Countryman will be Mini's biggest model while retaining the brand's personality.

The Mini Cooper has been a hit for parent company BMW, but there are still a lot of potential customers out there who can't quite fit their families into a tiny subcompact. That's why Mini's introducing the Cooper Countryman, a small SUV almost 16 inches longer than the Mini Cooper. The brand's first four-door model, it will go on sale in the U.S. early next year.

The Countryman's interior maintains the now-classic Mini lay-out with the giant-sized speedometer set off to the driver's right. Each of the rear seats will be able slide back and forth more than five inches for added legroom or cargo space. The rear seats will also fold flat for carrying long cargo.

Inside, the Countryman's features a "central rail" that runs the length of the interior. It holds specially designed clip-in elements such as cupholders and storage boxes for MP3 players or cell phones. Driver-selectable colored ambient lighting will be standard.

The Countryman will be available with a choice of two engines and optional all-wheel-drive. The base Cooper Countryman will have a 120-horsepower 1.6-liter four cylinder engine. The sportier Countryman S will add turbocharging and direct fuel injection for a maximum of 180 horsepower. Both will be available with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Fuel economy ratings and prices are not yet available.