This time it was the folks at Autocar who looked peer pressure in the eyes and said… okay. We’re sticking to our guns and not posting our photos but we are replicating what Autocar published below. We’ll publish official hi-res photos soon when the official press embargo is lifted.
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pictures look great, I really like it alot but I have a question because I’m confuse about the name of the car Clubman S, or Clubman Cooper S
or Cooper S
It’s easy, as Mini you just make sure that Edmunds and Autocar are on the official do not contact list for the next product release, can’t leak what you don’t have.
Sure do believe that Mini has another winner here. Should be interesting to see what types of people are brought into the Mini community with the Clubman, think this might attract an interesting variety of people.
Hector the Clubman won’t carry any Clubman badges just the standard Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S.
<blockquote>pictures look great, I really like it alot but I have a question because I’m confuse about the name of the car Clubman S, or Clubman Cooper S or Cooper S</blockquote>
This really bothers me as it has been covered COUNTLESS times. You would probably refer to it yourself as a CooperS Clubman but the Clubman badge will not appear on the car. JUST LIKE the cabrio.
It’s funny how all the haters were out in full force for the spy shots, but now there’s almost nothing but praise.
I still won’t consider one. My MCS isn’t going anywhere, but if I need a larger car for hauling people and/or stuff it just has to have 4 doors. Hate the Saturn third door.
Love it.. The separated twin rear exhaust pipes add a nice touch. The roof colour flowing down the rear provides visual relief from the bulk of its back end. I wonder how big the rear payload area is with the rear seats upright? Given that the rear boot/trunk area is now level with the rear seats (when folded down), is there now a space for a spare wheel in the Cooper S variant? Like the rear side cup holders to stop the kids fighting. I wonder if the suicide door has a child lock on it?
Not al of us Timothy, still have no personal interest in a “station wagon” ;). More size and weight is quite opposite to what I look for in a car.
Still doesn’t mean that I don’t think there is good potential for Mini with this car. Would bet Aussom that the side suicide door can’t be opened unless the same side front door is opened. Often doors like this are built with overlapping flanges. Thats just my view though as I haven’t seen the car in person yet either
ACTUALLY……. It gives a very good first impression, but when I looked at the details, I think I’d wait til they redesign the tail lights (they seem oddly small to me) and add another club door (because I’m all about symmetry).
Aussom, if you want to learn about the official measurements for both, Cooper Clubman and Cooper S Clubman, go to: <a href="http://www.mini2.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.mini2.com</a>
As for cargo space goes….
With the rear seatbacks up, the car will offer 9.2 Cubic Feet (Up from 5.7 cubic feet in the R56 Coupe)
With the rear seatbacks folded down, your cargo room goes up to 33 cubic feet (Up from 24 Cubic feet in the R56 Coupe).
The Clubman does not offer earth shattering cargo space capabilities. Other small hatchbacks offer bigger trunks. But when it comes to MINI’s, the Clubman’s added space is indeed welcomed.
Not sure about rear passenger leg room. Shoulder room is identical to the R56 Coupe, as both, R56 and R55 have the same exact track measurements.
>Aussom, if you want to learn about the official measurements for both, Cooper Clubman and Cooper S Clubman, go to: <a href="http://www.mini2.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.mini2.com</a>
This looks awesome. I just placed my order for an R56 on Monday 7/23 but if I hadn’t and was willing to wait a few more months, I might have gone for the clubman. The more I see, the more I like.
I love the silver with the black accents but I think the silver on the back of the blue is busy.
I think it looks great. I like the black contrasting c-pillars better than the silver c-pillars. I think the guys over at MINI design, designed a great looking MINI.
I don’t see the third brakelight working if its suppose to be that white strip in picture 16.
<blockquote>Aussom, if you want to learn about the official measurements for both, Cooper Clubman and Cooper S Clubman, go to: <a href="http://www.mini2.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.mini2.com</a></blockquote>There are dimensional drawings posted on MINI2. They look official but I don’t know if they really are.
