Tucked away at the end of this week’s Auto Motor und Sport article on the 2008 Clubman is this little nugget (translated from German):
>However an all-wheel drive system will be available in 2008 for all models.
From a non-German speaking frame of mind, it’s not entirely clear if the author is referring to all models of the Clubman or all models of the MINI. My first thought was that he was referring to the MINI. And it would make sense that, if the technology was available to the R56 based Clubman, it would be available for the rest of the R56 range. However we have our doubts that MINI has any plans for AWD in anything but the R58.
Until we hear more, make sure to file this one in the rumor category. You can read the article (again in German) and see a few photos of the recently spotted Clubman prototype below:
[ Erwischt: Mini Traveller ] Auto Motor und Sport
Ahhh Gabe. I hope you are ready for the comment storm on this one.
Just as long as there is an AWD JCW Clubman that I can throw some race tires on. 🙂
He’s refering to all future models getting AWD at the end of 2008. I’m not sure about that one either. It seems like a bit of an afterthought without any real source mentioned.
Make mine a D w/AWD … what a combo that would be! (:
Fits perfectly into my replacement plan of my first of my three mini’s. Will be replacing a 04 S hopefully with an AWD JCW.
I would absolutely soil my pants for an AWD JCW. . ..
Heck, I think I just did
Come on baby it’s about time an AWD MINI Clubman…yip, yip, yip, yahoo!!!!!
So heavy! Let’s beef up the HP to say 300?
Not worried about the increase in weight from the system, if they give us adaptive AWD additional horses will take care of the problem. Heck, I don’t even care if Mini makes a gain in the overall horsepower, as I will be taking care of building a true monster for myself.
Additional horses are easy to add with the current engine, but it seems the new frou-frou turbo mill does not take kindly to tuning. We’ll see…
I want to again go on record and say that this is totally just a rumor and I would bet good money that we won’t see this happen in 2008.