[Paul]

Photographs of the open suicide door on a right hand drive model MINI Clubman. Thanks to <a href="http://miniac.blogspot.com/">lilcoopr</a> and timc.

Not much we can say that you can't see,...Read full report

[I love MINI, Laura]

Wow great pics there Paul! Where did you find that?

Like the interior colour. Whats that interior colour then? Is it new to match the Hot Chocolate?

[jack07734]

The pictures came from Southern Ontario MINI Club member lilcoopr.

Cheers,
Jack

[Paul]

^^^^ What he said.

There's a thanks and link at the top of the article.

They're very good shots indeed.

Make of the door mechanism and rear leg room what you will!

The only thing that would be good to be able to show is the boot area, as I know a lot of people would like to see the difference.

[I love MINI, Laura]

Ah yes sorry missed that bit just skipped straight to the photos. Lilcoopr has obviously been visiting back roads in england!

[Paul]

I still think the original concept with the larger doors and no suicide door worked better, looked cleaner.

The problem there would have been "You can't park it anywhere, the doors are too wide", so I guess either method has it's faults.

Two suicide doors would make more sense though, obviously.

[Step_7]

Cool pictures, well done!

[LMB]

RE Rear Wipers look cool - I've not seen it done before like that.

[Paul]

Do you know what's only just dawned on me, and this is one of my bug-bears of automotive design.

Uneven rear lights.

One side reverse, one side fog.



"Why does this bug you so?" I hear you ask, well, it's illustrated here:



You're in a parking space (of course, you SHOULD have reverse parked). You're trying to pull out, and there's a car approaching from this direction. They can't see your reverse light.

It's not uncommon, but I don't like to see it.

That, and I always think it just looks a little ill conceived.

I never realised also that the RHD and LHD rear lights are opposite (fog and reverse are switched). Take a look at all the LHD models in the Clubman section: http://www.mini2.com/category/clubman/ that must be regulatory.

[cristo]

Nice pics, but I have to say the dark back end makes it look a little like a Honda Element to me.

[Hat]

the seat belt solution is a bit messy. also is the actually any additonal rear legroom in there??

the idea of having a B pillar that comes out as part of the door looks really odd & the glass in the suicide door almost looks stuck on.

odd, very odd.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

Do you know what's only just dawned on me, and this is one of my bug-bears of automotive design.

Uneven rear lights.

One side reverse, one side fog.

You're in a parking space (of course, you SHOULD have reverse parked). You're trying to pull out, and there's a car approaching from this direction. They can't see your reverse light.

It's not uncommon, but I don't like to see it.

That, and I always think it just looks a little ill conceived.

I never realised also that the RHD and LHD rear lights are opposite (fog and reverse are switched). Take a look at all the LHD models in the Clubman section: http://www.mini2.com/category/clubman/ that must be regulatory.

I've got to agree with you there Paul. In addition to the point you raised, when reversing at night you will only get a clear view in the door mirror where the reversing light is At least it can be cured by fitting a combination of LHD and RHD rear lamps (for two reversing lamps) and then fitting a single fog lamp somewhere else.... under the rear bumper Classic Mini traveller style

Step forward Mikeythemini with the ready made mod kit

I know that you raised this before but, now that I can see the pictures, who is going to be the first to sue BMW having tripped over the trip wire (sorry, "seat belt") whislt getting out of the rear of the car?

Tigger.

PS: How can we be sure it's a MINI? What with the cunning PVC tape over the bonnet badge it's simply so hard to be sure!

[Mini1380]

Well at least the people in the pictures seem excited to be around the new clubman. Just look how fuzzy they get.

[Chicks]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

Do you know what's only just dawned on me, and this is one of my bug-bears of automotive design.

Uneven rear lights.

One side reverse, one side fog.



"Why does this bug you so?" I hear you ask, well, it's illustrated here:



You're in a parking space (of course, you SHOULD have reverse parked). You're trying to pull out, and there's a car approaching from this direction. They can't see your reverse light.

It's not uncommon, but I don't like to see it.

That, and I always think it just looks a little ill conceived.

