Allow us, please, to fast-forward you to the future. For it has just arrived in the magnificent shape of the Mini Countryman Plug-in Hybrid. This new Countryman model provides the option of purely electric and therefore emissions-free mobility.

The new Mini Countryman Plug-in Hybrid combines an electric motor and battery with a conventional petrol engine to offer drivers the best of both worlds.

Charging your Mini couldn't be easier: At home, you can simply plug it into any power socket with the standard charging cable that comes with your vehicle. While you're on the road, you can charge your Mini at public charging facilities using the Mini public charging cable. This cable is available as a Mini original accessory.

Short bursts of acceleration and the classic go-kart feeling - the Plug-in Hybrid has everything you need to make every trip a low-emission adventure. Numerous yellow design elements make it easy to recognise, like the "S" in the Cooper S logos on the radiator grille and tailgate and the E-logo on the bumper and side scuttles.

The charging socket is located behind the left side scuttle. Open up the electric tailgate and you can divide up the storage space in all sorts of ways, thanks to rear-seat backrests which fold down in a 40/20/40 split. If you fancy a mid-journey break, just pull out the padded picnic bench from beneath the loading shelf.

For short trips and inner-city driving, it glides silently and emission-free up to 26 miles on battery power. Any 230-volt power supply fully charges the battery in 150 minutes at most. For longer journeys, motorway stretches and short sprints, the Mini Twin Power Turbo petrol engine takes over and regenerative braking charges the battery. The result is consistently better performance and fuel economy, however varied your driving habits may be.

The plug-in hybrid system automatically finds the most efficient distribution of power from the two drivetrains. A potent 136-hp/100-kW Mini Twin Power Turbo petrol engine with 6-speed Steptronic transmission powers the front wheels. The 88-hp/65-kW e-motor directs power as required - or if desired - to the rear axle, using electricity stored in a high-voltage battery. As a result, the car has electric, ALL4 all-wheel-drive system. Thanks to intelligent engine management, the transition between the two powertrains is hardly noticeable.

"The plug-in hybrid concept perfectly matches the new Mini Countryman because it offers intelligent all-wheel drive as well as being able to run on electricity alone both in urban areas and over longer distances, too. This is unique in the segment," says Uwe Seitz, Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 project manager.

For more information on the Mini Countryman Hybrid contact the Mini sales team at Muscats Motors on 2326 4505; email: [email protected]