New MINI Clubman - more room, more boot space, more masculine

Marcus Syring, head of exterior and interior MINI design said at the UK media launch of the new Clubman range this week that some customers who had considered buying the British built MINI Hatch wanted more rear legroom, more boot space and a more masculine image than offered by the latest second generation models introduced in November 2006.

The answer from MINI to these requests is the stretched version, the new Clubman which goes on sale in the UK from Saturday 10 November. Initially the Clubman is offered with three engine options, Cooper, Cooper D (diesel) and Cooper S and prices are £14,235, £15,400 and £17,210 respectively. These are £1,200 more than the comparable MINI three door Hatchback models.

A MINI One version of the Clubman could be introduced next year but no final decision has been made said Trevor Smithers, UK national sales manager for MINI.

A six-speed automatic transmission is available for all three models for an extra £1,060 and there is the usual wide selection of extra cost options available including Pepper and Chili packs ranging in price from £1,110 to £2,135 depending on the model.

Customers on average add another £300 to the price of their MINI with dealer fitted extras. As with the MINI Hatchback and Convertible models the Clubman is available with the desirable £150 tlc five year, 50,000 mile servicing costs package.

The new MINI Clubman takes its concept and some styling cues, including the twin side-hinged rear doors, from the Morris Mini Traveller, Austin Mini Countryman and the Mini Clubman Estate of the 1960s.

MINI said this week their version of Clubman stays true to the MINI design with the retention of a short body overhangs, a wheel positioned in each corner, wide track, a long wheelbase and the high shoulder line rising to the rear.

It retains the go-kart handling, unique design and customer options which has made the MINI famous all over the world.

Over one million MINIs have so far been produced and sold with 75 per cent of production being exported to more than 70 markets worldwide. Currently the UK is the biggest market closely followed by the USA, Germany, Italy and France.

Following a £100 million investment at Plant Oxford by BMW Group production of all versions of the MINI will increase to 240,000 units in 2008 and the Clubman model will account for 25 per cent of total MINI production. Right hand drive models, mainly for the UK market, will account for 25 per cent of total Clubman production.

Trevor Smithers said, “In the UK MINI sales should reach 47,000 to 48,000 this year and 50,000 next year as the Clubman model begin to have an impact which will offset the reduction in sales of Convertible models which will be on run-out prior to a new model appearing in 2009.”

He added, “We have already received 4,000 enquiries from potential UK customers for the new MINI Clubman and 1,500 firm orders. Customers wanting a new Clubman and ordering it in November can expect to get their car early in 2008. The first orders are mostly from current MINI owners or ex-MINI owners who are already alert to MINI.”

”The most popular Clubman model will be the Cooper version which is expected to take 57 per cent of sales followed by the Cooper S with 31 per cent and the Cooper D will take 12 per cent of sales.

"However if the proposed London congestion charge changes come into force next year, making vehicles with CO2 emission of 120g/km and lower exempt from it, then we expect the proportion of sales for all MINI diesel models to increase. Currently the London region has the lowest take-up in the UK of MINI diesels.”

The new MINI Clubman is 24 centimetres longer than the Hatch. Inside it offers eight centimetres more legroom for rear passengers and is the first new MINI to enter the market with five seats.

Boot capacity has increased to 260 litres with the seats in place and up to 930 litres with the rear seats down. Access to this extra space has been made easier via the split rear doors and additional Clubdoor on the right-hand side.

But having this passenger access to the rear seats via the Clubdoor on the right hand side of the vehicle has become a significant issue for the UK’s motoring media prior to the vehicles public launch.

The question is why does the Clubman have its ‘suicide’ opening rear side door on the right hand side of the vehicle – the wrong side for right hand drive models?

Passengers will be stepping out of the vehicle into the road instead of onto the pavement. It also means the driver has to get out of the vehicle to let rear seat passenger out – or in.

Marcus Syring, head of design said this week, “The decision was forced on the design team because of other engineering considerations. When we increased the overall length over the Hatch we realised we had room for an extra small door. We wanted to put the door on the left but that’s also where the fuel filler is.”

”It is not possible to move the fuel filler behind the rear wheel to make room for the door because of rear collision legislation in the USA. We had to consider that left hand drive vehicles account for around 75 per cent of production and for them having the Clubdoor on the right hand side is no problem,” he added.

In defence of this design issue Syring said, “The small Clubdoor isn’t just for people to get in and out of the vehicle; it’s a more convenient way for the driver to put coats and bags in the back and reaction to the Clubdoor so far has been quite positive from customers.”

Other highlights featured in the new Clubman range say MINI include modern high-performance engines designed specifically for the second generation MINI and further improvements to optimise fuel economy and emissions management.

Auto Start-Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration and a Gearshift Point Indicator are standard on all variants. The greatest impact is seen on the MINI Cooper D Clubman, which achieves a hybrid-matching low emissions figure of 109g/km C02.

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