Mini Clubman (2008–)

For the original British Leyland Mini Clubman (1969-1980), see Mini.

Mini Clubman

Production	2007-present
Class	Estate
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive
Engine	1.6L I4 (One/Cooper) 1.6L Prince turbocharged I4 (Cooper S) 1.6L BMW N47 diesel I4 (Cooper D and One D)
Transmission	6-speed automatic 6-speed manual
Wheelbase	2,547.6 mm (100.3 in)
Length	3,937 mm (155.0 in) Cooper S: 4,110 mm (161.8 in)
Width	1,684 mm (66.3 in)
Height	1,425 mm (56.1 in)

Mini Cooper S Clubman rear cargo area.

Introduced for the 2008 model year the Mini Clubman is an estate variant of the Mini two-door hatchback.

Identical to the two-door hatchback from the B-pillar forward, the Clubman features a length increased by 240 mm (9.4 in), a 80 mm (3.1 in) longer wheelbase, increased rear-seat leg room and cargo space deeper by 160 mm (6.3 in), providing an increased 260 litres (9.2 cubic feet) of space – growing from a total of 24 to 32.6 cubic feet (680 to 920 L) with the rear seats folded. The Clubman model weighs 140 lb more than its two-door counterpart.

The Clubman features access to its cargo volume via bi-parting rear doors, also known as barn doors or Splitdoors. All Clubman models, irrespective of market, feature a pair of bi-parting side doors, marketed singlarly as the Clubdoor, which are always located on its right side of the body – irrespective of market. This in turn creates differences between right and left-hand driver markets. Because (irrespective of market) the steering wheel will preclude the driver's seat from folding as far forward as the passenger seat, left-hand drive markets feature increased access to the rear seat via. For right-hand drive markets, including the car's home market, the bi-parting door is located on the road side of the car, requiring rear passengers to exit into the road.^[1]

In 2007, Torque magazine said the Clubman is "essentially a shooting-brake design."^[2]

The use of the name "Clubman" is a departure from Mini tradition. "Clubman" was originally the name given to the 1970s face-lift of the classic Mini, which mostly resulted in a squared-off front end, whereas the classic Mini estates had traditionally been named "Traveller" or "Countryman". However, BMW did not initially purchase the rights to use those names.

Variants

The model variants are the same as the hatch version being in available in One, Cooper, Cooper S, and Cooper D variations.

Engines^[3]

Engine and transmission selections are identical to those used in the Hatch/Hardtop model, except the 66 kW (90 PS; 89 hp) One Diesel; and the rear suspension set-up shares many of the same designs features including the rear trailing arms and the anti-roll bars.

Safety

The MINI Clubman comes with 6 airbags; stability control, brake assist driving and electronic brakeforce distribution.

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  MINI Clubman front

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  MINI Clubman rear

References

1. ^ Car Advice - Not so mini new Mini clubman, published 2007.
2. ^ "A New Kind of Club". Torque Magazine, October 2007. http://books.google.com/books?id=_PUDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA65&dq=%22shooting-brake%22+mini+clubman&hl=en&ei=GfR1TvGnHeH9sQLJ8uiLBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CEIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22shooting-brake%22%20mini%20clubman&f=false. 
3. ^ DRIVE.com.au Mini Clubman wagon revealed,