up, fully forward = 436 L (15.4 cu ft)
Seats down = 1161 L (41.0 cu ft)

I have no idea what they have put in the back seat to divide the 2-seats but it looks weird and I can only see my little people tripping over it if they had to get out the same side.

As the size ha increased a wee bit I wonder if they are going to give a 5-passenger option.....all my family would then fit in one MINI instead of needing two. ....but that being said I would still have to see it in the showroom to have it grow on me more.

That's funny, as I was thinking that the divider would be a great way of keeping the kids apart and off of each other.

The divider, by-the-way, is a rail system. The rail extends from the front to the back and allows accessory items to be clipped in where/when they're needed. Some of the accessories can also slide from front to back. I believe the rail will be powered so electronic devices can be charged and incorporated into vehicle systems...

I heard that there is a minimum width requirement in the US before you can have three-across seating. So they may offer a bench, but it will likely still only have two "seats".

Yep, apparently a five seater version will be available in other markets, but not in North America (just like for the clubman, which you can get a 3 seat rear option in Europe).

It's an interesting vehicle for sure, and I look forward to seeing it in person. Although, my garage is already full of MINIs... and the bank account is empty too

Here is a size comparison of the countryman to the clubman.

Man, you just beat me to it...

The picture sure minimizes the differences, I think.