Driving the first plug-in hybrid in the history of the iconic British brand, MINI has long ceased to be a symbol of small size and minimalism, but still relies on individual character, front-wheel drive and a transverse engine. The company's first plug-in hybrid is powered by a combination of a three-cylinder petrol turbo engine located in front of the front axle and a 65-kilowatt electric motor mounted on the rear axle. The latter surprisingly transforms the MINI Countryman into a rear-wheel drive car - however, only in cases where the drive is only electric. The total power of the system is 224 hp. sounds like a promise of something much bigger than the environmental movement. The technology is borrowed from the hugely successful BMW 225xe Active Tourer, with which the Countryman shares a common platform, and the 7,6 kilowatt-hour battery is located under the…