Mini Clubman (2007)

For the British Leyland Mini Clubman (1969−1980), see Mini § Clubman.

Mini Clubman
Overview
Manufacturer	BMW (Mini marque)
Production	2007–present
Assembly	England : Cowley, Oxfordshire, (Plant Oxford)
Body and chassis
Class	Supermini (B)

The Mini Clubman is a supermini engineered and manufactured by BMW and sold under the Mini marque. The first-generation Clubman was introduced in 2007, as a variant of the Mini Hatch (Hardtop in the US). A commercial version called Clubvan was added to the range in 2012. The current second-generation model is produced since 2015 and available with front- and all-wheel drive.

History

Morris Mini Minor Traveller (1966)

The use of the name "Clubman" is a departure from Mini tradition. "Clubman" was originally the name given to the 1970s facelift of the classic Mini, which mostly resulted in a squared-off front end, whereas the classic Mini estates had traditionally been named "Traveller" or "Countryman" (a Clubman-styled estate was, however, available in Australia). However, BMW did not initially purchase the rights to use those names, and so decided to call its estate-variant "Clubman", a name which it did own rights to.

First generation (R55) (2007–2014)

First Generation (R55)
Overview
Manufacturer	Mini (BMW)
Also called	Mini Clubvan
Production	2007–June 2014
Assembly	England : Cowley, Oxfordshire, (Plant Oxford)
Body and chassis
Class	Supermini (B)
Body style	5-door estate (Clubman) car derived van (Clubvan)
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive
Related	Mini Hatch
Powertrain
Engine	1.6L I4 (One/Cooper) 1.6L Petrol turbocharged I4 (Cooper S) 1.6 L Peugeot DV6 diesel I4 (Cooper D and One D)
Transmission	6-speed automatic 6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,548 mm (100.3 in)
Length	2008–2010: 3,937 mm (155.0 in) 2008–2010 S: 3,957 mm (155.8 in) 2011–2014: 3,960 mm (155.9 in)
Width	1,684 mm (66.3 in)
Height	1,425 mm (56.1 in) S: 1,433 mm (56.4 in)
Kerb weight	1,205 kg (2,657 lb)

Design

Mini Clubman

Identical to the 3-door hatchback from the B-pillar forward, the Clubman features a length increased by 240 mm (9.4 in), an 80 mm (3.1 in) longer wheelbase, increased rear-seat leg room and cargo space deeper by 160 mm (6.3 in), providing an increased 260 litres (9.2 cu ft) of space – growing from a total of 680 to 920 litres (24 to 32 cu ft) with the rear seats folded. The Clubman model weighs 64 kilograms (141 lb) more than its two-door counterpart.

The Clubman features access to its cargo space via bi-parting rear doors, known as barn doors or splitdoors. The passenger doors configuration and split rear cargo doors of the Clubman made it a unique model on the market at the time of release. Also, all Clubman models feature a single backwards opening side door to access the rear seats. The first generation was the first Mini to have suicide doors, but the second generation lacks them. It is marketed singularly as the Clubdoor, and is always located on its right side of the body – irrespective of market. It is much smaller in comparison to the regular driver and passenger side doors. This in turn creates differences between right and left-hand drive markets. In right-hand markets, the steering wheel won't allow the driver's seat from folding as far forward as the passenger seat. This means that left-hand drive markets feature increased access to the rear seat. For right-hand drive markets, including the car's home market, the bi-parting door is located on the road side of the car, requiring rear passengers to exit into the road.

The model variants are the same as the Hatch/Hardtop version; being in available in One, Cooper, Cooper D, Cooper SD, Cooper S and John Cooper Works (JCW) variations.

In 2013, the company unveiled the Clubman Bond Street, named after a prestigious shopping destination in the West End of London, featuring exclusive and stylish appointments inside and out.

Specifications

Four-cylinder engine, automatic transmission and manual transmission selections are identical to those used in the corresponding hatchback models, except for the 66 kW (90 PS; 89 bhp) One Diesel which is not offered in the Clubman. The rear suspension setup shares many of the same design features, including the rear trailing arms and the anti-roll bars.

The Clubman comes with 6 airbags; stability control, brake assist driving and electronic brakeforce distribution.

Cargo area

Clubman's cargo area

The cargo area of the first generation Clubman received mixed reviews. Although it was far bigger than the Mini Hatch, most critics still believed that it was too small in comparison to one of its main competitors, the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen. Many complaints were also cited about the trunk. The majority of the car behind the B pillar was said to have created much road noise, especially at high speeds. Also, the rear seats did not fold flat with the load floor of the trunk. Critics also said that the "storage package", which included options such as a 12V power outlet, perimeter lighting, and nets, should have been a standard option on the vehicle.

Clubvan

The light commercial, panel van version of the Clubman was first shown to the public in June 2012, called the Clubvan. Initially shown as a concept car at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, a pre-production version was shown at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Sales in the US began in early calendar 2013 but it was withdrawn in July with only 50 units sold, the Chicken tax having made it more expensive than a Clubman passenger wagon.

