Lately I have been looking "alot" at classic minis online, and have an idea for MINI. Why dont they make a Clubman with a front end styled after the classic 1275 GT/ Clubman's square nose? I admitedly didnt like the design the first time I seen it, but the more of them I see pictures of the more I think "That would look bad a$$ on the new Clubby!" The squared front has been big in European design since the '70s (think VW- MK1 rabbit, Jetta, and such). I think the old semi squared front end with inset round headlights in an abnormaly large front grille would look great on the new chassis. Plus that is still the style all the classic Euro tuners are flocking to, so maby it would atract a new following of younger MINI buyers coming over from the VW side.

Just a thought.

 

I say "BUT" because it probably would cause a lot of wind resistance and lower the MPG. There also may be a problem with crash safety.

It would be nice though.

 

Jeep's are still boxes with bad gas milage, and they are one of the most sold vehicles in the country. For crash safety, all you are doing is changing the cosmetic panneling and lights, all the wireing and crash bracing would only need a minor change.

 

Jeeps get crappy MPG on the highway at 70MPH but the owners love them as much as we love our Mini's.

I was thinking of the bumper but why could they not just put a phony Chrome bumper and have the crash protection hidden?

The aftermarket body making people ought to take a look at something like this for a nostalgia conversion kit. I would bet a lot of people would go for something like that.

 

The square clubman front end was not universally loved when it was new, I doubt there's been a groundswell of support for it since either....

Many, many, many of those cars had the front ends replaced with the rounded "classic" Mini front end after the fact...