+1 to that....

 

I think this is all a load of rubbish the existing ROW seat is 40-20-40, like mine which was manufactured in April 11. I wonder where you got the impression the ROW seat was 60/40?

My guess is that for marketing purposes MINI released the 4 seat option in the US first, they did the same thing in some European markets, except the other way around; I would have gone with the 4 seat option but that couldn't be ordered in Norway until June, which was after mine was delivered. The bench seat is near useless, you can't fit 3 normal sized adults in the back, even 3 6 year olds is a squeeze.

Mine looks like this.

 

First of all, I have never heard of a 60/40 split for the CM. Every picture or review I have seen talked about a 40/20/40 split. This alone makes the car somewhat unique since I can't think of another car with this configuration. Since KiwiRob actually has one I will take his word that its tight back there. So many of the people complaining about the bench are actually thinking about the clubman backseat which is 4" narrower. As stated earlier "to each his/her own". I can't wait to get my recently ordered CM with the bench in January.

As for the DOT issue, the CM was originally planned to be sold in the US with the bench seat. In Jan 2010, the DOT changed their rules and reduced the minimum width for a 3 person seat by 1". This affected way more than just the CM and there was pushback from other manufacturers as well. There were many 7 and 8 passenger SUVs that were going to lose a seat or two. Mini decided it wasn't worth redesigning the CM to make it 1" wider and decided to wait it out. As expected DOT caved under pressure and changed the rule back. So this year Mini had to go through crash testing and certifications with the bench and then ramp up production to build up enough inventory to satisfy its JIT manufacturing process. I expect in 2013 bench seat will be more popular than the buckets. Its no less practical than the buckets and only a minor hit to its styling.

 

Off the top of my head, Volvo V60, V70, XC60, XC90, BMW X1, 5 series touring, 1 series, Nissan Qashqai, VW Touran, Sharan.....it's pretty common

 

Same here... I realize that it's really tight back there for 3 people but I'd rather have the option to squeeze a 3rd person rather than not.... just patiently waiting for the bench seat option.... Cheers....

 

Add the entire line of Land/Range Rovers, most European vehicles have been produced with that style bench for years....

 

OK, sorry about the 40/20/40 comment. I have had my Mini blinders on for a while and the car I am replacing is 11 years old.

FWIW, If you add up all European manufacturers it's still less than 10% of US auto sales.
http://online.wsj.com/mdc/public/pag...autosales.html

 

My information came from a UK owner (presumably) of whom I asked many questions about the rear bench. It was his reporting that the seat was 60/40. He also claimed that the 60/40 seat portions had fore/aft adjustments as well a semi-recline adjustment, similar to the buckets. Is this, in fact a reality? This brings the voracity of this source into serious question, of course.

The DOT issue also has an interesting tie in. It seems that another source (perhaps just a bit more reliable) was correct in saying that the current bench seat (aka the "mythical" 60/40) did not meet DOT specs. I guess they were correct...to a point. The "caving-in" of the DOT on the width issue to allow the bench was the change, not a seat redesign.

My sincere apologies for representing what appears to be inaccurate information. I have summarily sacked myself and am currently begging for change at the intersection by the Mall.

But seriously, can KiwiRob lend his experience to confirm or debunk my UK source stating the bench seat sections have recline and fore/aft adjustments like the buckets?

Apologies,

 

I would really love to see some proof that anyone has been actually able to have an advisor place an order for a CM with rear bench (i.e. it was entered in Mini's system and locked it so it can be sent out for production). If you've already been able to order, then you should expect to take deliver in 8-10 weeks, which would put you in mid-November as of today.

I "ordered" a month ago, with that I mean placing my deposit, getting the details of my config on paper and on file with the MA. However, MA has checked again, and the earliest, as of today, an order can be locked in the system is in Novemeber, which puts
delivery in January at the earliest, or at most Februrary. The January date seems to gel pretty well with what people (who have "ordered") are reporting here....

so does anyone have proof that their Countryman with bench is actually locked and in the system? Or are MAs just telling people, "oh yeah, you're CM w/Bench is ordered"....two different things.

