MINI countryman goes ‘untamed’ with its most rugged setup yet for life off-road

the countryman gets its most rugged setup yet, with a suspension lift, all-terrain tires, and a hard-shell roof tent.

kat barandy October 6, 2026 5 min

ready to go off-roading

MINI is giving its largest model a little more room to wander. The new Countryman Untamed Edition takes the familiar crossover and raises it on a 15-millimeter suspension lift, fits it with Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires, and adds a set of exterior pieces intended to take some abuse away from paved roads. Depending on market and powertrain, the lift adds up to 19 millimeters of ground clearance. MINI has also recalibrated the steering, anti-lock braking system, while ALL4 all-wheel drive is available across compatible versions.

The changes are modest enough that the Countryman still reads instantly as a MINI, though the car‘s stance feels more confident. Its new 19-inch wheels borrow the blunt construction of traditional steel off-road wheels, with five broad spokes and exposed-looking fastening details. A vertically-patterned grille makes the front end feel taller, and new skid plates extend below the bumpers. Matte black protective films cover parts of the wheel arches and side sills, where scratches and stone chips are more likely to accumulate.

Today, October 6th, 2026, designboom heads to Lake Tahoe to see the Untamed Edition’s unveiling in-person and join the team for a test drive across the rugged landscape of California’s Sierra Nevadas.

untamed edition: A MINI BUILT AROUND WEEKENDS OUTSIDE

The MINI Countryman Untamed Edition even makes sense once the car stops moving. MINI worked with Italian manufacturer Autohome on a hard-shell roof tent that opens with integrated gas struts and includes panoramic openings. The Countryman can support up to 75 kilograms on its roof while driving and up to 300 kilograms while stationary, giving the tent a practical place within the vehicle’s setup instead of treating it as a purely visual accessory. An optional tow hitch brings trailer capacity up to 2,000 kilograms.

A separate collaboration with HELINOX extends the idea beyond the vehicle itself through lightweight camping furniture designed around the edition. There is something pleasantly specific about MINI treating the Countryman as a base camp instead of simply applying tougher-looking trim. The roof tent, increased clearance, and tire package each address a different part of the same use case: reaching a campsite, setting up there, and getting back out again.

FROZEN NOMAD BLUE MAKES ITS MINI DEBUT

Frozen Nomad Blue is MINI’s first matte exterior finish offered in series production, joining Hideaway Grey and glossy Nomad Blue alongside Nanuq White and Midnight Black. The muted surface works especially well with the Countryman’s broad shoulders and squared wheel arches, as it softens reflections across the body and gives its surfaces a heavier appearance. Dark Steel replaces brighter exterior accents across the grille surround and underbody pieces, with a small mountain graphic marking the Untamed Edition on the C-pillar.

Inside, MINI continues the outdoor references through texture instead of turning the cabin into an overt camping theme. Nightshade Blue sports seats combine perforated Vescin with knitted sections inspired by rock formations. The dashboard uses a dark gray and blue woven surface, while the redesigned center console gets elastic retaining straps similar to those found on technical bags. Rubber mats extend the idea down to the floor, where a molded pattern is intended to handle dirt brought inside after a trail or campsite stop.

A SMALL LIFT WITH A bigger PURPOSE

The suspension increase itself is fairly restrained. In the United States and Canada, it will be available across every Untamed Edition variant, while European buyers will find the raised setup exclusively on the electric Countryman models. Approach and breakover angles have been revised, and the all-terrain tires come standard in North America. Those changes push the Countryman farther toward dirt roads and rough access tracks without trying to turn the compact crossover into a dedicated trail vehicle.

Production begins at BMW Group Plant Leipzig in November 2026, with the Untamed Edition scheduled to reach markets in early 2027. Depending on region, the package will be offered across combustion and electric Countryman variants, including the Countryman S ALL4 and SE ALL4. It shows how small changes can accumulate around an iconic car: a little extra height, tougher tires, surfaces designed to take scuffs, and a shelter waiting overhead once the road runs out.