Hope this html works… click on the thumbnails to enlarge:
Josh, I don’t think it will be a big issue. My baby boy will be at least 15-16 months old by the time we get our R55 and that means he will be riding forward facing.
Right now he is 8 1/2 months old and he rides rear facing in both of our MINIs (R50 and R53). We are used to loading/unloading him through the boot. After doing this since he was born, dealing with the third door in the Clubman is going to be a piece of cake…
It is nice to see my next car in all its glory! However, what happened to Hot Chocolate as the launch color? I know it is only going to be available on the Cooper, but we get the silver instead?
Nigel, The RHD market people will not be fooling around trying to get baby seats out of the back in rush hour traffic. Its an accident waiting to happen. Imagine getting hit from behind and the door slamming shut on whatever is in the way.
I don’t think you have anything to worry about.
MINI.COM has the microsite up already
<a href="http://www.mini.com/com/en/introducing_mini_clubman/index.jsp?content=content.jsp%3FrefType%3DteaserHomepage%26refPage%3D/com/en/general/homepage/content.jsp" rel="nofollow">link</a>
pictures look great, I really like it alot but I have a question because I’m confuse about the name of the car Clubman S, or Clubman Cooper S
or Cooper S
It’s easy, as Mini you just make sure that Edmunds and Autocar are on the official do not contact list for the next product release, can’t leak what you don’t have.
Sure do believe that Mini has another winner here. Should be interesting to see what types of people are brought into the Mini community with the Clubman, think this might attract an interesting variety of people.
Hector the Clubman won’t carry any Clubman badges just the standard Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S.
The regular Cooper Clubman looks sweet with the black roof. Great looking car. The R55 is going to be a sales homerun… Can’t wait to get mine.
<blockquote>pictures look great, I really like it alot but I have a question because I’m confuse about the name of the car Clubman S, or Clubman Cooper S or Cooper S</blockquote>
This really bothers me as it has been covered COUNTLESS times. You would probably refer to it yourself as a CooperS Clubman but the Clubman badge will not appear on the car. JUST LIKE the cabrio.
It’s funny how all the haters were out in full force for the spy shots, but now there’s almost nothing but praise.
I still won’t consider one. My MCS isn’t going anywhere, but if I need a larger car for hauling people and/or stuff it just has to have 4 doors. Hate the Saturn third door.
Love it.. The separated twin rear exhaust pipes add a nice touch. The roof colour flowing down the rear provides visual relief from the bulk of its back end. I wonder how big the rear payload area is with the rear seats upright? Given that the rear boot/trunk area is now level with the rear seats (when folded down), is there now a space for a spare wheel in the Cooper S variant? Like the rear side cup holders to stop the kids fighting. I wonder if the suicide door has a child lock on it?
Shoot.Who wants to buy a 5 month old R56.:)
Timothy, never say never….
Billy, why the rear seatbacks do not fold completely flat to the floor?
Not al of us Timothy, still have no personal interest in a “station wagon” ;). More size and weight is quite opposite to what I look for in a car.
Still doesn’t mean that I don’t think there is good potential for Mini with this car. Would bet Aussom that the side suicide door can’t be opened unless the same side front door is opened. Often doors like this are built with overlapping flanges. Thats just my view though as I haven’t seen the car in person yet either
Though I still lament the absence of a left-side suicide door, I must say that a JCW Clubman would be one SWEET ride. I just love the proportions.
I want one.
The rear doors open is just orgasmic. I love the aerial shot with the doors open! Looks like a little insect 🙂 (Which is a good thing, I suppose!)
It almost makes me think that the R55 was designed first and then the R56 was derived from it afterwards…
Jon, never say never…
ACTUALLY……. It gives a very good first impression, but when I looked at the details, I think I’d wait til they redesign the tail lights (they seem oddly small to me) and add another club door (because I’m all about symmetry).
Despite this, I still think they did a great job.
