Ahead of its expected debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March, these photos of MINI’s first crossover have leaked onto the net. With an undeniable MINI look, the photos also show the ALL4 badge, indicating MINI’s new AWD system – a first for the brand.

Show in concept form at the Paris Auto Show in 2008, MINI recently displayed the Beachcomber Concept at the Detroit Auto Show, which used the same platform as the Countryman and gave a real look at the production model’s size.

MINI has promised sporty driving dynamics as well as comfortable seating for four. As for the interior, the latest MINI model keeps true to the MINI roots with centrally-mounted speedometer and plenty of toggle switches. Along with the Countryman, MINI has announced that the Coupe and Convertible concepts will see production in the near future.

We expect MINI to announce official details in the coming weeks and we’ll be sure to bring you full coverage from the Geneva Auto Show starting March 2nd.

If you can tell what has just changed on the 2015 MINI Countryman just by looking at the press shots, then you must surely be an avid fan of the British brand. Some four years after MINI presented its first ever model with four doors (not counting the tailgate), optional four-wheel drive and a length in excess of four meters (we're surprised they didn't call it the…FourMan), the Countryman has been oh, so mildly updated.

Exterior tweaks amount to a revised structure of the hexagonal radiator grille with each version of the Countryman featuring some slight differences such as a pair of matte silver ribs on the Cooper, LED fog, parking and driving lights that are standard on the Cooper S and JCW and optional on the Cooper, and new lighter 17-inch alloy wheels.

Mini also added new metallic shades including the pictured Jungle Green, plus Midnight Grey and Starlight Blue, while the previously optional accent trims on the bumpers and side sills is now standard on ALL4 all-wheel drive models sans the JCW.

A new optional feature for 2015 is the Piano Black Exterior package shown on the press car here and which adds a high-gloss black finish on certain surfaces like the light surrounds, mirrors and roof rails.

Inside, MINI says it added sound-deadening material to optimize "acoustic comfort", while all trims now come with the same anthracite-colored dials for the engine speed and road speed display as the JCW, with other changes including chrome applications for the ventilation controls.

MINI didn’t mention any mechanical changes for the North America-specification Countryman, but the firm's European release said that all 4-cylinder petrol and 4-cylinder diesel engines now comply to the upcoming EU6 emission standard and have reduced fuel consumption figures, with the Cooper S also gaining 7hp for a total of 187hp (190PS).

Sales of the 2015 Countryman will begin in the U.S. this summer, following the car's world premiere at the 2014 New York Auto Show.