Mini Australia announces specification upgrades for Mini Countryman and Paceman, adding an average of $5000 worth of extras while keeping prices steady.

AVAILABLE FROM mid-September, the updated Mini Countryman and Paceman (R60 and R61, respectively) will get a number of upgrades, including: heated exterior glass and windscreen washer jets as standard, new LED foglights with daytime running function as standard, revised wheel, paint and option programmes, new exterior styling package now standard on Cooper S All4 and Cooper SD All4 Countryman, and a power jump of 5kW for petrol engines in the Cooper S Countryman and Paceman and Cooper S All4 Countryman.

According to Mini this adds up to an average value increase of around $5000 and says that rather than pass on the costs to the consumer has chosen to absorb the price of extra kit and align the two models on pricing. For instance, the Mini Countryman now lists from $34,150 (+ORC) which is an increase of just $50, while the Mini Paceman also lists from $34,150 (+ORC) which is a price reduction of $1650.

Kai Bruesewitz, general manager of MINI Australia, said: “The launch of the all-new MINI Hatch in April heralded a new era for the brand in Australia, with enhanced specifications and a major increase in customer value across the hatch line-up.

“And it’s our pleasure to extend these increased specifications and value to our stylish MINI Paceman and MINI Countryman vehicles.”

Bruesewitz added there were still some big events in store for the MINI brand during 2014, with the release of the first-ever five-door MINI Hatch in November.

“The three-door hatch has proved such a winner with MINI fans in Australia that demand has far outstripped supply, so we can’t wait for the arrival of the five-door model,” Bruesewitz said.

The MINI TLC servicing package (available across the Mini range) combines all scheduled servicing costs for five years or 70,000km for just $850. Warranty on the MINI range is three years with unlimited kilometres.