New MINI Clubman details revealed

Said to offer an "interpretation of the tradition-steeped shooting brake concept adapted to the demands of the compact class for the first time", MINI’s newest model, the Clubman, is headed for our shores in 2016.

It will be the latest body style to join the third-generation MINI range, following the already-released MINI three- and five-door hatches, with a Cabrio also expected shortly.

The six-door wagon (with two at the rear) is a full five-seater and is dimensionally larger than the MINI 5 Door (as the five-door hatch is referred to), with 27cm additional length, 9cm greater width and a 10cm wheelbase stretch.

Dimensionally, the MINI Clubman is 4253mm long on a 2670mm wheelbase, with 1800mm width and 1441mm height.

The MINI Clubman can swallow 1250 litres of luggage with the seats folded down; fill the seats with passengers, and there’s 360 litres available in the luggage compartment. An optional 40:20:40-split folding second row and tilt-adjust backrest function adds further practicality.

Although final local pricing and specifications have not been finalised, the MINI Clubman will be available from launch in six variants, each with its own engine specification.

The entry-level MINI One Clubman offers a choice of 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol (MINI One Clubman) or diesel engines (One D Clubman), producing 75kW/180Nm and 85kW/270Nm respectively.

Fuel economy is apparently dependant on which wheel/tyre package you specify. The petrol engine claim is between 5.3L/100km and 5.1L/100km for either six-speed manual gearbox or optional six-speed automatic; that figure reduces to 3.9L/100km-3.8L/100km (manual) or 4.1L/100km-3.9L/100km (auto) for the One Clubman D.

Opt for the mid-range Cooper Clubman variants, and your options are a 100kW/220Nm version of the petrol three-pot (230Nm is accessible via an overboost function) in the Cooper Clubman or a new four-cylinder, 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel producing 110kW/330Nm in the Cooper D Clubman. The latter can also be optioned with a new eight-speed automatic.

Cooper Clubman matches the One Clubman’s economy figures listed above, while the Cooper D variant returns between 4.4L/100km and 4.1L/100km with either transmission.

The current top-spec Clubman is of course the Cooper S, though it has been joined for the first time by a Cooper SD diesel variant.

Cooper S Clubman adopts the familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder donk to produce 141kW/280Nm, or 300Nm with overboost, but it’s likely to be overshadowed by the Cooper SD model.

It uses a higher-powered variant of the new 2.0-litre four-pot turbo-diesel to generate 140kW/400Nm. Fuel use for the oiler is between 4.6L/100km and 4.5L/100km for the manual, or 4.4L/100km-4.3L/100km for the eight-speed auto, compared to 6.3L/100km-6.2L/100km (manual) / 5.9L/100km-5.8L/100km (auto) for the Cooper S.

Either of these can also be optioned with a sports version of the eight-speed auto, offering faster shift times, launch control functionality and paddle-shifting.

Beyond the shooting-brake body style and swinging rear doors, the exterior of the MINI Clubman introduces specific aerodynamic additions to optimise efficiency.

Small front-bumper air ducts provide an air curtain effect, directing airflow around the front wheels, the air escaping once more via breathers placed behind the front wheels to maximise airflow. Road wheels range from 16- to 19-inch diameter.

Inside the central display features either a two-colour 2.7-inch display, 6.5-inch or 8.8-inch colour touch-screen, depending on specification. Specific to the Clubman, climate controls and toggle switches are both fitted below the display, and the centre console incorporates a storage space with two additional cup-holders for the first time in a MINI. An electrically-controlled handbrake is also fitted.

Emphasising its practicality further, the split rear doors house additional storage compartments, there’s a large glovebox up-front and additional door card pockets which can hold water bottles up to one litre.

Base standard features include auto headlights, single-zone air-conditioning, rain sensor, USB and AUX-capable audio, and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity. There’s also a comprehensive suite of safety-driven acronyms, including ESC, traction control, ABS with EBD and cornering brake control, and an electronic differential lock.

As ever, there are many options available to individualise the MINI Clubman.  
Items such as dual-zone climate control, navigation packages, seat heating for front-row occupants, windscreen heating, panoramic roof, Harmon Kardon audio and more practical items such as a tow hitch and roof rails are available.

The ‘MINI Yours Interior Styles’ package offers unique door trim design highlighted by indirectly illuminated strips and combined with a range of trim finishers.

Interior and ambient LED lighting can also be added, while the Excitement Package offers continuously variable colour changes. A MINI logo also projects on the ground for up to 20 seconds when opening or closing the vehicle.

Other items such as park distance control, reversing camera, parking assistant, driving assistant (essentially camera-based cruise control) and head-up display are also available.

Electrical adjustment of driver and front passenger seats is optional and of course a wide range of interior colours and surfaces – including a Chrome Line package – can be optionally employed. Seat trims include fabric, fabric/leather combination and full leather and JCW sports seats can also be optioned.

The MINI Driving Modes package is offered allowing MID, GREEN and SPORT calibrations. Dynamic damper control is also cost-optional and works with the specific suspension tunes designed to allow for the dimensional differences found in the MINI Clubman range.

Details on Australian standard equipment per variant will be confirmed, along with pricing, closer to the 2016 local launch date. Watch out for our first drive report from the global launch in Sweden late next week.