It has been announced by Mini that they will be manufacturing an all new plug-in hybrid in the form of a Countryman SUV.

The next generation Countryman is set to arrive within the next couple of weeks, we are yet to know the details of the powertrain itself, however if it is anything like the BMW 225xe, it will involve the Mini Cooper’s 1.5 litre three-cylinder petrol engine powering the front axle, and the electric motor taking care of the rear.

In the 225xe, it leads to a headline figure of 141mpg, with around 50-60mpg more likely in real life. Mini promises plenty of electric-only usability, too, with the motor able to power the car right up to 78mph. Though we imagine battery life won’t be huge if you do so.

Mini’s Sebastian Mackensen says ‘In a hybrid Mini model. driving electrically must also be an exhilarating experience, this means that entirely electric driving is not limited to speeds of 20 or 30 mph, but to speeds well beyond traffic pace.’

It will be rear-drive only when the electric motor is doing all the work, though the stability control systems can kick the engine (and hence the front axle) into life to counter any skids.

Mini wants the car to resemble any other Countryman, too, with the only tell-tale signs being an additional filler cap, a starter button that flashes yellow (instead of red) and a power reserve meter in place of the rev-counter.

Firmer details should arrive with the unveiling of the new maxi-Mini in a couple of weeks, which we’re expecting to look a little neater than the current Countryman, too. The hybrid is likely to be the range-topper, price-wise, given its BMW equivalent costs over £30,000.