Aussom, if you want to learn about the official measurements for both, Cooper Clubman and Cooper S Clubman, go to: <a href="http://www.mini2.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.mini2.com</a>
As for cargo space goes….
With the rear seatbacks up, the car will offer 9.2 Cubic Feet (Up from 5.7 cubic feet in the R56 Coupe)
With the rear seatbacks folded down, your cargo room goes up to 33 cubic feet (Up from 24 Cubic feet in the R56 Coupe).
The Clubman does not offer earth shattering cargo space capabilities. Other small hatchbacks offer bigger trunks. But when it comes to MINI’s, the Clubman’s added space is indeed welcomed.
Not sure about rear passenger leg room. Shoulder room is identical to the R56 Coupe, as both, R56 and R55 have the same exact track measurements.
-Nigel
The side view Clubman photo with the sign in Spanish Ël Sol Sale Para todos”, means “The Sun comes out for everyone”.
Just in case anyone wondered about the sign…
I LOVE the third rear brake light treatment. It goes the full width of the rear roof of the car.
>Aussom, if you want to learn about the official measurements for both, Cooper Clubman and Cooper S Clubman, go to: <a href="http://www.mini2.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.mini2.com</a>
Here’s more info (including the above specs) <a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2006/12/04/minis-future-models-revealed/" rel="nofollow">from our “Future Models Revleaed” story from last December</a>.
It looks great. Now all we need is the return of the pickup, or better yet replace all that unneeded rear glass with steel and we’ll have a MINIvan.
Cheers,
Jack
This looks awesome. I just placed my order for an R56 on Monday 7/23 but if I hadn’t and was willing to wait a few more months, I might have gone for the clubman. The more I see, the more I like.
I love the silver with the black accents but I think the silver on the back of the blue is busy.
I think it looks great. I like the black contrasting c-pillars better than the silver c-pillars. I think the guys over at MINI design, designed a great looking MINI.
I don’t see the third brakelight working if its suppose to be that white strip in picture 16.
ok MINI2 leaked the high res officials … its a free for all 🙂
<a href="http://www.mini2.com/2007/07/27/mini-clubman-official-photo-fest/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.mini2.com/2007/07/27/mini-clubman-official-photo-fest/</a>
<blockquote>Aussom, if you want to learn about the official measurements for both, Cooper Clubman and Cooper S Clubman, go to: <a href="http://www.mini2.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.mini2.com</a></blockquote>There are dimensional drawings posted on MINI2. They look official but I don’t know if they really are.
Hope this html works… click on the thumbnails to enlarge:
Clubman, and R56 for comparison:
<a href="http://www.mini2.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=135250&d=1184967844" rel="nofollow">
</a>
<a href="http://www.mini2.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=135251&d=1184967844" rel="nofollow">
</a>
That seat belt issue (see photo 7) will be the reason I don’t buy one, and I suspect it’s going to hurt their sales.
How is one supposed to lift their child into the child seat with that seat belt in the way?
I predict some sort of seat belt redesign for the 2nd model year.
We are considering this car to replace our BMW. If it happens we will be a 2 MINI family.
Josh, I don’t think it will be a big issue. My baby boy will be at least 15-16 months old by the time we get our R55 and that means he will be riding forward facing.
Right now he is 8 1/2 months old and he rides rear facing in both of our MINIs (R50 and R53). We are used to loading/unloading him through the boot. After doing this since he was born, dealing with the third door in the Clubman is going to be a piece of cake…
-Nigel
It is nice to see my next car in all its glory! However, what happened to Hot Chocolate as the launch color? I know it is only going to be available on the Cooper, but we get the silver instead?
>However, what happened to Hot Chocolate as the launch color?
It’s not a launch color but a featured color. We’ll be seeing it as the 2nd batch is released 🙂
Fantastique!
Nigel, The RHD market people will not be fooling around trying to get baby seats out of the back in rush hour traffic. Its an accident waiting to happen. Imagine getting hit from behind and the door slamming shut on whatever is in the way.