MINI2

MINI Clubman has been on sale for less than a month and is proving a huge hit with the British public, contributing to a record November total of 4,104 new MINI registrations. In many UK dealerships MINI Clubman allocations were quickly snapped up, leaving the car sold out into 2008. Bumper sales meant MINI enjoyed its largest ever share of the UK market last month, at 2.59 per cent. November was the third record sales month for MINI in 2007.

Nearly 3,000 orders have been placed for a new MINI Clubman. A combination of unique style, performance and low cost of ownership has evidently hit home with UK customers.

Engines combining performance with fuel efficiency and low carbon emissions feature across the MINI Clubman line-up. Auto Start-Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration and a Gearshift Point Indicator are standard on all variants and help the MINI Cooper D Clubman achieve a low emissions figure of 109 g/km CO2.

That impressive figure will surely have resonated with buyers based in London. With Transport for London expected to announce changes in 2008 legislation rewarding cars with low CO2 emissions, a MINI Cooper D Clubman is likely to be exempt from the dreaded Congestion Charge. With MINI, grin-inducing driving will be a reality in Britain’s capital city.

Performance and efficiency figures are equally remarkable across the range. The popular MINI Cooper can return 51.4 mpg and emits just 132 g/km CO2. Its sporty brother, the MINI Cooper S, achieves 44.8 mpg and 150 g/km CO2.

The BMW Group’s MINI Plants at Oxford, Swindon and Hams Hall are now at full capacity in the mid-term. This UK Production Triangle is now aiming for record production of 260,000 MINIs in 2008.

To ensure flexibility and optimum performance at the home of MINI production in the UK, and to bring the forthcoming MINI SAV to market as quickly as possible, BMW Group has announced that production of the exciting new model will be undertaken by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria.

Well, we said it would happen, and now it’s official:  

The new MINI Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) will be built by Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik in Graz, Austria. The vehicle concept, devised by MINI Design and BMW Group engineers, has been entrusted to Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik for series development and for later production.

The cooperation with Magna Steyr is an efficient way for BMW Group to ensure the planned profitable growth through new model launches set out in the company’s strategic alignment.

By outsourcing production of the MINI SAV, BMW Group is able to increase flexibility within its own production network. This allows the lead plant for MINI production in Oxford to fully direct its midterm capacity of 260,000 units towards meeting demand for the three core models MINI, MINI Convertible and MINI Clubman. It is this outsourcing of MINI SAV production that makes the extension of the MINI family possible. Frank-Peter Arndt, Head of Production and Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, explains the advantages:

By using Magna Steyr for production, we are able to give our own Production Network some breathing space to respond fully to market needs. This solution will also allow us to bring the MINI SAV to the market as quickly as possible.

Magna Steyr is an experienced partner of BMW Group, having already produced the highly successful BMW X3. Speaking about the new contract, Siegfried Wolf, co-CEO of Magna International, sees this as a

huge recognition of the work that Magna Steyr has achieved so far through its partnership with BMW Group. Above all, I’m delighted for our employees, as this will allow us to set another milestone in our long-running and successful cooperation with BMW Group. As we have done before, we will work on this vehicle programme with our fullest commitment to ensure that we meet BMW Group’s high expectations.

As with all partnerships, BMW Group itself will be steering all aspects concerning the brand and the concept of the MINI SAV project. Thus, the majority of the drive train development will be realised by BMW. In addition, BMW Group will design the supply contracts with the suppliers whilst Magna will be responsible for call-offs during series production. The MINI designers will ensure that the vehicle will be a true MINI.

MINI2 predicted this news in February of this year, as you will see in this article.

Official MINI Press release (slightly belated, apologies!)….. 

The 2008 MINI Clubman, an all-new addition to the MINI model line, has recently made its North American debut at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, bowing to the audience most unconventionally, with its rear-end first! With a little more room in the back and an innovative door configuration, the eagerly anticipated MINI Clubman defies convention in its concept and style. This all new addition to the MINI family will go on sale in the US February 16th, 2008 as both a Cooper and a Cooper S model. The MINI Cooper Clubman will be offerd with a MSRP of $20,600, while the MINI Cooper S Clubman will come with a MSRP of $24,100. Both prices include a $650 Destination charge.

The MINI Clubman paves the way into a totally-new market segment, offering new opportunities for the MINI brand and showcasing, yet again, MINI’s leadership in the premium small car segment. With its hallmark design elements, the MINI Clubman is clearly a MINI from every angle. Yet it is the MINI Clubman’s unique rear-end design and new proportions that distinguish it from other members of the MINI family and make it unlike anything else on the road today.

