Sections: R55 (Clubman) Jan 24th, 2007 50 Comments 
Our friends at Leftlanenews.com bring us the best photos of the 2008 MINI Clubman yet. Seen here clearly is the third coach-door and the execution of the new C-pilar behind it. We also get the best look yet at the overall size of the new car in comparison to the R56 coupe.
You take a look for yourself below:
[ Clubman Spied ] Leftlanenews.com
Billy Jan 24th, 2007 Link
Well the cat is out of the bag isn’t it! With only subtle camo covering the rear lights and handles……what more is there to see! All I can say is these cars are a pig to work on! We’re building an R55 CooperD tomorrow (Thurs 25th) and in house training for line workers will start next week, to introduce them to the vehicle and their new processes. Great pics.
Reply
Dave Jan 24th, 2007 Link
It looks like there might be a test dummy in the front passenger seat
I’m very much a fan of the clubman design we’ve seen over this past year or so. All it needs is a little tint on the windows to help hide the rear door pillars and the asymmetrical design.
Reply
dark06mcs Jan 24th, 2007 Link
i think it looks great. give me an awd s and i’ll give you the deposit tomorrow.
can’t we get some more exciting colors than brown though? if there’s nothing better i spose i’ll settle for dark silver to match the r53.
Reply
RoccoRocket Jan 24th, 2007 Link
can’t we get some more exciting colors than brown though? if there’s nothing better i spose i’ll settle for dark silver to match the r53.
It’s BMW you should see at least 4 or 5 types of ugly (silver) to choose from.
Reply
FrankInMiami Jan 24th, 2007 Link
Billy, inquiring minds want to know…..Does the Clubman really seat 5 people????
Also, a Clubman “D” would be awesome but I doubt we will see it here in the US.
Reply
Ron Arnold Jan 24th, 2007 Link
Tasty. Make mine a Clubbie D as well. That would be one sweet fuel sippin’ ride.
One can dream, can’t one?
Reply
Tim Jan 24th, 2007 Link
I’m not liking it too much. I love my 2 door MINI but I might have to trade it in for something with 4 doors once the little one arrives. I guess I’m leaning towards a 4-door 1 series (if that comes to NA) or a Mazda3 Speed. That Saturn-esque half door isn’t working for me. Perhaps it won’t be so bad in person…
Reply
FrankInMiami Jan 24th, 2007 Link
Yeah Tony. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to pick you up on my next Clubman Motoring trip. Have you ever been smoked by a “hearse”?
Reply
FrankInMiami Jan 24th, 2007 Link
It seems to me the Clubman “haters” out there are those insecure types that feel threatened every time MINI is about to release a model or option that they feel “diminishes” the overall look, feel and perception of the car. These same group of individuals are the same one that issue attacks to those of us that “dare” to support and purchase a MINI that is not equipped with a manual transmission, has an extra door in the rear, more rear legroom, or has a canvas roof.
I often wonder what is the clusterfuck deal with these people? If you don’t like it DON’T BUY IT!! Your 3 door, 5 or 6-speed “Closet Racer” mobile is not going to change or be affected in anyway, shape or form.
These clowns either don’t have families or the need to have more convinient access to the rear seat. Hello!!! MINI already builds the car for you, so shut the heck up and don’t complaint about everyone’s else choices.
LIVE and LET LIVE!
Reply
ChrisW Jan 24th, 2007 Link
“Looks like a hearse for dwarves.” – best comment on the nets today. :) (no disrepect for dwarves intended…)
“I often wonder what is the clusterfuck deal with these people?” – FrankinMiami
Wow, Frank, sit back and take a couple of deep breaths!!! It’s going to be OK.
Aren’t people entitled to their own opinions? And aren’t they entitled to share them?
Note: I too think the Clubman looks odd. I won’t be buying one. And no, I won’t begrudge anyone who does.
Reply
Nathaniel Salzman Jan 24th, 2007 Link
There are some of the subtle design elements it’s inherited from the R56 – obviously it would – that I don’t like. But otherwise, I really dig the proportions of the Clubman. It still looks unmistakably MINI but with a healthy injection of old school station wagon. It’s going to be cool the way it’ll open up every which way from barn rear doors to the coach side door. And I think the window tint is the trick that would make me actually consider the car with a door only on one side. My real “wish in one hand / crap in the other” thought is that this car would have been even cooler on the R50/R53 platform.
Reply
radiationman Jan 24th, 2007 Link
It reminds me a lot of shorter, squatter XB.
I really want to see one in person (and drive one!)
