The Clubman Strikes Back: More Spyshots
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.
Until then, enjoy the photos from Edmunds:
[ FV Report: 2008 Mini Clubman spied again ] Edmund’s Straightline Weblog
I kind of miss “Chris”
Same here.
Nice. It seems Edmunds knows who is the leader in MINI News around the world. By the way who is Chris???
>By the way who is Chris???
Dave – care to explain? You were always more of a fan of Chris than I was.
Probably the best shots I have seen yet! The car looks really good.
And who is Dave?
Are you talking about Chris Wardlaw, the “late” Edmunds head editor?
That guy HATED the MINI. When it first came out in 2002, during an article he went as far as saying that the MINi was nothing but a re-incarnation of the Chevrolet Chevette of the 1980’s. After I read that review article, Wardlaw lost much of his credibility in my eyes. He was a BIG Ford Focus SVT fan and almost always he found ways to criticize and put the MINI down whether he had factual information or not.
I think long since he has departed Edmunds.
<blockquote>By the way who is Chris???</blockquote>
<blockquote>Dave – care to explain? You were always more of a fan of Chris than I was.</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.worldcarfans.com/spyphotos.cfm/spyphotoID/6060420.002/pageview/photo/photo/1/page/1/lang/eng/country/ecf/mini/new-mini-traveller-estate-spy-photos" rel="nofollow">Chris</a> was one of the early MINI R55 Test Mules. That particular test mule had the word “Chris” written in yellow on the A-Panel just below the vent.
I just enjoyed the fact that it showed someone at MINI was trying to have a little fun and named their test mule.
<blockquote>And who is Dave?</blockquote>
Some say <font size="2">he appears on high-value stamps in Sweden.</font>
Dave, that’s funny. Didn’t know about the chosen name for that first test mule.
That looks like the ultimate tailgating machine. Yum. It could define an entire segment stateside if it had a diesel…alas, alas. Chris or no Chris, in a few years I’ll have a tough decision to make.
Lots of Cooper Clubman shots but nothing of the S version recently (or every I’m not sure). I wonder if they aren’t testing it yet.
<a href="http://motoringfile.com/2006/03/16/mini-traveler-caught-hot-weather-testing/" rel="nofollow">March 2006: Clubman (S) caught in hot weather testing</a>
I don’t understand why they are putting “barn style” rear doors on the Clubman. Seem like over-engineering to me. The normal liftgate would have sufficed.
I do, however; think the passenger side access door is a good idea.
Nobody has commented on the contour of the roof panels. What is your take on that – is this a detail lifted from the original traveller?
The little roof countours sure seem to keep it moving a bit.
Thusfar, I find the proportions superb. Hope they add a few airbags. Want to have a little one; and as much as I love the MCS, it’s not baby-safe [enough].
Q: Will they offer a huge sun canopy?
Nina, I carry my 11 month old in the back of our 2 door MINIs and don’t feel unsafe at all.
Jake, I am not sure if you have seen the old Mini Clubman wagon, but that car had also 2 rear barn doors. It is a historical thing for sure. More practical? I don’t know. I think it is more complicated/expensive to assemble 2 separate doors, 2 pieces of glass and 2 wiper motor assemblies than a single piece hatch style rear door. Take it as a distinctive visual cue that separates the standard 3 door hatch model from the Clubman.
The raised roof could also suggest even better head room. But one thing that jumps at me is that this car appears to have TONS of legroom for the rear passengers, “LIMO” style. The newer pics suggest a fairly roomy back seat quarters and if that is the case, it should be a tremendous improvement over the standard 3 door model.
The longer wheelbase also means that this car will have better ride quality and won’t be as “choppy”.
Nina, probably the panorama glass sunroof will be offered. An electric canopy canvas roof would be cool and probably more historically accurate, but MINI has never offered a Canvas roof option in the US. I do know that in Europe (At least for the past generation R50/53 MINIs) you could order a dealer installed electric canvas roof.
Nina, I meant to say, I carry my 11 WEEK old in the back of both of our MINIs in total safety.
I agree with you on that the current 2 door model is not exactly the ultimate baby/kid car in terms of ease of access to the rear seat. It seems the Clubman will be the ticket for those of us getting started and raising families. Finally an alternative to the mediocre SUVs and Minivans!
Sorry, but why would this car be any safer than the standard wheel base coupe? Are we talking rear-end collisions? Looks like they have moved the seats back, so the boot is only marginally longer. And I imagine that the double doors are less structurally sound than single-piece hatch.
(Those twin wipers on the rear are phully phresh.)