Mini Clubman: Stretching The Mini Brand Motoring Channel Staff - 30/July/2007 | 
2008 Mini Clubman
It's only until you walk around the Clubman
that it becomes apparent it is no ordinary Mini
The cleverly named 'clubdoor' is likely to
become a favourite with the mafia and other
organised crime syndicates to 'club' people
Not an ordinary compact wagon
by any stretch of the imagination
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Melbourne, Australia —
On the 3rd of April 2007, after just six years in production, the
BMW-designed Mini hit the million mark. To call the new Mini
popular would be an understatement of titanic proportions and while
most vehicles would have spawned 'sequels' long ago, the Mini has been
offered as a 'one-size-fits-all' vehicle since 2001. The
Mini now has a sequel, one that looks almost exactly like its
originator only longer. Meet the Mini Clubman, described by parent
company BMW as "innovative, fun to drive and completely irresistible". Launched at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show,
fans of the original Mini will know the Clubman name and shape is not
new. Based on the Morris Mini Traveller and Austin Mini Countryman from
the early 1960s, the modern day wagon/estate aims to replicate its
forebears' classic style. From the front the car looks
very similar to the standard Mini, and by remaining faithful to the
Mini design will appeal to both current Mini owners and those looking
for something with more room than a small car. But when viewed from the
side the car reveals a much longer body than the Mini hatchback, and
not without a quirk or two. Mini's newest gadget is the 'clubdoor',
something the automaker insists no other passenger car has. Not unlike
the so-called suicide doors first seen on the modern-day RX-8, the Mini
Clubman has a rear-hinged secondary door that can be opened once the
driver's door is ajar. The 'clubdoor' is located on the
right hand side of the car - which will be the driver's side when
the vehicle comes to Australia in 2008. In addition to the
clubdoor, and instead of a traditional boot or tailgate that hinges
upwards on a horizontal plane, the rear of the car features barn-style vertically split rear doors. Though
far from conventional, Mini is calling the Clubman a '5-door' vehicle
and compared to its more traditional Mini cousin, theMini Clubman is 240mm longer, which necessitated an 80mm longer
wheelbase. Mini explains that the extra room is "dedicated to enhancing rear passenger
accommodation". The extra rear room will also be spruiked to those with active lifestyles. "The Mini Clubman will be idea for fashionable
folk who wish to mix their active or outdoor lifestyle pursuits with a
small, prestige car that can be specified to a very high degree," reads the press release. Even
with the longer wheelbase and rear overhang, the Mini Clubman retains
the classic bulldog stance, and the automaker is adamant the
'go-kart' driving characteristics have not been diluted for this model. As
well as the intriguing door system and classic exterior design,
the stretched Mini has been designed to withstand a number of different
impacts, and has been
awarded a 5-stars rating by the EuroNCAP testing regime. At
present the new car is scheduled for a European launch in November this
year, and is expected to arrive in Australia in the first half of 2008.
Australian specifications are still being finalised, but we do know
that the engines from current Mini hatch will be used by the new
Clubman: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder Turbo:
The range-topping Mini Cooper S Clubman will be fitted with a 1.6-litre
4-cylinder turbo petrol engine. The motor features a twin-scroll
turbocharger and direct petrol injection, all of which culminates in a
power output of 128kW @ 5500rpm, and 240Nm of torque between
1600 - 5000rpm. The engine is also capable of developing 260Nm of
torque with the overboost feature.
According to Mini, the Cooper S Clubman "...offers not only
impressive performance, but also an exceptionally good balance of
driving pleasure and economy". 1.6-litre 4-cylinder: The entry-level model, the Mini
Cooper Clubman, gets "spirited performance and amazing economy" from
the naturally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine that produces 88kW
@ 6000rpm and maximum torque of 160Nm @ 4250rpm.
Mini
hasn't released performance benchmarks for the new front-wheel drive
vehicles, but said that performance will be on par with the Mini
hatchback: "In their performance as well as fuel economy and emission
management, both the Mini Hardtop and the Mini Clubman are virtually
equal." All models will be fitted with 6-speed manual
gearboxes as standard. An optional 6-speed automatic transmission can
be ordered, which features a manual mode that offers gear selection via
steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts. Inside the
vehicle, the new Clubman offers more than its hatch cousin, and in some
markets will be offered with an optional 3-seat bench. Mini has
revealed that the twin rear doors open wide to allow easy
loading for bulky goods, where the boot can swallow 260 litres of
cargo with the
rear seats up. Once folded flat, the cargo space increases to 960
litres. The
rear seats are divided 50/50 and Mini insists that a mountain bike
with the front wheel removed can fit into the rear of the car. Each of
the rear barn-style doors is fitted with it's own windscreen wiper
to ensure satisfactory visibility through the rear windows. European
versions of the new Mini Cooper Clubman will be equipped with
15-inch alloy
wheels, while the Cooper S models get 16-inch rims
with runflat safety tyres. Australian models will likely follow the
current Mini line-up and offer 16-inch wheels for the Cooper, and
17-inch wheels for the Cooper S. Other
features of the new Clubman from Mini include Electrical
Power Assisted Steering (EPAS). According to the company, this steering
system gives the driver exact feedback while also remaining "sporty and
direct at all times, with power
assistance geared to road speed". Mini claims it's also a bit lighter
than conventional steering systems. In
addition to the "sports-oriented" suspension, all new 2008 Clubman
cars will be fitted as standard with a range of electronic driving and
safety systems, including cornering brake control (CBC), anti-lock
control (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and dynamic
stability control (DSC). The last system also adds hill start-off
assistance. Mini also hopes to appeal to drivers who want a
unique vehicle, offering a choice of more than 40 combinations for
the exterior paintwork alone.
Combination roof and body colours combine with a range of interior and
exterior options geared specifically to the Mini Clubman. There's even
a Clubman-exclusive colour called 'Hot Chocolate' which Mini believes
"works exceedingly well with the new
Silver roof colour and the frame around the rear doors". The Mini Clubman is offered in 12 different exterior colours: Chilli Red Pepper White Mellow Yellow Astro Black Sparkling Silver British Racing Green Pure Silver Lightning Blue Nightfire Red Dark
Silver Laser Blue Hot Chocolate
The
elongated addition to the Mini range also allows customers to customise
interior
design, with four interior colours and five Colour Line variants. The
seats are offered in cloth, cloth/leather, full
leather, and premium Leather Lounge upholstery. Some of these
finishes are also available in a range of different colours to
match the paintwork. Trim
options include English oak, piano black, brushed alloy and fluid
silver, plus the a number of standard interior trims. Set
for a November 2007 release in Europe, followed by it's Australian
launch in 2008, the new Mini Clubman with it's trademark 'clubdoor' is
set to make an impact on the premium compact car segment.
Related articles:
New Mini (2007)
Mini
Concept Tokyo
(concept)
Mini
Concept Frankfurt (concept)
Mini Cooper
Cabrio (2005)
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