New Mini Countryman Sterling Edition 2020 pricing and specs detailed: Limited-edition SUV arrives with grace

Mini Australia has released a special-edition version of its Countryman small SUV.

The Sterling Edition is limited to just 40 units and commands a sizeable premium over the $49,200 (plus on-road costs) Countryman Cooper S variant it is based upon, at $62,900 driveaway.

Buyers are compensated for the extra spend with a longer list of standard equipment, though, including White Silver metallic paintwork, Melting Silver bonnet stripes, a Jet Black roof and side mirrors, Union Jack-style 19-inch alloy wheels and a rear ‘Mini Yours’ badge.

Inside, a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable front seats, Carbon Black Lounge leather upholstery, illuminated Piano Black trim, ‘Mini Yours’-branded floor mats and an individually numbered ‘Sterling Edition’ badge on the passenger side of the dashboard are included.

All of the Audi Q3 rival’s additional features are said to pay homage to Mini’s British origins.

Standard equipment otherwise includes a touchscreen multimedia system, satellite navigation with real-time traffic, and Apple CarPlay support, among other features.

Just like the Cooper S, the Sterling Edition is motivated by a 141kW/280Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine that sends drive to the front wheels via a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.

This combination helps the Sterling Edition sprint from a standstill to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds, while its claimed fuel consumption on the combined cycle test is 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres.