New Clubman Test Mule Photo

Sections: R55 (Clubman) Aug 28th, 2006 36 Comments

Edmunds Inside Line has a new photo of the MINI clubman test mule with one of theÃƒâ€šÃ‚Â rear “barn doors” open.Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Keeping in mind that this is a test mule, someÃƒâ€šÃ‚Â noteable features still stand outÃƒâ€šÃ‚Â from theÃƒâ€šÃ‚Â photo:

The doors feature a simple hinge, not the complicated parallelogram hinge shown in the concept.
The clean lines of the concept’s rear doors show some signs of changing to incorporate the rear license plate and the lights to illuminate it.
The tail lamps move with the door in the photo.Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â This isn’t expected to carry over to production.Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Rather,Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â much like the ConceptÃƒâ€šÃ‚Â the tail lamps may remain attached to the body, and the rear doors would have holes in them that the tail lights would sit behind.

Finally, as we’ve reported previously on MotoringFile the coach door will be on the right side only.Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â The extra “door” shown on the left side of the photos is purely masking.

Written By: Dave

indimini

I like their use of the phrase “MINI fanatics at motoringfile”, lol. Congrats Gabe on being their reference for all things MINI.
Frank

Interesting photos. Precisely yesterday, I was thinking if the split dual “dutch” rear doors will have some sort of wiper system. I was wondering how MINI would work around the issues posed by having dual split cargo doors with wipers. I taught to myself that MINI would never put dual wipers at the rear (Too tacky looking) a la 1990′s Toyota Camry wagon or 1980′s Toyota Cressida wagon with dual rear wipers.

So here we go. MINI will definetely add dual rear wipers. I wonder if they will offer a single piece hatchback door as an option.

I still want to see that rear suicide door fully opened and in action.
http://vinreddy.blogspot.com vin.

I noticed the engineers have the dashboard and switches partially masked over. Are there going to be any interior changes specific to the Clubman?
Shamus

Nice that they’re going with Barn Doors, however, they are a long way from the final production doors. Could you imagine BMW letting a car go out to market with the license plate over-hanging like that? I can’t wait to see the final car. I still don’t see how they can go to both LHD and RHD markets with only a passenger-side suicide door. Are there going to be two models?
O(=^=)O Capn

Hey has anyone mentioned the different rear spoiler monted on top of the car and also the high mount stop light that goes all the way across the back. Or are they just diversionary?
Dave

I still donÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t see how they can go to both LHD and RHD markets with only a passenger-side suicide door. Are there going to be two models?

As it currently stands, the door will only be on the right side. That means it will be behind the driver on MINIs bound for RHD markets, and behind the front seat passenger on MINIs in LHD markets.
Troy

Looks to me, that the baby doors are on BOTH sides. Only due to the images and their theories about splits and creases, explained by Edmunds…
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Looks to me, that the baby doors are on BOTH sides. Only due to the images and their theories about splits and creases, explained by EdmundsÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦

And that’s exactly what BMW wants it to look like and wants you to think. We’ve talked with several people who have actually seen this car un-camouflaged and all of them have said the same thing – the only coach door present is on the right side of the car. Now this doesn’t rule out BMW changing their minds at the 11th hour. But as of now that’s the way it is currently.

With this article Edmunds just speculating based on pictures with no new information. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just that we have actual information on the subject from legitimate sources :)
http://www.iniw.net Randy K.

In other words… Gabe owns them :LOL:
http://calabashcattery.com pbraun

“CLUBMAN” – barf!!!!!!! That previous Clubman was such an unpopular and UGLY CAR !!!!!!!!

Please don’t name this one the same thing.

It is not a nice or upscale MINI name. Come up with something NEW ! Get creative! It’s a new car, already!

Sorry, I am having a real hard time getting used to that uncreative moniker. Don’t do it, MINI !!!!!!!!! The company is to great to attach an unpleasant,

**********PREVIOUSLY USED ********

old, rotten name. Ahem.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

In other wordsÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦ Gabe owns them :LOL:

Just for the record I have no dis-respect towards Edmunds, Inside the Line, Outside the Line or whateve they want to call themselves. I think it’s great that they’re covering the MINI and linking to MotoringFile. There are some sites out there don’t bother to do either.
Dave

Now this doesnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t rule out BMW changing their minds at the 11th hour.

So far at least, I can’t recall seeing an iterative design evolution with MINI.

The final R56 interior looks almost identical to the cardboard and plywood model that was shown to focus groups almost 18 months ago. The surface finishes and materials have changed, but the design itself is very much the same.

Early March 2005 – Crude Interior Design Mock-up Late March 2005 – Refined Interior Design Mock-up August 2006 – Finished Procuction Interior

Based on what we have seen to date in terms of the lack of evolution once a design is set in place, I would be shocked if a second coach door appeared in the R55 production version.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Based on what we have seen to date in terms of the lack of evolution once a design is set in place, I would be shocked if a second coach door appeared in the R55 production version.

Same here.
http://www.iniw.net Randy K.

Just for the record I have no dis-respect towards Edmunds, Inside the Line, Outside the Line or whateve they want to call themselves. I think itÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s great that theyÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢re covering the MINI and linking to MotoringFile. There are some sites out there donÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t bother to do either.