I never realised also that the RHD and LHD rear lights are opposite (fog and reverse are switched). Take a look at all the LHD models in the Clubman section: http://www.mini2.com/category/clubman/ that must be regulatory.

I agree with Paul, this is one of my bug bears with european car design!

The reason is, its the law! In this country you must a rear facing fog light, but ONLY on the right hand side (Europe left hand side). The car makers have cottoned onto this and to save money have interchangeable rear fogs and reversing lights dependant on which market the car is aimed at.

Personally, I think it is a safety issue. As, what are reversing lights for? To light the way or to show people you are in reverse gear? Either way only one is not enough!

I have noticed that many makers when they introduce new models switch from two to one.
Ford Escort 2 Ford Focus 1
Citreon Saxo 2 C2 1
Audi A3 90's 2 New shape 02 on 1

And so on.

The original new Mini got around this by having twin fogs and one reverse in the middle, the face switched this. More logical as how often do you (legitimently) use your rear fogs?

But my biggest annoyance with it is that it makes the car look lopsided!

Then again, this model already has that problem!! Can we have two rear doors or none please!

[Paul]

On the Clubman surely the red fogs could have been integrated into the red reflector strips, and both sides had reverse in the main unit.

Or taken something similar to the concept:



Had brake/fog and red reflection as part of the main unit, then split the clear round section top/bottom or left/right between reverse and indicator, to mimic the split on the front between sidelight and foglight (or sidelight and indicator on earlier models).

[Tonyt3]

Re the rear fog/reversing light issues.


Forst off, the personal issue you have Paul. Your brain is drawn to symetry. Means you are not a particularly artistic person. You are more technically minded. You will also be more likly to be attracted to a woman with a symetrical face patern. Pretty girls dont usually have perfectly symetrical faces, however, a 'supermodel' will generally look symetrically identical.


re the technical issue of fog/reversing lights. I would anticipate that Mini see this as a 'lifestyle' car. You will undoubtdly be able to buy a tow bar, and maybe even a bespoke trailer as a future accessory. This creates issues for light placement, and as such, moving all the lights up and putting them all in one cluster on each side is both cheaper and more logical if you think about the logic of fitting a trailer.


Obviously, as has been pointed out, the law requires that the fog light, if single fitment, be on the drivers side, in most countries, if not centrally mounted. No such rule for the reversing light.


Personally, I think the rear light cluster on the clubman is really weak in terms of design. They seem too small, and to plain looking. The biggest single design element for this issue though would be the barn door design. It would come with many design restrictions in terms of regulations.....

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by Chicks (original)

Then again, this model already has that problem!! Can we have two rear doors or none please!

Hear hear!

Ian

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tonyt3 (original)

Re the rear fog/reversing light issues.

re the technical issue of fog/reversing lights. I would anticipate that Mini see this as a 'lifestyle' car. You will undoubtdly be able to buy a tow bar, and maybe even a bespoke trailer as a future accessory. This creates issues for light placement, and as such, moving all the lights up and putting them all in one cluster on each side is both cheaper and more logical if you think about the logic of fitting a trailer.

Yes, but a trailer must come with its own lights, including fog. And anyone mounting anything else on the back (such as a bike rack) must have a separate light bar if any of the car lights or number plate are obscured, so I don't really buy this argument. It is surely much more about saving some money (after all, having wasted all that cash on the courtesy door, they have to recoup some pennies somewhere).

Maybe someone needs to get Mr Hildebrand back to explain the intricacies of this design (or was it knocked up while he nipped out for a coffee? )

Sorry if this counds critical, MINI, I do actually think this is a brave effort to re-emulate the old car, but maybe you have gone and been just a little too smart? That said, I will be delighted if the Clubman turns out to be a roaring success - so long as that doesn't jeopardise the delivery of my new Cabrio next summer

Ian

[Wurzel]

Does anyone know the length of the clubman, so I can work out how much extra room there could be, I want to get 2 Labradors in the boot.

[Tonyt3]

Quote: Originally Posted by Wurzel (original)

Does anyone know the length of the clubman, so I can work out how much extra room there could be, I want to get 2 Labradors in the boot.

Lol - you are havin a laff arent you....?????