Renowned couturier and owner of the Seematti textiles Beena Kannan shares the thrill of owning a Countryman.
Driving for thrill
"I loved driving from a very young age. I had the privilege of driving all types of cars, right from a Maruti 800 to a Mini Cooper. The Ambassador used to be at home most of the time and hence I learned driving in it. My first guru was my father and after marriage, my husband. Later, we got a Premier, a Fiat, and Maruti. And, as time went by, we moved to an SUV. We bought a mini sedan too. Cars from Toyota, Benz and Audi came one after another. Though I have a driver, I prefer taking the wheels while going to Seematti and on shorter official trips," says Beena Kannan.
Beena used to keep a tab on the developments in the auto industry. Her children too have inherited her love for cars. “My eldest son is crazy over cars. He attends off-roading and racing events. I bought a Mini Cooper by the time my youngest son completed his studies. He is the one who clears all my doubts regarding vehicles," says Beena.
Chariot of silk
"I love this car because it is easy to negotiate the Kochi traffic in it. The Countryman can also boast of a fairly formidable BMW lineage. It also has better ground clearance than the Mini Cooper. I had bought a red Countryman. But since I felt that it was a common variant, it was modified with a black metallic finish," she says.
"I also got my favourite Lord Ganesha's picture engraved on the car. Besides, I also stuck several stickers that espouse my tastes. The wheels were given a copper cladded enhancement. Since I am part of the silk industry, the car was named Chariot of Silk," she says.
The Countryman is loaded with safety features. Though it is a small car it has all the latest safety features including airbags. Shifting between automatic-manual modes is quite easy. To try out its performance, there is a racing mode. The console, AC, seats and all other features are top-notch. In short, the car has become a part of her personality in a short span of time, she says.
