THE first MINI to be made in Germany will be rolling off the production lines later this year as an all-electric new version of the Countryman arrives.

Due on sale early in 2024, the third generation Countryman will be available with all-wheel-drive as well as two-wheel-drive models.

Some 13 centimetres longer than the current Countryman at 4.429 metres long the new car is also six centimetres taller at 1.613 metres.

The MINI Countryman E delivers 191hp from its motor whereas the MINI Countryman SE ALL4 - the brand's first all-wheel-drive fully- electric vehicle - has two drive units on the front and rear axles which generate at total power output of 313hp.

MINI - which has released images of a Countryman prototype testing on the road - says the car has an estimated range of around 280 miles.

With the all-electric Countryman, MINI is further expanding the proportion of electrified models in its line-up.

The company says that every fifth MINI is already electric although it has plans to introduce a petrol version of the Countryman.

Only the electric model will offer four-wheel-drive and the vehicle is similar to the BMW iX1 which is also built at the Leipzig factory in Germany.