Brrrrr. That time of year is rolling around, as it always seems to do and it’s getting cold out there! This is why we couldn’t be more thankful for the heated features in our car that keep us cozy during the winter months.

While the heater may take some time to warm up, heated seats tend to do the job much more quickly - holding us over until those vents start pumping out wonderfully heated air. So scoot on in, and start defrosting right away!

While you are at it, go ahead and take off those obnoxious bulky gloves. They might be fantastic to have when you are braving the elements, but no one wants to be sporting them while driving. The heated steering wheel allows you to bust off those gloves and warm those hands up.

Finally, don’t waste any more time in the cold trying to scrape the ice off your mirrors. Turn your car on, and let the heated mirrors do their thing, quickly melting away any pesky ice or snow hampering your view.

With features like this, we say, “Let it snow!”

Without a doubt, cars packed with technology tend to look sleek and high-end. With more and more cars going down a route of touch screens, built-in navigation systems, and Bluetooth phone capabilities, we couldn’t be more grateful for voice commands!

Voice commands have almost become a necessity in today’s technology-packed cars. It’s simply not realistic to expect a person to safely operate a vehicle while trying to adjust temperature settings via a touch screen. These intuitive voice command systems have incredible voice recognition capabilities, allowing the computer to understand your commands.

These voice command systems can seem intimidating if you’ve never used one before, but once you get to know the commands that your car responds to, it’s very easy to get your car to do exactly what you want! In many of these cars, some touch-screen features are disabled while the car is in motion for safety reasons. This means it is critical for you to learn your car’s voice command system.

Route your GPS, make a phone call, change your music, turn up the heat, or any number of other car functions simply with your voice. It doesn’t get much easier than that - and we sure are thankful car manufacturers are taking the needed steps to keep us all safe.

At each major stop along the 2010 MINI Takes the States road rally route, drivers will be able to check out the 2011 MINI Countryman, the crossover version of the MINI that will debut in dealer showrooms in the first quarter of 2011.

“The Countryman is the most striking addition to our vehicle lineup so far," said Jim McDowell, vice president, MINI USA. "And development of this vehicle has inspired our engineers and designers; the brand is taking on a new, even feistier, fun-loving attitude."

Size and Style Comparison: MINI Cooper S Hardtop and the MINI Cooper D Countryman

In addition to the MINI Countryman’s nearly 40 cubic feet of cargo space, a key feature that is unique to this model is its innovative Center Rail. The aluminum track stretches from the front to the rear of the cabin and offers storage for personal items, electrical and USB connections for seamless integration of smart phones and other devices, and a large number of attachments to fit the driver’s lifestyle.

The MINI Countryman is expected to offer the best fuel economy in the crossover segment. It will be the first crossover to feature a turbocharged and direct-injected engine that help provide optimum performance and efficiency. Countryman powertrain options include Cooper, Cooper S, or Cooper S with ALL4, which is a four-wheel drive system.

Excited about the new MINI Countryman? Contact a MINI dealer now so that you can be one of the first people in your area to drive one.