Sorry wasn’t trying to imply anything negative. Just nice to see the really MINI guys with the knowledge.

Edmunds is great. Part of my daily routine on the car sites.
The Blue Canary

Wow, that is the ugliest rear end I have ever seen. But I’ll wait till they get it all said and done for real.
Vanwall

Nice to see you’re getting to be the MINI Paper-Of-Record. Doors, schmoors, it’ll all shake out in the wash, so I’ll reserve judgement ’till the fluff cycle is over.
Dave

The thing that’s funny to me is MINI solicited feedback throughout the R56 design process, both through focus groups and by gaging online reaction.

Do any changes appear to have been implemented as a result of this feedback? The 18 month interior “evolution” would indicate not much if anything of significance is really “changeable” once an intial design was selected and moved forward into the model stage.
http://aimlesswandering.net radiationman

The thing thatÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s funny to me is MINI solicited feedback throughout the R56 design process, both through focus groups and by gaging online reaction. Do any changes appear to have been implemented as a result of this feedback? The 18 month interior ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œevolutionÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â would indicate not much if anything of significance is really ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œchangeableÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â once an intial design was selected and moved forward into the model stage.

My theory is that they weren’t so much trying to solicit feedback as much as they were trying to de-sensitize those who might write about it!

Personally, I’m reserving final judgement on the new interiors until I see them in person…
goofytruax

Hey the dash looks like the current dash not the 07 dash. That may be why it is covered.
O(=^=)O Capn

So, Gabe, How much traffic flow have you gotten from Edmunds becuase of this story?
Aurel

Question … is the Clubman going to share the same guts with the R56 S? or is it something completely different.
Bob Dobbs

I wish they’d call this thing the MINI Weekend.

It’s not like my opinion matters, though.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Question ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦ is the Clubman going to share the same guts with the R56 S? or is it something completely different.

It’s an R56 with eight inches added in the middle.
tonyt

Hmmm, interesting pictures. In most european countries, rear (tail) lights and indicator lights are not allowed to be attached to opening doors, or to be obscured by said doors when the door is open. So from these pictures, I cant see how the current design would meet such legislation. Whats the situation in the States with this? Rear lights have to always be pointing to the rear, not the side, when the doors are in the open position also.
http://www.blokspeed.net Eelke

Question ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦ is the Clubman going to share the same guts with the R56 S? or is it something completely different.

I would guess the Clubman would become available in at least two of the variants One, Cooper and Cooper S, maybe all three. I’d say there is a slim chance the One would fall off because they figure the 1.4 engine isn’t powerful enough for the larger car, and an even slimmer chance the S falls off because they think noone would want to have a performance Clubman (boy, would they be wrong :))

In most european countries, rear (tail) lights and indicator lights are not allowed to be attached to opening doors, or to be obscured by said doors when the door is open.

I have been asking myself the same thing, basically ever since it was reported that the barn doors would make it to production. This is the reason that here in Holland, there are many SUV-type vehicles for which the original, designed tail lights are not much more than dummies, and the real deal are under-designed (read: ugly) contraptions much lower down in the bumper, below the door(s). I sure hope the Mini doesn’t go there.
Bwana Yak

Wow, that is the ugliest rear end I have ever seen.

I agree wholeheartedly. It looks like they have gone out of their way to make it ugly for the mule.

It looks to me like the left wiper is a dummy, so I’m wondering what that means…
Frank

Will reserve judgement until the final product is here, free of masking tapes and gaps as wide as the Grand Canyon.

But most definetely this will be our next MINI.
Eric

I got my name on a list at my local dealer for when they start taking orders. I can’t wait to see the real thing myself.

I saw an original “traveller” at a Brit’ car show this weekend that had real oak wood trim on the back. Along with the twin rear doors. I wonder if we’ll be able to do the same thing with the new version? hmmm… ;-)
Neil

Why couldnt the rear lights be cut out of the doors?
tim

I’m curious about this car. I wonder if it will ride higher then the base cooper and cooper S? Also, that ugly thing on top and the spare tire need to go. YUCK!

I may eventually think of getting this car if I trade my cooper in. Reason being is i hate the roof rack mini sales and the longer vehicle will allow me to put my bike inside the car.
Paul G.

I hope I’m not the only one who realizes that this a heavily disguised mule. The entire rear fascia is covered with vacuum formed plastic pieces, and the tail lights are dummies installed in the vac-forms. The real ones are underneath. The same goes for the plate holder and lights. And I agree, that left wiper looks a little iffy to me. :)
Dave

Also, that ugly thing on top and the spare tire need to go. YUCK!

Those are on the Concept only. The production version won’t have the spare tire mounted to the roof.
alpinamike

Thats funny they are using rumors on here, great job gabe, now tell them its the travel-clubman.:)
RenÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â©

like it!
http://www.insideline.com Ed H.

For the record, the future vehicles database on Inside Line has information on over 100 different vehicles. I would be kidding myself if I thought I could keep track of them all better than every other enthusiast in this country and abroad. Clearly, Gabe and the other members of this board watch the development of MINI’s products to a degree that I can’t always match, so when there’s credible information to be “redistributed” I’ll gladly throw in a link to MF in return.

Cheers,

Ed Hellwig Edmunds Inside Line
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