Frankfurt 2007: MINI Clubman debuts in a club, man

Click image to see the media pic gallery with new live shots added from Frankfurt

With the DJ dutifully spinning his vinyl, the Clubman finally had its coming out party, and what a real party it was. The full range of standard, S, and D were all on hand to show off that new stretched shape with its right-hand suicide door and funky barn-door cargo ports out back. We've discussed this vehicle a lot and although some of the details seem less than purely functional, you have to expect that in a car that is all about image. We're sure it will still uphold the MINI reputation for excellent driving dynamics, but the looks just seem a bit fussy for some reason, leading some to question whether or not it will still be a true drivers car like its shorter brother. And yet the idea of a human sized back seat in a MINI seems very attractive. While there was some concern that making a big MINI would ruin the whole thing, we have to say that this rolling oxymoron looks quite compact in person still. We'll reserve judgment until we can get one for an extended drive, but it looks like this new "big" MINI still gets a spot on the party A-List for now.

Some stats from the press release are after the jump.

[Source: MINI]

From Press Release:

Description in Brief

• Enlargement of the MINI brand family through the addition of a truly
innovative, unique shooting brake concept highlighting both the car's
sportiness and its functional qualities through its stretched roofline,
the MINI Clubman combining a driving experience typical of the brand with
extroverted design, a high level of personalisation, and enhanced
function; five seats, hatchback with two doors opening to the side (splitdoor
design); additional Clubdoor on the right-hand side of the car
opening against the direction of travel; body length extended versus the
"regular" MINI by 24 centimetres (9.45´´ ), wheelbase and legroom
at the rear up by 8 centimetres (3.15´´ ); luggage compartment capacity
260–930 litres (9.1–32.6 cu ft) with the rear-seat backrest tilted down.

• Unique, highly distinctive proportions as a clear sign of the MINI Clubman's
individual character; clear integration into the design language typical of
the brand through MINI design icons.

• New generation of four-cylinder gasoline engines with twin-scroll
turbocharger and, respectively, fully variable valve management as well as
four-cylinder diesel engine with common-rail fuel injection; all engine
variants featuring a wide range of improvements to optimise fuel economy
and emission management: Auto Start-Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration,
gearshift point indicator.

• Front-wheel drive; go-kart feeling typical of the brand ensured by
demanding chassis technology specifically geared to the MINI Clubman;
brakes with anti-lock system (ABS), electronic brake force distributionforce distribution
(EBD), Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Brake Assistant; Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC) with hill start-up assistance standard on all models;
limited-slip differential as an option on the MINI Cooper S Clubman.

• Crash-optimised passenger cell; six airbags featured as standard;
three-point inertia-reel seat belts on all seats; belt latch tensioners and belt
force limiters at the front; belt warner; ISOFIX child seat fastening system
at the rear featured as standard.

• Up-to-date rendition of the historical roots inherent in the brand by
styling references to the Morris Mini Traveller, the Austin Mini Countryman,
and the Mini Clubman Estate in the 1960s.

• Wide range of customisation options both outside and inside;
frame around the rear doors colour-matched to the roof trim;
choice of more than 40 different colour combinations; specific range of
optional extras and accessories.

• Market launch in Germany on 10 November 2007 with three engine
variants:
MINI Cooper S Clubman: Four-cylinder gasoline engine with twin-scroll
turbocharger and direct fuel injection,
Capacity 1,598 cc, max output 128 kW/175 hp at 5,500 rpm,
max torque 240 Nm/177 lb-ft at 1,600–5,000 rpm
(260 Nm/192 lb-ft with Overboost),
Acceleration (0–100 km/h) in 7.6 seconds,
Top speed 224 km/h (139 mph),
Average fuel consumption to EU standard 6.3 litres/100 kilometres
(44.8 mpg imp),
CO2 emissions 150 g/km.
MINI Cooper Clubman: Four-cylinder gasoline engine with fully
variable valve management based on the BMW Group's VALVETRONIC
technology,
Capacity 1,598 cc, max output 88 kW/120 hp at 6,000 rpm,
max torque 160 Nm/118 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm,
Acceleration (0–100 km/h) in 9.8 seconds,
Top speed 201 km/h (125 mph),
Average fuel consumption to EU standard 5.5 litres/100 kilometres
(51.4 mpg imp),
CO2 emissions 132 g/km.
MINI Cooper D Clubman: Four-cylinder turbodiesel with common-rail
fuel injection and variable turbine geometry,
Capacity 1,560 cc, max output 80 kW/110 hp at 4,000 rpm,
max torque 240 Nm/177 lb-ft at 1,750–2,000 rpm
(260 Nm/192 lb-ft with Overboost),
Acceleration (0–100 km/h) in 10.4 seconds,
Top speed 193 km/h (120 mph),
Average fuel consumption to EU standard 4.1 litres/100 kilometres
(68.9 mpg imp), CO2 emissions 109 g/km.