More Mini Clubman Details, Photo Gallery
We’ve been covering the release of the new Mini Clubman, which BMW is calling “the other” Mini, for the past few days, and now we learn all the details and get to see much more of the elongated Cooper.
First we’ll deal with the new configuration: The Clubman has split rear doors that swing outward, versus the standard Mini’s upward-opening hatch. The passenger side has a clamshell door setup that makes it easier for rear passengers to get in and out. Once in the backseat, those passengers will also enjoy 3.5 more inches of legroom.
What everyone really wants to know about, though, is cargo room. The Clubman has 9.1 cubic feet with the rear seats in place, versus 5.7 cubic feet for the standard Cooper. With the seats down, the Clubman has 32.6 cubic feet versus 24 in the coupe. Even the Clubman’s expanded size is nowhere close to other small hatchbacks like the Honda Fit, four-door VW Rabbit or Nissan Versa, which sport 17.8/50.4, 15/46 and 21.3/41.9 cubic feet, respectively.
But Mini fans look for Mini style and Mini performance, and the Clubman has both. Engine choices are the base four-cylinder with 120 hp, and a turbocharged Clubman Cooper S with 175 hp. Prices haven’t been announced, but the Mini Clubman should go on sale in early 2008. Check out the photo gallery below and let us know what you think.
Mini Clubman Photo Gallery
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What's wrong with keeping the regular hatch from the "short" Mini on the Clubman? I don't see any advantages of the split doors, only more weight, cost, and a vertical bar in the middle of the rear window to block the view aft. And how about half doors on both sides of the car, not just the passenger side? Like on the Saturn Ion coupe and the RX8?
The split rear view will definitely be annoying. "Back" doors should be on both sides. On one way streets sometimes you have to access a car on the driver's side. Otherwise good as are all Mini's.
Still too small... any word on a Clubman XL? I bet there are people out there that need 4 real doors and a cargo area that rivals a real wagon but would like to maintain the mini look.
Then ask them to make a station wagon, or better yet, a cross-ov, err, SUV. Perhaps that would satisfy our extra-large tastes.
LOOK NOW I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF MINI SINCE LIKE I WAS TWELVE SO ITS ONE SIDED 4 ME BUT I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST IDEAS THAT MINI HAS EVER MADE I LOVE THE FACT FOR THE REAR DOORS FORM MANY PEOPLE THIS WILL BE GREAT ITS CALLED A TRAVELER FOR A REASON AND FOR MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN IN A MINIS BACK SEAT IT A EASE GETTING IN I AM 5'10 216POUND MAN AND THE RIDE WAS GREAT BUT GETTING OUT OF THAT CAR WAS A LITTLE WORK YOU HAVE TO BEND TO PREVENT GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THE SEAT BELT AND CHAIR ALSO WHILE GETTING YOUR LEG OVER THE DOOR EXIT WITH THIS I FEEL THAT MANY PROBLEMS WILL BE SOLVED MORE SPACE MORE DOORS WHAT IS THERE NOT TO LOVE