This new Countryman may not be the most practical invention that BMW have come up with, but their novelty model with a giant Makarapa (a customisable South African workman’s helmet) attached on top has certainly caused a stir on the South African streets as fans embrace the fun and festivities that have been bywords of this first African World Cup.

Makarapa helmets have proved to be popular fan items at the tournament, although unsurprisingly they have been overshadowed by the sound of the vuvuzela, a horn that almost every person in the country appears to have purchased. BMW have used MINI to display how in touch they are with popular culture in a country that has all the world’s eyes focused on it until June 11th.

Sitting a fair bit higher than many would expect from a MINI and for the first time boasting five doors, the new Countryman is certainly a different design from the trusty MINI we all know and love and swears blind that it offers a genuine carrying capacity of four adults, but it’s still the good old MINI at heart.

Offering both front and four-wheel drive options, the Countryman offers the ideal solution for those who want the MINI look but need that bit more space and ruggedness, whether it’s for off road driving or the school run.

The MINI Countryman is set to debut at around £17,000 at the Geneva motor show this spring.