The 2008 MINI Cooper Clubman

Austin Maxi

Mini Countryman Estate

You’re excused if you’re wondering why BMW (the parent company of MINI) didn’t simply choose Maxi as the name for its new, upcoming, larger MINI. Sure made sense to me; that is, until I thought back to the 1970s when the MINI was a truly British car, designed by Alec Issigonis and built by British Motor Corp. (previously known as British Leyland) as the Brits’ answer to Germany’s “people’s car,” the VW Beetle.

Much as did VW in the late 1960s with its Fastback and Squareback models, BMC decided it needed to move upsize a bit from its small MINI sedan, and in 1969 introduced a larger, four-door version named—are you ready?—the Maxi! This tells me that BMW probably still has another MINI card up its sleeve, to be revealed sometime in the next couple of years.

For now, we have (or at least will have early next year) the MINI Clubman. This also is a model name that can be traced back to British Leyland, as the restyled MINI, meant to replace Woseley and Riley versions of the car. If this all sounds confusing, it is. British Leyland back in the 1960s sold cars under the MINI, Austin, Morris, Woseley, Riley and Rover nameplates. It’s much too complicated to get into in this short space.

Suffice to say, there was a wagonish version of the MINI back then also, known (among other names) as the Morris MINI Traveller and the Austin MINI Countryman. These were basically estate (station) wagon versions of the two-door MINI sedans, the only differences being the longer wheelbase and increased length. At the very back were two center, or barn-opening, doors which provided access to the rear compartment.

This is where the 2008 MINI Clubman mimics the old Traveller/Countryman—right down to the barn doors. Also featured on the new Clubman’s right, or passenger side, will be a small “Clubdoor” behind the front access door, which will open from the center towards the back for easier access to the rear seat. That rear seat will feature over three inches more legroom compared to the MINI sedan. Headroom should also be good with the flat design of the roof all the way to the back end.

The new Clubman will be offered in three models: Clubman, S Clubman and (outside the US) D Clubman. The Clubman will be powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine producing 120 horsepower, while the S Clubman will feature a turbocharged version rated at 175 horsepower. The D Clubman, as you may guess, will be powered by a diesel engine in European markets. There are currently no plans for a diesel in the US.

From the B-pillar forward, the Clubman is identical to the sedan. The rearward portion has some unique styling cues, however. C-pillars and rear bumper are finished in contrasting paintwork, in either silver or black to match the contrasting roof color. As an option, the roof can be painted the body color, in which case the C-pillars and upper bumpers only are painted silver or black. I have yet to see the black version, but the electric blue Clubman I saw with the contrasting silver paint looked odd. Or maybe it’s just me.

Expect performance and economy to be similar to the sedan when the Clubman rolls around early next year. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but officials say it should fall somewhere in between the sedan and convertible models. And somewhere down the road, I fully expect a Maxi. We’ll see.

This news is so new that there’s still no information on the miniusa.com Web site as this is written. I’m sure it will show up there soon, so keep looking!