So my dad said to me today, "have you seen the MINI wagon?" I was like, it's a clubman, not a wagon. He replied, "whatever it is, it's uuuuuuuuuuuuuugly"

I myself am undecided. I think it quite suits the larger, taller looking r56.

mb

 

so when does this come out my mom would LOVE this car. she has two dogs and needs more room but lves the mini.

 

I want to see a CR JCW Clubman with the aero kit.

 

I can't wait to see one up close, Though I was taken aback when I saw the weird looking ribs on the roof. More than likely a design issue to strengthen it
since Mini is dedicated to making the body structure bullet proof. The wide opening on the passenger side also prompted it I'd guess. I'm more concerned with weather the frame openings are still there for the sportlink ( @ 22.5" / 572 mm o.c.)anyone out there got a clue on that?

 

Please no.

mb

 

 

Hey, station wagons are popular with the hot rod crowd these days. A racy looking Clubman could be cool.

 

Check this out: http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/...ries-1st-look/

 

I don't have a problem with the suicide door's operation and agree that it'll be an enhancement to the functionality of the car. However, they put it on the WRONG side. 95% of the time this car will have one occupant, the driver. Why force this person to walk around the car in order to gain more convenient access to the rear seat? I can only conclude the bean counters didn't want to be bothered reconfiguring the car for us "yanks".

 

perhaps the designers looked at the "yanks" and concluded that a bit of exercise wouldn't be a bad thing

seriously though; it's on the corrrect side for the USA; the curb side for most markets...

 

Excellent point regarding exercise. "Rubenesque" is clearly the order of the day. However, truly Rubenesque types probably don't list the Mini (yes, even the Clubman) high on their list of favorite vehicles.

You make another good point regarding the third door being on the curb side. In response though, I submit that "parallel parking" is not only a lost art, it also seems increasingly uncommon - at least in my town.

For those of you who mentioned the Element, assuming it has suicide doors on both sides, which do you use more often? Any RX-8 owners out there?

 

I like it... I think we look good together

 

O K tell us the story !

 

it's a secret...



HINT !! the clubman in USA ... but enough black tape and no one notices it

 

Yah how could you tell it was a Mini with all that tape !
Ok I'll take a guess ........L.A. auto show ?

 

Autoshow in the open field? look at the background

 

Theres open fields in L. A. .But I was thinking it was shipped to Maryland were you live and then it will be trucked to california .Or my second guess your a tester for US MPG ?

 

No just lucky on Sept. 22nd. I was @ Greer, SC for the Performance Driving School (2 days of BMWs driving but no MINIs well cannot complain since I was driving Z4, M5 M6 630 c my gallery) spotted the two unofficial Clubmen tucked behindn a building and corrupted a worker to take me there to see the new MINI upclose..

Nice but boot much smaller than expected.. I think it a confortable 4 seat MINI w/ some boot space..

 

Sneaky !

 

Actually it makes sense as usually the passenger in the back sits behind the passanger to give more legroom to the driver, plus in case you have to drop of the third or fourth passenger the driver doesn't need to get out of the car, Finally the right side (not applicable in UK , of course) is safer to get passengers in and out when the car is not properly parked.

Actually I liked the side door better than expected.. bit disappointed about the boot and how small still is... of course, much bigger than a cabrio's but not as spacious as the GP back

 

The October 8th edition of AutoWeek has a very favorable review of the new Clubman entitled "WORLD'S LARGEST MINI".

 

I like the idea of the long wheelbase, but I don't like that rear end. What's with that weird silver outline on the doors, is that plastic?

 

Appparently the Clubman-specific design features, especially the rear doors, are very impressive to the press when seen in real life and up close. I'm also impressed (and surprised) that drive quality seems virtually unchanged. I think the Clubman is going to do quite well.

 

I've been thinking a new Clubman might make a very good suring safari automobile. I'll be looking at them with this in mind.

 

Russell,

Great product!