Special Edition Clubman To Debut in Geneva

Sections: R55 (Clubman) | Rumor Jan 24th, 2011 22 Comments

On Friday, MINI USA Product Manager Vinnie Kung spoke in an interview with MotoringFile about upcoming special editions from MINI. While we’ve leaked some teasers on MF frequent commenter (and BMW insider) Herr26 went ahead and ~~spoiled~~ spilled the rest.

As you can expect this special edition will be treated much like what MINI has done in the past. The car will be called the Hampton and will debut at the Geneva Auto Salon in early March. The edition will show up essentially as a package on the Cooper Cooper D, Cooper S and Cooper SD models (in the US that of course will be the Cooper and Cooper S).

The exterior of the car will feature exclusive Reef Blue metallic paint and exclusive 17â€³ Twin Spoke alloy wheels with centre caps incorporating a Damson Red lining (wheels in Silver or Black). The bonnet will have Damson Red (new design) strikes and the mirrors caps will be finished with (you guessed it) Damson Red pinstripe. There will be MINI 50 Hampton badging on side scuttles and B-Pillar. Rounding out the package will be a MINI 50 Badge on front grille and Bi-Xenon headlights with black trim

On the inside the car will receive exclusive Lounge leather upholstery in Carbon Black with Damson Red piping and the Anthracite Headlining. The Damson Red pinstripe theme will be carried onto the interior trim, floor matts (with piping and stitching) and the central speedo surround. Speaking of the speedo the center will be finished in grey similar to JCW models. Rounding it out will be a MINI 50 Hampton designation will be on the door sills

Written By: Nathaniel Salzman

MINImofo

Pass. The only reason that i won’t buy a Clubman is due to the fact that the suicide door is on the passenger side and not the drivers. I understand the cost in re-engineering the vehicle just for the American market but its been out long enough to change it. Just a vent. Sorry.
fishbert

You mean you actually want the door to open on the traffic side when at the curb?
Nikkos

Saturns had the door on the drivers side. It would be most benificial on both sides.
SMP

Funny how MINI “exclusive” paint colors seem to become standard at some point in the future (e.g. Sidewalk/Camden White Silver and Mayfair Hot Chocolate).
Rakey

I love how you are moaning that its on the wrong side, when its in the UK that we have an issue with the suicide door being on the drivers side and in the flow of traffic.

Love the sound of the special edition, all apart from the name, in cockney slang Hampton has a meaning that I don’t think I’d call a car edition after

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cockney-rhyming-slang.html
MINImofo

Fishbert, Being that I rarely have to parallel park my car, yes. Nikkos has it with it being on both sides.
dr

will the bi-xenon retrofit?
that.guy

The proverbial (and inevitable) lipstick being applied to a dying pig.
Nikkos

GM went through the same thing on the trucks with the 3rd door extended cab. Initially it was offered on the passenger (right) side only. Eventually they put it on both sides. The same thing for the Saturn Ion coupe, 3 doors then the “quad coupe”. I doubt that Mini will ever do this to the Clubman which is a pitty. A Clubman with the half doors on both sides would be the logical stepping stone between the Mini and the bigger Countryman.
Mark

SMP – Funny how MINI â€œexclusiveâ€ paint colors seem to become standard at some point in the future (e.g. Sidewalk/Camden White Silver and Mayfair Hot Chocolate).

Hot Chocolate was the Clubman launch color & exclusive to the Clubman before coming to the Mayfair, vert (2009 or 2010?) & hardtop MINI’s (2011).

that.guy – The proverbial (and inevitable) lipstick being applied to a dying pig.

Why do you still bother to comment here or even follow developments of MINI if everything you have to say is critical?
Mark

Nikkos – GM went through the same thing on the trucks with the 3rd door extended cab. Initially it was offered on the passenger (right) side only. Eventually they put it on both sides. The same thing for the Saturn Ion coupe, 3 doors then the â€œquad coupeâ€. I doubt that Mini will ever do this to the Clubman which is a pitty. A Clubman with the half doors on both sides would be the logical stepping stone between the Mini and the bigger Countryman.

As noted in recent MF stories, MINI is planning to base the next Clubman off of the Countryman platform & give it a club door on each side.
HERR26

I like the Clubman it’s like a MINI with a backpack, functional and very stylish whilst still being a MINI.

I was in the UK either after or prior to the Clubman launch I don’t really remember?, but one thing that has always remained in my mind is the poor argument that people always associate with the Clubman.

Being the childern can run out in front of oncoming traffic because of the position of the door in the UK. When actually they can’t because the driver has to open their door for rear passengers to exit. I remember a female politician making an observation about that even though she knew nothing about it but jumped on the bandwagon. Of course she drove a Honda in which there should not have even been a discussion.
GregW

@Minimoto. Finally at last someone in LHD market agrees with what the RHD market has been banging on about since the Clubman was released. It’s no fun opening your rear door into oncoming traffic.

If you really want a Clubman with the clubdoor on the right hand side of the car, then buy a RHD car from GB and convert the steering column over. This shouldn’t be too hard to do in the factory? A RHD car with LHD interior components?

And where did the name Hampton come from? @Rakey – I see what you mean about the cockney slang meaning.

The only Hampton I know is the Hampton Downs Motor Racing circuit in New Zealand.
Jon

If the Clubman does indeed stay alive for a 2nd generation model, (which will supposedly be based on the larger Countryman platform), it sure would make a lot of sense to have a half door, (a.k.a. club door) on BOTH sides of the vehicle, thus eliminating the current argument of the door being on the wrong side. Make everyone happy.

Are you listening MINI? Now is the time to make this happen, while you’re still in the design phase.
Hoover

I think we already know that Club Doors will be on both sides on the next Clubman. I’m too lazy to cite to the previous posts that discuss this, but, because the next gen Clubman will be based on the R60 platform, I believe that Club doors will available on both sides (as they will be on the Paceman, too).
Aurel

none of you guys are obviously Clubman owners. the rear door on the passanger side it perfect. our daughter goes into the back seat there and my wife sits in front of her. I can just do my biz and get in the driver’s seat without any fuss ;)

thanks MINI!
that.guy

Why do you still bother to comment here or even follow developments of MINI if everything you have to say is critical?

“Hope springs eternal in the human breast.”

Alexander Pope
Augie

Any word on special editions for regular coupe hardtops?
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Any word on special editions for regular coupe hardtops?

They had several last year. I’d look for more in about 18 months.
TurboDave

So wait let me get this straight – this is in ADDITION to the Mini Countryman? And the Paceman (Pac Man)? Just making sure I understand. Countryman is bigger (driving around LA and NYC w/ a Classic on top ~~~ ) but doesn’t look that much bigger. Paceman looks more like a “sports car” whatever that means. Maybe this new Clubman is a way to tell us that they are not abandoning the line?
HERR26

The R56 will be with us for a little longer yet but there is plans for run out editions but you will see something before things begin to wind down.

They are talking about using the Coupe in some limited edition format further down the line. Aswell as the Countryman. We are getting close to begin the marketing build-up for the Production Coupe.
TurboDave

in related news … mini is hitting the “BIGGER” angle hard, with the mini countryman driving in new york with a Classic on top. pics: http://www.skiddmark.com/2011/01/12/mini-countryman-re-enacts-suv-stunt/

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