I stumbled across this when looking up some information about the Mini. Is the Clubman, in theory, not really a new model? Would MINI purists consider the Countryman the original version despite the lack of the Club door? I was surprised by the resemblance. Does anyone know if someone at BMW found the old blueprints and decided to revive it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mini_countryman.jpg
Look at the back: split doors! The resemblance is so close.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ken2r/291006846/

 

Just look up the modern Clubman on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_(BMW)#Mini_Clubman

(scroll down for a pic of the 2006 Traveller concept too)

 

I would definately say its more of a Countryman then a Clubman. The Clubman was originally made to fit a larger motor for the time, thus its "ugly" front end.

 

Yes, the MINI Clubman is meant to evoke the Austin Mini Countryman and Morris Mini Traveller. The problem was that BMW didn't own the Traveller name and they thought Countryman was too woodsy. There was an Estate version of the original Mini Clubman along the lines of the Traveller, so they used that name.

 

Have to remember that the relation of the current Mini to the original is in the idea and name only. Nothing is really the same, except maybe the fun of driving

So, you can link the Clubman to any of those earlier wagons.

charlie