Compelling Design and Five Doors in a Brand-New Configuration.
MINI is well known for its combination of successful attributes - a truly unique design; agile driving characteristics; premium quality; a high level of safety; a wide range of customization options, and outstanding efficiency. Now the all-new MINI Clubman offers another compelling attribute - an additional 9.45 inches in body length and wheelbase extended by 3.15 inches that helps create more space in the rear legroom area. What makes the MINI Clubman truly unique is its innovative five door configuration with the conventional driver’s and front passenger’s door supplemented by an additional rear-hinged door on the right-hand side of the car and the two split-rear doors in the back.

The MINI Clubman extends an open welcome to rear-seat passengers with the “Clubdoor”, a rather ingenious door configuration on the right side of the vehicle. The Clubdoor swings open in the opposing direction relative to the main passenger door to dramatically increase the access to the rear seating area. Behind the front seats, the new MINI Clubman offers remarkable rear seating comfort and flexible use of space. Rear seat passengers now enjoy 3.15 inches more legroom compared to the MINI hardtop. Without an exterior handle, the Clubdoor is integrated unobtrusively into the body design of the MINI Clubman and for safety, can only be opened with the adjoining front door open. The MINI Clubman comes to the US in a four passenger configuration.

The split-rear doors at the back of the MINI Clubman are another unique design element of the MINI Clubman and open up to offer easy and convenient access for larger parcels and equipment such as sports gear. In addition to increased functionality, the split-rear doors represent a modern interpretation of an authentic detail seen on MINI’s classic forerunners. The rear doors are further highlighted with the C-pillars painted in a contrasting silver or black finish. Inside, the generous luggage compartment may be further extended with a flexible rear seat configuration, offering very easy and convenient loading options thanks to the two rear doors.

The MINI Clubman is the modern successor to the legendary classics Morris Mini Traveller, Austin Mini Countryman, and Mini Clubman Estate. However, the MINI Clubman retains all the functionality, handling and performance characteristics that one expects in a thoroughly modern MINI.

Enhanced Function With MINI Performance and Driving Characteristics.
MINI has developed the new MINI Clubman specifically for the active and passionate individualist wishing to consciously stand out. The MINI Clubman retains its sporting character, while offering new and flexible options in interior use and practical value. Despite its slightly longer proportions the MINI Clubman retains MINI’s typical “wheels at the four corners” stance and the car’s driving characteristics still offer the legendary go-kart feeling unique to MINI.

The MINI Clubman will be available in the U.S. with two different engines:
* Powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with twin-scroll turbocharger, direct gasoline injection and maximum output of 175 hp at an engine speed of 5,500 rpm, the MINI Cooper S Clubman offers the highest level of performance.
* The MINI Cooper Clubman, benefiting from its 1.6-liter four-cylinder developing 120 hp at 6,600 rpm and featuring fully variable valve management, offers impressive performance and economy.

More Than 40 Color Combinations for the Individualist
Motoring in a MINI is more than just getting from A to B - it is an expression of ones’ lifestyle - a genuine attitude towards life. In particular, it is the focus on the enjoyment and experience of driving combined with an appreciation of powerful, trendsetting design. The MINI Clubman offers the enthusiast even greater options in personalizing his or her style, with more than 40 combinations of the exterior paintwork alone. Add to that the full compliment of options and features and the possible combinations a MINI Clubman can be configured becomes almost limitless.

The website Clean Green Cars has published complete tables of sales-weighted CO2 performance for all manufacturers, models and segments in the UK up to September 2007.The tables reveal overall performance is improving, but slowly. The average CO2 output fell from just 0.8% from 116.1 g/km to 164 g/km in the first nine months of 2007 compared to the same period of 2006.

The best performance came from Mini which cut its average CO2 by 17.1% to 150.8g/km, partly due to the development of their highly efficient diesel engines. By 2008 Mini could have the lowest average CO2 output of any mainstream manufacturer.

Publisher Jay Nagley commented,

As CO2 performance is such and important topic it is vital to have accurate and timely information for the UK market. Clean Green Cars is the only independent body to publish this information, which is produced by correlating slaes of every single model in the UK with its official CO2 output to give a sales-weighted average.

The full tables can be found on the Clean Green Cars website.

According to insider reports, initially posted on the MINI2 forums, the second generation MINI Convertible (internal code R57) has begun its test production at BMW Group Plant Oxford in Cowley, UK.

Every new MINI goes through several stages of production and pre-production, this merely being the first stage of “in-house” production at the facility in Oxford, where full production is expected to begin next summer.  Early production cars are as much as test of the manufacturing process as of the design and build of the car itself, and is a highly sensitive and critical step on the way to full series production of the finished models.