 

My wife and I are going to look at the Countryman on Saturday. I won't buy one without a bench. I'll update the thread with what I know afterwards.

 

I "ordered" similar to you, put a deposit down and got a printout out of what I want for options..

I was told the order could be formally "entered" into the system in late September but the first build with bench seat would begin in November.

I am planning on January delivery....

 

My wife is looking for a small car that car fit our three kids, mainly for around town duty. Our other car is a minivan, and she'd like something with better gas mileage and a higher "fun" factor. We are hoping the rear bench seat will fit our kids aged 9, 7, and 5. The oldest is out of a booster and the other two are still in booster seats. They are all pretty small and thin, so I think it might work. For reference, we test drove a Honda Fit and Ford Focus, and they fit reasonably well in each. But my wife would really prefer the MINI. Can anyone direct me to a photo with actual kids fitting in a rear bench seat or specific width specifications for the bench. Thanks!

 

Visiting Rio and there is a CM in the garage, with a bench, not sure if it's the same that the US will get. There is also a dealorship across the street. Going there today to check out the back seats. Strangely the Mini website (in Brazil) says it only fits 4. Feel blessed though because here the cheapest CM model starts at 99,000 reals (about $60k US) and they have less options available.

 

Hmmm... interesting. I ordered my 2012 CM S this past Saturday (yay!) with a bench seat. It's just WAY more practical for my needs. I knew from reading the boards that it wasn't going into production until November, so I'm OK with waiting for it. What's interesting is that based on everything I've read here, I shouldn't expect delivery until at least January based on a November build slot. My dealer told me, however, to expect it in early December. I pretty much disregarded that completely and replaced "December" with "January" in my head every time he said it. :D

Because I did my research (*waving frantically at this message board*), I'm OK with the wait and will be fine with it if I don't get my CM until Jan/Feb. I'm just wondering if there's any way the dealer might be right and I'd get it sooner, assuming a November build? I just don't think that seems possible based on what I've been reading.

 

not sure if this has been asked already but.... aside from the rear bench seat option, are there any significant changes for the CM S for the 2012 model year?

 

Blacked out headlight housings... I think that's it.

 

I visited a Mini dealorship in Brazil today, and tried out the rear bench, 3 adults "fit", it would be fine for short ride out for the night, dinner, etc. You wouldn't want to use it for long trips, but that's fine, since I'd never do that anyway. The seats move forward and back 60/40, however I didn't check if the y fold 60/40 or 40/20/40. You can search for a pic on google.com.br - don't know if this design is what the UK got, or what the US will get.

I just don't get what people are saying that even 3 kids won't fit. Disclaimer: We are all normal sized. No offense, but maybe if you're bigger/wider, then I could see the issue....but 3 kids or 2 adults/1 child - I don't see an issue. 3 adults: read what I said above. hope this helps, but now I am 100% staying with my rear-bench "order".

 

Thank you fupaking, that sounds promising for my situation.

 

MINI USA configurator has finally been updated. You can now do a build with all the 2012 options including bench seat, blacked out headlamp housings and updated packages.

 

He's partially correct, the seats move forward and back 60/40, the rear seat backs also adjust for recline individually.

 

You can fit two booster seats in the back but inless your 9 year old is super skinny, it's never going to fit; I have two maxi cosi rodi seats in the back, the gap between them is about 20 cm. The way the middle seatbelt is attached makes it very difficult to fit the seats side by side, leaving one side for the non boosted child.

 

Yes, I noticed the web site had been updated for the 2012 models today, but missed the bench seat option, as mine still had the two-part rail selected. Got rid of that and now have the bench and the full rail (although I'm guessing the car will only have the rail in front). I met with my MA last night, and she confirmed that the order could not be officially placed until October (for November starts), and would not likely get here until January or February. I can wait - the 2012's in the MINI lot don't look nearly as cool as the one in my mind!

 

Maybe not significant, but the driver's side grab handle above the window has been replaced by a flip-down visor.

 

no actually that IS significant, i wonder if they'll do a retrofit....

 

I'm guessing you'll be able to purchase the parts for a retrofit after a few months.