Autoblog

Mini Clubvan concept gets green light, headed for U.S. showrooms

Chris Paukert — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Work, Mini, Specialty

Color us unsurprised. Car and Driver reports that Mini officials have confirmed a production version of the company's Clubvan concept first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March. We expected as much - after all, parent BMW has demonstrated real adeptness at building a myriad of derivatives from the basic Mini Cooper architecture, and the boutique brand already markets more spinoffs than Law & Order, so what's one more?

Essentially a panel van version of the Clubman, C/D says the Clubvan will appear in U.S. showrooms this September as a 2013 model. It isn't immediately clear if the model will offer both the standard 121-horsepower four and the Clubman S' 181-horsepower turbo, but C/D says we shouldn't expect a John Cooper Works version.

Interestingly, it doesn't appear that Mini will weld in sheet steel where the Clubman's rear side windows normally go - instead, C/D reports the company will employ body-color foil on the outside and plastic and safety foil liners inside. Other changes will include a trimmed-out cargo hold with power sockets and tie-downs. As with the concept, a stainless-steel grille will be fitted to keep cargo from intruding on the passenger compartment.

No word yet on whether the loss of rear seats will make the Clubvan any lighter, but Mini says the vehicle will offer more cargo capacity than its passenger-minded brethren. No guidance yet on pricing, either, but we're guessing that like other Mini models, boutiques and delivery services will have to shell out a pretty penny to get their hands on this dutch-door cutie. Our only question now is... how long will it take for Mini to come out with a panelized version of its Countryman softroader?

Mini Clubvan concept gets green light, headed for U.S. showrooms originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mini Clubvan Concept loses a few seats, gains storage capacity

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Mini

Looking rather production-ready on the floor of the 2012 Geneva Motor Show is the Mini Clubvan Concept, which eschews the rear seat of the Clubman in favor of a flat load floor and a partition to cordon off your goods from your two front seats.

According to Mini, the "Clubvan Concept would fit excellently into the fleet of a fashion designer, art gallery owner or catering service." Interesting. Anyone else? Why yes: "A photographer with a stack of camera, tripod and lighting equipment to ferry around during the week - and bulky sports and leisure gear to pile on board at the weekend." There you have it

Is there room in the "small-car-based van segment" for what Mini says is the first "premium" entry? Probably not in the States, but perhaps in Europe. Check it out in our image gallery above and in the press release below.

Continue reading Mini Clubvan Concept loses a few seats, gains storage capacity

Mini Clubvan Concept loses a few seats, gains storage capacity originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mini reveals Clubvan Concept ahead of Geneva debut

Steven J. Ewing — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Work, Hatchback, Mini

It's a Mini. It's a van. But it's not a minivan. That's because the sort of van we're talking about here is a panel van - think of the Ford Transit Connect or recently departed Chevrolet HHR Panel - a vehicle with two seats up front, a partitian behind the cockpit and nothing but a flat load floor in back. These little workaday runabouts are immensely popular in Europe, and Mini has decided to get in on the action with its latest concept, the Clubvan, which will officially debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Seeing this concept confirms earlier rumors about a potential Clubman-based panel van, and aside from the removal of the rear seats and the addition of a stainless steel honeycomb partitian, there isn't much else to separate the Clubvan concept from its passenger-friendly Clubman kin. That makes us think this concept could rather easily make it to production.

But unlike more work-focused vans, the side walls and load floor of the Clubvan are lined with anthracite-colored cloth rather than a durable plastic compound. Then again, Mini is touting the Clubvan as the perfect fleet vehicle for fashion designers and gallery owners rather than drywall contractors or heating and cooling repairmen. The Clubman's five-door layout (that's a driver's door, passenger door, passenger-side suicide door, and dual barn doors out back) remains intact, and Mini has added six attachment loops throughout the rear cargo area to secure goods while they're being transported.

So, why a panel van? The company states that the Clubvan "combines the driving fun for that Mini is renowned with increased load-carrying capability," and that, "The Mini experience will therefore find its way into new areas of life, the brand's distinctive character gaining new popularity among target groups not previously on the Mini radar." We'll definitely be checking this one out in Geneva in a few weeks, but in the meantime, hit the jump for the official press release and scroll through our attached image gallery to see the Clubvan concept inside and out.

Continue reading Mini reveals Clubvan Concept ahead of Geneva debut

Mini reveals Clubvan Concept ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments