It’s been a rough weather week for everyone in Colorado. Parts of the state, including Denver, swung from 70-plus degrees and sunny on Tuesday to several feet of snow on Wednesday. It’s a great time to think about getting away, but while you’re still close to home, why not make the most of it? With more wet stuff in the forecast for the weekend, you can test drive a 2016 MINI Countryman ALL4 in the snow this Saturday. Schomp MINI is open from 9am-9pm, so why not stop by and see what our beastly all-wheel-drive ‘ute can do? Read on to check it out!

When accelerating from a standstill, the 2016 MINI Countryman‘s ALL4 all-wheel drive system distributes power in a 50/50 split front/rear. As speeds increase, so does the percentage of power sent to the front wheels. This is done primarily for efficiency so that at highway speeds, there isn’t as much of a load placed on the Cooper’s engine. When wheel slip is detected at any speed, however, up to 50 percent of the engine’s power can be directed rearwards for enhanced stability.

Built for the Rocky Mountains, the MINI Countryman’s ALL4 system is able to handle copious amounts of stress. The rear differential, axles and associated hardware are overbuilt to send nearly 300 lb-ft of torque to each of the rear wheels. The 2016 MINI Cooper S Countryman John Cooper Works (JCW) has 192 lb-ft in total, so it’s reassuring to know that, if needed, ALL4 can handle stresses of more than three times that amount.

Complimenting the MINI Countryman ALL4’s all-wheel-drive system is BMW’s Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system. Employing three modes, DSC is able to adapt to nearly any driving situation on the fly. When the vehicle is started, DSC defaults to full-on, working to mitigate wheel slip and maintain total control however and wherever possible. With a brief press of the toggle switch, DSC transitions to Dynamic Traction Control, or “DTC.” DTC allows for a greater degree of wheel spin and vehicle slip angle while still working to maintain ultimate control, albeit at a higher threshold. With a five-second hold of the toggle switch, DSC and DTC are fully defeated, allowing for full driver control. Or perhaps some fun in an empty, snow-filled parking lot.

Speaking of fun, you really should come down to Schomp to test drive a 2016 MINI Countryman ALL4 in the snow this Saturday. Nothing speaks volumes to a vehicle’s character quite like driving it through mother nature’s worst, and Colorado’s best. With 0% financing for up to 72 months and leases as low as $299/mo through March 31st, there has never been a better time to defy labels in a brand-new MINI.