- Feb 6, 2007
- 590
- 0
- 1,516
What have they done to the Mini? This is the<b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b> new Mini Clubman.
As this photo shows, the Mini Clubman will have van-style twin rear doors, each with their own wiper and a cut-out that frames the rear light cluster.
From this angle it looks like a regular Mini with 240mm longer body and a rear suicide door, similar to the RX-8 -which can only be opened when the front driver's door is open for safety purpose.
4 concepts had been shown at various motor shows over the past couple of years. The stretched wheelbase (80mm) means more rear legroom (80mm), in comparison to the sardine-tin hatchback.
At least luggage capacity rises from 160 to 260 litres or, with the rear seats folded flat, from 680 to 930 litres.
The Clubman has clearly been developed for left-hand drive markets, so the suicide door is on the right-hand side. Mini says it couldn't engineer doors on both sides, because of the fuel filler arrangement. A shame.
Like the regular Mini, the Clubman will come in Cooper D (110bhp), Cooper (120bhp) and Cooper S (175bhp) guises. All engines will also come with BMW’s brake regeneration and stop/start technology – all aimed at lowering emissions and fuel consumption.
[youtube]wx3RitGPBiE[/youtube]
This video will show you the rear hatch, suicide doors, and some driving scenes.
Source:
CAR Magazine - Carmagazine.co.uk