Reply
Damon Jan 24th, 2007 Link
That is just not an attractive car. It had some much potential. Oh well.
Reply
petsounds Jan 24th, 2007 Link
This model is looking too much like the Cooper. Like a bad Photoshop job. The original concept car looked a bit more distinctive to me, as I remember.
I would jack up the suspension a bit, make it more like the Audi Allroad.
Reply
Dave Jan 24th, 2007 Link
I would jack up the suspension a bit, make it more like the Audi Allroad.
I’d like to throw on a set of coilovers and some Kumho V710’s. :)
Reply
Vanwall Jan 24th, 2007 Link
For the life of me, I don’t see any resemblence to an Xb box – that poor, lorn orphan was hit by the Sherwood Forest ugly stick, if ya ask me, and R55 has a nice evolutionary look to it, and does have a family resemblance to the original Countryman/Traveller, while throwing in a little hint of the BMW wagen family.
BCNU,
Rob in Dago
Reply
rhawth99 Jan 24th, 2007 Link
I think it looks very promising. I look forward to seeing the rear with no camo at all. I’m trying to figure out if that is some camo on the roof edges or not. Would love to see this in either the Laser or Lightning Blue with a silver roof.
Reply
Crashton Jan 24th, 2007 Link
It’s a Pygmy funeral hearse. (no disrespect to our Pygmy friends) Fact is I like it. When it comes time to move to a new New MINI the Clubman may be it.
Reply
iNomis Jan 24th, 2007 Link
So FrankInMiami, it’s OK to hate anything but the Clubman? You’ve been one of the biggest R56 critics here adding in your 2 negative cents any chance you get. No crying allowed now and apply all your comments right back on yourself. You truely deserve it.
One of many:
FrankInMiami comment – MF Design Analysis 2007 MINI … Still, there are visual aspects of the R56 that continue to bother me like the higher belt line, the huge rear rear end, the Fisher Price center stack and some other smaller details. For instance, the incorporated stereo doesn’t bother me too much, but I do prefer the old center stack much better. …
Reply
Klaus Jan 24th, 2007 Link
iNorris, Sie machen uns stolz. Ihr unverÒ¤nderliches Òœberwachen anderer Mitglieder, die Meinungsverschiedenheit zum neuen R56 ausdrÒ¼cken, soll kleinst bewundernswert sagen. Ihre Taktik von Gestapo, die Posten der vorigen Mitglieder umzugraben, geht, um die Leidenschaft zu zeigen, die Sie fÒ¼r dieses Auto und Ihren unbarmherzigen Antrieb zeigen, um seine Reinheit und gutes Image zu erhalten, selbst wenn einige Details umstritten sind.
Reply
Brian Jan 25th, 2007 Link
Ok, news for everybody. It will look much better in person. There… I said it.
Reply
FrankInMiami Jan 25th, 2007 Link
Whatever, iNomis…. You seem to be the one that can’t take any negative criticism of the R56 and if you want me to dig up posts (You seem to have a lot of free time in your hands), I’ll be happy to do so.
And BTW, I stand by my comments regarding the less than desirable design elements in the new car and that obviously includes my beloved Clubman.
Reply
iNomis Jan 25th, 2007 Link
Point is, you don’t get a free ride to say what you want and try to stifle others from doing the same. Disagreement is expected. Ridicule and name calling is unneeded. Maybe you had a bad day? Your posts are usually polite. I think you should apologize to Gabe and the rest of us.
ReplyNo one need to apologize to me. I’m just enjoying the conversation :)
Reply
iNomis Jan 25th, 2007 Link
So Gabe, do you know German? I translated that several times and can’t tell sincere from sarcastic. Can you help me?
Also interesting, Gabe in German translates to gift in English.
ReplySo Gabe, do you know German? I translated that several times and can’t tell sincere from sarcastic. Can you help me?
Oddly enough either can I. I just really wanted to say something in German :)
Reply
Scottinbend Jan 25th, 2007 Link
I still say it will only fit 2 in the rear. There are only 2 rear headrests shown.
ReplyI still say it will only fit 2 in the rear. There are only 2 rear headrests shown.
You’re welcome to say that but I have two very good sources (one in the plant mind you) that it will seat five. Maybe they’re both wrong… but I’m guessing they’re not.
Reply
mark Jan 25th, 2007 Link
I think the clubman is cool looking and clever. It definately has the spirit of MINI and it’s design heritage. The proportions are much more fitting in the Clubman than in the Cooper for the 2007 model line, as i mentioned before.
I’d buy one in S or Diesel trim. I just hope they fix the center stack.
