Section: R55
Jul 1st, 2008
MINI Press Release. A MINI Clubman designed inside and out as a pleasure palace by British avant-garde lingerie maker Agent Provocateur for the annual Life Ball charity in Vienna, Austria, has been sold on eBay for $73,388 (e45,000).
This is the eighth year MINI has supported the event with a vehicle which was subsequently sold on the on-line auction company’s site. In total the cars have raised in excess of $495,726.94c (e304,002) to go towards HIV/AIDS research.
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Jun 30th, 2008
CNN Money, as they like to do, has compiled another list of cars. This time based on JD Powers surveys taken within the first 90 days of ownership of a car.
Buyers are surveyed within 90 days of purchasing their new autos. They’re asked about 80 different vehicle attributes. Historically, cars that score high on this survey tend to sell well without needing heavy incentives, according to J.D. Power.
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Jun 24th, 2008
Over the past months there has been quite a low level rumble from MINI enthusiasts about the lack of availability of LSD (Limited Slip Differential) on the new factory JCW MINI. The engineers have opted, instead, for an EDLC (Electronic Differential Lock Control). The reason for the EDLC over the LSD is due to the fact that with a mechanical LSD, the high amount of torque in the JCW MINI causes the LSD to engage too quickly causing what’s been referred to as “anti-torque steer”. Torque steer is something that usually causes the steering to pull to one side under hard acceleration.
What they found with LSD on the JCW MINI was that it caused the car to want to pull the steering back to center and go straight under hard acceleration - not a desirable, or safe, effect in a lot of situations. This is a simplistic, easy to understand explanation and I’m sure a dissertation could be written on the technical aspects of force and intertia involved but hopefully this will help answer the question as to why no LSD. In the end, both options were tested and the EDLC gave the JCW the best handling. continued →
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Jun 3rd, 2008
Here is a brand new comparison we haven’t seen before. Cars.com pit the MINI Cooper Clubman against the new Scion xB and the Smart ForTwo. The results were interesting.
Did the Clubman win biggest head-turner? That went to the ForTwo. It didn’t win the performance category either. In fact, you have to scroll down to the ride and handling category before you see a Clubman victory.
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Jun 1st, 2008
MINI Press Release Munich/Vienna. Videos whirred and cameras clicked on Saturday, 17 May, when Joseph Corre drove the Life Ball MINI 2008 over the red carpet outside Vienna’s City Hall in front of 40,000 spectators. Escorted by four models in “British policemen’s uniforms”, and with Sophie Ellis Bextor in the passenger seat, the arrival of the Life Ball MINI 2008 marked the start of the fantastic opening show.
The Life Ball MINI is traditionally created by the fashion designer responsible for the fashion show in the opening event - and in 2008, this was the British lingerie label Agent Provocateur. This year, the new MINI Cooper Clubman was selected as the basis for this exclusive, unique design. “The new shape is so reminiscent of the old English Mini police van that we were immediately inspired to create an Agent Provocateur styled interior that you really would want to get banged up in! A classic yet suped up exterior in Agent Provocateur signature pink and black colours complete with pink flashing light and inside…..the most seductive prison cell with hand to wall cuffs and blacked out windows and iron bars”, says Agent Provocateur founder Joseph Corre.
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May 30th, 2008
The idea of bigger MINI can seem like an anomaly. For those not familiar with the car, the entire concept seems at odds with the brand. Why would anyone want a slightly larger MINI. At what point does a larger MINI become just another car? And if a larger MINI doesn’t reflect the character of the brand, how does BMW expect this car to be successful?
Luckily BMW had all this in mind (along with some good instincts) when designing and engineering the car. In my week with the Clubman I found that it does the unthinkable by offering more space but retaining 90% of what auto enthusiasts love about the MINI. The handling and feel that have always made the MINI feel so special is almost all there. And to anyone but the enthusiast, the difference is probably barely noticeable.
In return the Clubman offers up both extra space and a unique character that the MINI coupe doesn’t have. There’s a whimsical feel to the Clubman from the rear wipers to the hidden handle on the 3rd door. It’s the kind of car that you feel connected to on a level that belies what it really does - get you from point A to point B. continued →
May 27th, 2008
Autoblog.com recently posted one of the most glowing reviews of a Clubman I’ve seen. And, it was just a Clubman, not an S. A very favorable review.
The mini door is especially handy is if you have kids. I positioned my 2-year-old son’s car seat on the side with the Clubman-door, since that gave me more room to work with when it came time to buckle him in. My daughter, age 5, was fine climbing through the driver’s side and getting herself strapped into her booster. Parents still using the LATCH connections will find the anchors easily accessible through plastic tunnels in the seatbacks — no digging under the cushions is necessary. As a people carrier, the Clubman is a substantial improvement over the regular Cooper, whose back seats are sized for miniature pinschers and Micronauts.
