October 1, 2007. Copyright 2007, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Mini Clubman adds space and flexibility, but retains high prices
By Neil Winton

LONDON, October 1, Graphic News: BMWÕs decision to revive the iconic Mini brand back in 2001 has been tremendously successful, and huge sales were achieved despite a couple of handicaps.

The Mini was expensive for such a little car, and it didnÕt offer much room in the rear seats, or storage in the boot.

The MiniÕs latest iteration, the Clubman, solves one of those problems. It is 24cm (9.5in) longer than the regular Mini and can now seat four adults relatively comfortably, and with the rear seats folded down can offer serious luggage space for the first time.

It is still very expensive, with the base Cooper Clubman, powered by a 1.6 litre 120 bhp petrol engine starting at £14,235 (20,420 euros), without air conditioning. There is also a 1.6 litre 110 bhp diesel, and a 1.6 litre 175 bhp supercharged motor in the Cooper S Clubman. The wheel base has been increased so the Clubman retains the wheel-at-every-corner classic Mini setup, and go-kart like handling. The suspension has been improved, although the firm set-up for the S version may shake a few fillings loose.

The Clubman takes design cues from the original Mini Traveller and Clubman Estates from back in the 1960s, and mimics the split rear loading doors which hinge from the side. They have more in common with vans than cars. The separate rear windows have their own, individual wipers.

To make it easier for rear passengers, the Clubman has a narrow third door on the right hand side, hinged at the back rather than the middle. Mini says it would have been too expensive to add a fourth door on the other side, because of extra engineering costs to relocate the fuel tank.

If any other manufacturer said it was offering a 3-door car because it was too expensive to do a fourth, they would be laughed off stage. But as the Mini is quirky, trendy and cutting edge, this probably wonÕt be a handicap, although buyers in right-hand drive markets like Britain and Japan might not like the idea of loading the children into the back from the road rather than curb side. This third door can only be opened when the front door is open.

Mini is also blazing an environmental trail for its parent, BMW, by offering new technology like Stop-Start, Regenerative Braking, and Gearshift Point Indicator (GPI) to improve fuel consumption. ÒStop-startÓ cuts out the engine when the car halts in traffic and starts it again when needed. ÒRegenerative brakingÓ channels excess power into the battery when the car is free-wheeling. This allows batteries to be smaller and lighter. The GPI is a little gadget on the dashboard which tells you the gear you should be in for maximum economy.Ê These three developments are standard across the Clubman range.

The diesel version of the Clubman is a truly champion fuel sipper, with average fuel consumption of a claimed 68.9mpg-4.1-l/100 kms. Fewer fuel fill-ups will take some of the sting out of the high forecourt prices.
/ENDS

Mini Cooper D Clubman

Engine Ð 1.6 litre 4-cylinder diesel
Power Ð 110 bhp @ 4,000rpm
Torque Ð 240 Nm @ 1,750-2,000rpm
Drive Ð front-wheels
Gearbox Ð six speed manual
Acceleration Ð 0-62mph-100km/h 10.4 seconds
Top Speed Ð 120mph-193km/h
Fuel consumption Ð claimed combined Ð 68.9mpg- 4.1-l/100 kms
C02 Ð 109g/km
Suspension Ð McPherson/longitudinal arms
Length Ð 3,945mm
Width Ð 1,683mm
Height Ð 1,426mm
Weight Ð 1,205kg
Price £15,400-Û22,100 Ð on sale in Europe from November