Apparently the first new MINI Convertible to roll down the lines at the Cowley plant was a dark blue model.

Left Lane News have some good quality spy shots from KGP photography of the forthcoming MINI SAV model, codenamed Colorado.

The sequence of photos shows the jacked up and flared arched MINI Clubman drive by, revealing front, side and rear profiles.  Of most interest to MINI watchers will be the treatment at the rear and underside of the vehicle, where several factors indicate a variety of AWD system is being tested.

Read the full story, ogle the photos at Left Lane News.

The Ramblers’ Association (RA) has expressed its “severe disappointment” at the decision of a district judge, Witney, to allow BMW and Oxfordshire County Council to close a 2000 year-old-path that up to 400 people use every day. They have criticised BMW’s handling of the case, that turned a theoretically simple case into an ordeal lasting well over a week.

The verdict, delivered today, follows a seven-day hearing which finished in Witney magistrates’ court last week. The case was the culmination of an 18 month campaign by the Ramblers’ Association to prevent BMW closing this historic route that runs through its plant in Oxford and that provides a link for walkers, workers, horse-riders and cyclists between the plant and the green spaces in the north east of the city.

The district judge backed BMW and Oxfordshire County Council’s plans to close the bridleway on the grounds that it is “unnecessary”, and that BMW have agreed to fund an alternative path. The planned alternative, however, runs for one mile along the heavily congested Oxford ring road. The RA has argued that this endangers the health, safety and wellbeing of pedestrians.

Adrian Morris, head of the RA’s footpath team is quoted as sayin

We are bitterly disappointed that BMW will be allowed to close this community’s historic path, and deny hundreds of local residents per day a safe and quiet means of accessing work and the countryside beyond.

The judge’s decision to close this safe and pleasant path flies in the face of the fight against obesity and climate change by encouraging people off their local paths and back into their cars!

Adrian Morris goes on to criticise BMW’s handling of the case.

BMW flooded the court with irrelevant paperwork, turning a theoretically simple case into a five-day ordeal – eight days in total – which sent legal costs soaring sky high.

The RA is also frustrated that Oxfordshire County Council chose to pursue the closure through the magistrates’ court. This is an outmoded and costly procedure that intimidates ordinary members of the public from making their objections heard.

Eight out of ten path diversions go uncontested by the RA or any other organisations. We fight, as in this case, where there is a real threat to heritage or the public’s right to safe travel. We will continue to do so.

Troth Wells, of Tree Lane, Iffley, a member of the British Horse Society, and the Oxford Area Bridleways Association had this to say on the court’s decision

We are very disappointed with this decision which means riders will no longer be able to use this route to Shotover Park. I was riding my horse Copper there this morning.”

The judge ordered the British Horse Society and Ramblers’ Association to pay £27,700 legal costs and £19,800 costs respectively, to the county council.

Rebecca Baxter, a spokesman for BMW, said the decision would mean the company could “better utilise” its existing site, adding

We are grateful that we can now proceed with planning for the future.  We have made a commitment to providing an alternative route and will be starting work on that within the next 16 weeks.

The project will take six months from start to finish. In the meantime, cyclists and pedestrians will still be able to use the existing route until the new path and cycleway is completed and signed off by Oxfordshire County Council.

Sources: The Ramblers Association and Oxford Mail

The BBC are reporting that BMW are being pursued through the courts by ramblers aggrieved that planned expansion of BMW Group Plant Oxford, in Cowley, will result in the closure of a 2,000 year old footpath.

The ramblers association have been battling against the proposals since they were initially put forward to planning in May 2006, and apparently the case is close to reaching its conclusion at Witney Magistrates Court soon.

Read the full article on the BBC. Thanks to minisoopercooper for the heads up.

This weekend (6th October) a number of lucky MINI2 members had the chance to visit BMW Plant Oxford in Cowley to get their mitts on the new MINI Clubman, talk to members of the team behind the Clubman and grab some free food and drink, all thanks to MINI.

While we were unable to attend, many MINI2 regulars took the chance to get up close and personal with “The Other MINI”, and enjoyed a presentation on the design process of the Clubman, including an apparent revelation regarding the controversial Club Door and US safety regulations.

Anyway, there’s a tonne of feedback and photos on the MINI forums.  Mostly in this excellent thread from MINI2 member minicabrio (who also took the photographs featured here) and the main thread about the event in our MINI Clubman forum.

Credit goes to MINI2 forum member hein, who Yesterday posted up  these photographs of the MINI Challenge 2008 safety car, which just happens to be an exclusive MINI Clubman.  Is that the coolest safety car ever seen?  Beats a mundane Merc for sure!