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May 26th, 2008
Big thanks to MF Reader Ralph for bringing this to our attention. The PBS show MotorWeek will be reviewing the 2008 MINI Clubman on an upcoming episode.
Have that Tivo remote handy? Here are the details. continued →
May 24th, 2008
If you haven’t noticed, one of our new favorite automotive sites is AUSmotive.com.
Which brings me to the inside of the car. Some parts of the test car were great, the wood trim with cream highlights just one example. While others were just plain wrong, the ghastly brown door trims the standout here. Again, thankfully with MINI you get countless options and there are better choices available. I could bore you with the details of why I prefer the look and layout of my 2004 Cooper S over the Clubman, but unless you own an R53 Cooper S you probably wouldn’t notice such things. Suffice to say, the centre stack aside, which houses the HVAC and radio controls, the new generation of MINI are a definite step forward in terms of interior build quality. The use of materials has, for the most part, stepped up in quality and simple things, like the indicator stalk, don’t feel like they will fall apart. The large centre mount speedometer, while very big, does not feel oversized and it was not until I hopped back into my MINI, with its smaller centre dial, that I realised just how big the new speedo really is.
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May 23rd, 2008
2 different lists hit our radar this week. First was the ‘07 list from Kelly Blue Book, who choose the R56 MINI Cooper.
Even though the redesigned 2007 MINI Cooper is both larger and more powerful than its predecessor, highway fuel economy has actually increased from 35 to 40 mpg. Combined with a newly improved highway ride, the latest MINI Cooper makes a pleasant companion on straight stretches, in twisty canyons and at thieving gas pumps.
Over at CNN Money, they revised the list for ‘08 and choose the MINI Cooper Clubman.
The standard-length Mini Cooper made Kelley Blue Book’s list last year. But while the Mini has always been fun to drive, and it’s easy on gas, it lacked a place to put more than a night’s worth of luggage.
The Clubman answers that need with about 8 inches of extra storage space behind the back seats, accessed through a barn-door style tailgate.
I can tell you that a MINI Cooper (R50) is a great road trip car. I can only imagine the Clubman being equally good, if not slightly better.
Thanks everyone for sending this in!
[ Best Road Trip Cars - 2007 ] Kbb.com
[ 10 top road-trip cars - 2008 ] CNNMoney.com
May 23rd, 2008
The MINI Clubman by Agent Prococateur got a bit naughty last week at the Life Ball. From Jalopnik.
Those pictures we showed you of the Agent Provocateur Mini Clubman merely suggested naughtiness with their stocking-themed paint job and expressions like “You’re Going Down.” At the “Life Ball” event this weekend, which raises money for AIDS-related causes, the Mini Clubman was on hand and things went from the suggestion of naughtiness to the real deal.
Many more pictures, including some that, ahem, are a bit risque, can be found by following the link below.
[ Agent Provocateur MINI Clubman Gets Naughtier ] Jalopnik.com
May 22nd, 2008
For reals. You can now build out your own JCW R56 or R55.
Or, save it for Friday when you are looking for a way to pass time in the office.
Thanks Eysmahn for the tip!
May 22nd, 2008
CNNMoney.com has put together an interesting list of cars they think would be good replacement for the gas-guzzling SUV found in many driveways across the country. As expected, the Ford Escape Hybrid, Saturn Vue Green Line and Mazada 5 are on the list.
So is the MINI Cooper Clubman.
Meanwhile, the Clubman offers a handy extension on the regular Mini Cooper. It’s about 10 inches longer than the regular Mini, and most of that goes into usable storage space behind the back seats. It also gets an additional door that opens backward on the passenger side.
It’s still a Mini - and the barn-door-style tailgate can be an annoying hassle to use - but it makes the fun-to-drive Clubman a viable utility player.
Thanks Frank for sending this in!
[ 8 fuel-sipping SUV alternatives - MINI Cooper Clubman ] CNNMoney.com
May 19th, 2008
A few of your sent in this very interesting looking Clubman. From the Winding Road blog.
The Chateau offers a clutter of weird wood trim pieces, including side-view mirror surrounds that look for all the world like the polished halves of coconuts. Exterior non-woody surfaces are finished in iridescent brown and gold paint, creating a very 1970’s rec room vibe. But perhaps the strangest addition to the Chateau Clubman is the retro-fitted shockproof wine cellar in the back, capable of transporting your favorite vino undisturbed wherever you need to go.
Only a dozen are being made and I couldn’t find any information on the cost. Sure looks nice though.
[ MINI Clubman Chateau by Aznom ] Windingroad.com
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