Mini Clubman Shows Just How Maxi Brand Has Become
Mini unveiled its newest Clubman this week and the car, which is one foot longer and nearly 5 inches wider than the outgoing model, is now longer than a Jeep Wrangler.
The 14-foot-long four door will be four-inches shorter than a Mazda CX-3 and will sport the Hardtop’s duo of engines for Clubman and Clubman S models. The turbocharged I-3 will produce 134 horsepower in the Clubman, while the turbo four will bump up to 189 horsepower for the Clubman S. According to Mini, the Clubman S will sprint up to 60 mph in 7 seconds.
The Clubman is 10.9 inches longer than the 5-door Hardtop, with a 4-inch longer wheelbase and is nearly 3 inches wider. Rear passengers in the Clubman will get 2 more inches of legroom over the five-door Mini (34.3 vs. 32.3).
(And the five-door Hardtop exists, why?)
The Clubman will get BMW’s 8-speed automatic transmission as an option in the Clubman S, which was noticeably missing from the newest Hardtop. The Clubman will also get Dynamic Damper Control as an option, lifted from the Cooper S Hardtop.
According to the automaker, the Clubman will sport 17.5 cubes of room in the rear cargo area, increasing to 47.9 cubes with the rear seats folded down. The bar between the split opening rear doors has also shrunk, which should increase rear visibility in the minivan Clubman. The rear tail lamps are much larger and affixed to the symmetrical rear doors this time around.
The Clubman is the first model in Mini’s self-styled overhaul that was unveiled in June. In addition to the car, Mini will also roll out this year in the U.S. its car-sharing service that lets owners “rent” their own Minis when not in use.
The Mini Clubman will go on sale in the U.S. in January 2016, the automaker said. Pricing hasn’t been announced.
More by Aaron Cole
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When the parent company tosses it's own brand identity to the wind, I can't say that I'm surprised that the MINI sub brand has fully lost it's identity within a short 12 years in USDM. But this should in so many ways be a great car for the internet. It's a fuel efficient, relatively fun to drive, brown wagon available in a stick! Just a shame that there is a MINI badge on it. The public will probably buy enough of these, but for me, even the regular hardtop is too ugly and bloated now. No more MINI's in my future. Signed, R56 MINI Cooper S owner
Why would anyone buy the 5-door Hardtop over this, if the prices are not too far apart?