Reply
FrankInMiami Jan 25th, 2007 Link
iNomis, no hard feelings… We all seem to have our stressful days.
Gabe, your “source” at Oxford (I think I know who he is) still says that it can seat 5? So then this car has to be wider than the 2 door R56… Am I correct?
Still enjoying the popcorn? ;)
Reply
rhawth99 Jan 25th, 2007 Link
I think three will fit in back because the rear wheels are back a little farther meaning that the seats don’t have the wheel well intrusion. I doubt that the Clubman is any wider than the R56. Just for the record, I don’t speak German. :)
Reply
FrankInMiami Jan 25th, 2007 Link
I don’t speak German but I picked up the word “Gestapo” in Klaus’ post??
ReplyGabe, your “source†at Oxford (I think I know who he is) still says that it can seat 5? So then this car has to be wider than the 2 door R56… Am I correct?
I can guarantee you don’t :) And for the answer to your question… look at the comment above this one.
Reply
GoMiniGo Jan 25th, 2007 Link
so, one thing I noticed was that the rear license plate was nicely mounted in the rear bumper, which happens to be where it was in the original ID sketches of the MINI. Any chance it will stay there? I thought they made a mistake moving the plate to the hatch in the coupe. Seems like this will give much cleaner lines to the clubman. Thoughts?
Reply
petsounds Jan 25th, 2007 Link
I went back and looked at the Clubman Concept…I definitely responded more positively to it. The lights are much more slanted, and really underscore the horizontal lines repeated on the car. The final production model looks like a Cooper stretch limo.
The Concept model had a chopped-off front which enforced the stocky, sturdy feeling of the car. The final production model shares the front end with the Cooper. Again, it is not distinctive enough.
Reply
Gerald Jan 25th, 2007 Link
Gabe,
I have been grappling with a point you made in earlier discussions – that the Clubman will be 18″ longer than the two-door. From memory it was 10″ longer between the wheels and 8″ longer in the rear overhang.
My jpeg-management skills don’t extend to superimposing a current mini onto these (excellent) shots to compare length.
Is there further confirmation of the full 18″ extension?
cheers
Gerald
ReplyGabe, your “source†at Oxford (I think I know who he is) still says that it can seat 5? So then this car has to be wider than the 2 door R56… Am I correct?
Actually we’ll have more on this next Monday. The answer will surprise you.
Reply[...] Our friends at Edmunds (yeah we’ve made lots of friends lately) have some fantastic spy shots of the 2008 MINI Clubman looking really thirsty at a Nordic petrol station. Like the shots we saw Wednesday, you can clearly see the third door, the rear barn doors and the extended length of the car. As we’ve said in the past, we expect the R55 to a full 18 inches longer than th R56 – 10 in the wheelbase and 8 behind the rear wheels. For a closer look at the Clubman’s interior and exterior design, be sure to check MF each day next week for a series of articles all about the R55. [...]
banned Jan 26th, 2007 Link
Actually we’ll have more on this next Monday. The answer will surprise you.
What it will seat six?
Reply
Aurel Jan 26th, 2007 Link
Interesting. I too was hoping for something a bit “more” … probably the pricing will overlap with the 4 door 1 series (if it comes here) …
do like the barn doors though … would be great if they redesigned the dash/center console
Reply
FrankInMiami Jan 26th, 2007 Link
To be able to seat six passengers, the Clubman would have to be devoid of a center console (I would not mind that at all, to be honest).
Will the seating configuration mimic that of the (Gasp!) Fiat Multipla?
Reply
FrankInMiami Jan 26th, 2007 Link
Looking at the side pics of the Clubman, I can’t help but think that the rear seat legroom is a tremendous improvement over the standard short wheelbase car. It is almost “Limo like”.
Billy, care to comment a little further on the rear seat comfort, vs the 3 door hatchback model?
Reply
Dave Jan 26th, 2007 Link
What it will seat six?
2 up front.
2 in the back.
2 jumpseats in the boot.
Volvo style
j/k ;)
Reply
HTML Formatting Tips
MotoringFile also allows use of Markdown formatting in the comment section. This accomplishes the same formatting as HTML but is typically easy to use.
| _your text_ | → | your text |
| **your text** | → | your text |
| `my code` | → | my code |
| * Bulleted list * Second item | → | • Bulleted list • Second item |
| 1. Numbered list 1. Second item | → | 1. Numbered list 2. Second item |
| [link name](URL) | → | link name |
| *** | → | Horizontal ruler |
| <http://url> <email@add.com> | → | Auto-linked |
|  | → | Image |
Copyright © 2002-2010 Gabriel Bridger