Second generation (F54) (2015–present)

Second Generation (F54)
Overview
Manufacturer	Mini (BMW)
Production	2015–present
Assembly	England : Cowley, Oxfordshire, (Plant Oxford)
Body and chassis
Body style	5-door estate
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Platform	BMW UKL2 platform
Powertrain
Engine	1.5L B38 I3 turbo (petrol; Cooper) 1.5L B37 I3 turbodiesel (Cooper D) 2.0L B48 I4 turbocharged (Cooper S, JCW) 2.0L B47 I4 turbodiesel (Cooper SD)
Transmission	6-speed automatic 8-speed automatic 6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,670 mm (105.1 in)
Length	4,275 mm (168.3 in)
Width	1,801 mm (70.9 in)
Height	1,440 mm (56.7 in)
Kerb weight	1,375 kg (3,031 lb)

A second generation Clubman was announced in 2013, with model code F54. A concept version was unveiled at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, with the production model debuting at the 2015 Frankfurt IAA Motor Show.

Mini Cooper Clubman

Mini Cooper Clubman S

Clubman JCW interior

Mini Clubman 2019 facelift rear

Mini Clubman JCW

The new model, based on the BMW UKL2 platform, features more space. At the time of its debut, the Mini Clubman was the largest Mini ever manufactured by the brand, measuring 427 centimetres (168.3 in) long and it is wider measuring 180 centimetres (70.9 in) in comparison to the previous 396-centimetre (155.9 in). The new model has four conventional doors for passengers.

Mini used many soft-touch plastics to cover the dash and majority of the door panels, real leather upholstery, and several, upscale trim options.

Engines

This generation of the Mini Clubman comes with two engines for the North American market. The basic model comes with the 100 kW (134 bhp) 1.5 liter 3-cylinder engine mated with either a 6-spd manual or 6-spd automatic transmission, while the new Mini Cooper S Clubman comes with a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine and 189 bhp, mated with either a 6-spd manual or 8-spd automatic transmission.

Model	Fuel type	Displacement	Cylinders	Transmission	Power	Torque	Emissions CO2	Top speed	Acceleration 0–62 mph (0–100 km/h)	Kerb weight
One	Petrol	1.5 L (1,499 cc)	3	6-speed manual [6-speed auto] From 2018–present: 6-speed manual [7-speed DCT] JCW [8-speed auto]	75 kW/102 PS	190 N⋅m (140 lb⋅ft)	111-109 [114-112] g/km	195 km/h (121 mph)	9.9 [10.2] s	1165 [1195] kg
Cooper		1.5 L (1,499 cc)			100 kW/136 PS	220 N⋅m (162 lb⋅ft)	107-105 [112-109] g/km	210 km/h (130 mph)	7.9 [7.8] s	1160 [1190] kg
Cooper S		2.0 L (1,998 cc)	4		141 kW/192 PS	280 N⋅m (207 lb⋅ft)	136-133 [126-123] g/km	235 km/h (146 mph) [233 km/h (145 mph)]	6.8 [6.7] s	1235 [1250] kg
John Cooper Works					170 kW/231 PS (from 8/2019 225kW/306 PS)	320 N⋅m (236 lb⋅ft) (from 8/2019 450N⋅m)	147 [133] g/km (from 8/2019 [169] g/km)	246 km/h (153 mph) (from 8/2019 250 km/h)	6.3 [6.1] s (from 8/2019 [4.9] s)	1205 [1220] kg
One D	Diesel	1.5 L (1,496 cc)	3	6-speed manual [6-speed auto] From 2018–present: 6-speed manual [7-speed DCT]	85 kW/116 PS	270 N⋅m (162 lb⋅ft)	92-89 g/km	190 km/h (118 mph)	11.6 s	1190 kg
Cooper D				6-speed manual [8-speed torque converter auto]	110 kW/150 PS	330 N⋅m (199 lb⋅ft)	95-92 [99-98] g/km	205 km/h (127 mph) [204 km/h (127 mph)]	9.2 [9.2] s	1210 [1225] kg
Cooper SD		2.0 L (1,995 cc)	4		140 kW/190 PS	400 N⋅m (266 lb⋅ft)	109-106 [107-104] g/km	227 km/h (141 mph) [225 km/h (140 mph)]	7.3 [7.2] s	1250 [1265] kg

Clubman ALL4

This generation of the Clubman is the first to receive Mini's all wheel drive system, known as "ALL4". The system uses an electro-hydraulic system, which uses an electronically managed hydraulic pump to adjust the clutch sending power to the rear wheels. The system can then divert up to 50% of the engine’s power to the rear wheels, and the system actually defaults to AWD from the start, not FWD. Similar to BMW’s Xdrive system, which defaults to a 70/30 split rear to front and is able to divert 100% of power to the rear wheels, ALL4 starts at 50/50 and is able to re-allocate up to 100% of power back to the front wheels. Unlike one of its main competitors, the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, the ALL4 version of the Clubman does not feature any raised suspension or rugged exterior design and body panels. Originally when it first arrived at dealerships, the Clubman was only available with ALL4 on the Cooper S model, but as of the 2017 model year, it is now available on the base Cooper model as well.

Vision GT Concept

In 2014, work began on the MINI Clubman VGT, which was designed for the videogame Gran Turismo 6. The car features four-wheel drive and carbon fibre components to save weight, and at nearly 400 horsepower, is one of the most powerful Minis. It was made available to players via an update in February 2015.

In the media

In October 2014, Top Gear magazine placed the first generation Clubman on its list of "The worst cars you can buy right now", describing the car as "Lamentable to drive - shuddery, messy and as comfortable as a marble mattress."

Awards

• ‘Estate Car of the Year’ in the 2018 Honest John New Car Awards

External links

• Official website (United Kingdom)
• Official website (United States)