[pantheon]

I think I may wait till the autumn so I can compare the cooper D with the clubman and then make my decision and then order - the dealer thinks the cooper d clubman may be available in Nov 07 or Feb 08 ! Wish it was a shorter wait.

[rentagas]

Cancelled my order today for september delivery partly because even now my dealer wouldn't give me a trade in price on my golf. I'm also interested in the clubman and this may be a more sensible buy if it is a five seater and it's also in the 120g/km bracket. (I've seen a picture which looks like it's a four seater but seen it described as a five seater!)

[pantheon]

According to Auto Express it [the clubaman] is a 5 seater - here is the report:

MINI
Yes, it's the MINI Clubman!

It wasn't on the stands at Geneva, yet Auto Express exclusively caught MINI's all-new estate on camera

By Sam Hardy
14th March 2007
Stop staring at me... the words on the side of this special MINI could not be clearer. But how can we resist? It's the world premiere of the all-new Club*man! Auto Express was there to grab the first pictures of the eagerly awaited newcomer, which goes on sale here before the end of the year.
Yet while the car was nowhere to be seen on the company's stand, we were present when it made this unofficial public debut at a special event in the Swiss city on the eve of the expo
MINI bosses confirmed the news at the Geneva Motor Show. Yet while the car was nowhere to be seen on the company's stand, we were present when it made this unofficial public debut at a special event in the Swiss city on the eve of the expo.

Appearing briefly outside the BMW Group venue, the new Clubman was revealed complete with some rather eye-catching livery. It's the next step in MINI's plans to expand the range, which also include a rugged SUV. The sporty estate is a practical, stylish load-lugger which is brimming with retro appeal. And although MINI is keeping its cards close to its chest about the new model - limiting 'official' press images to a teaser sketch - the car we spotted tells the full story.

Carrying fluorescent, graffiti-style tagging, it certainly stands out - with a complete lack of disguise. In keeping with previous Mini Country*man and Traveller estates, the Club*man features an extended two-door body similar to that of the Traveller concept, which was seen for the first time at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show.

At the front, the new car has been given the latest MINI line-up's nose, al*though the big news is at the back. The tailgate is split in two with twin, van-style doors and individual windscreen wipers. These provide excellent access to the sizeable boot. As you can see from the sketch, another key feature that has been carried over from the Frankfurt show machine is its asymmetric design.

There's one Mazda RX8-style 'suicide' door on the passenger's side, to make getting in and out of the rear easy. This opening will be swapped to the nearside for UK-spec right-hand-drive models, so passengers in this country can enter and exit from the pavement. Inside, there's a slide-out boot floor to aid loading, as well as plenty of hidden compartments and enough seating for five occupants.

Under the skin, the Clubman uses stretched platform architecture from the new MINI range, and top brass are promising a driving experience as sporty as that of the three-door mod*els. Engines will mirror the current line-up from the One, Cooper and Cooper S, and comprise 95bhp 1.4, 120bhp 1.6 and 175bhp 1.6-litre petrol motors, as well as the 110bhp 1.6 diesel from the Cooper D.

Even though the Countryman and Traveller names had been put forward as possible options, bosses have cho*sen the Club*man badge, first used on the square-nosed Mini variant of the Seventies. According to a spokesman for the company, the name "fits best with the modern MINI brand" and will work well across its global markets.

After a public debut scheduled for the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the Clubman is set to appear in show*rooms in December, with prices starting at about £13,500.

As with the three-door hatchback range, customers will have the opportunity to personalise their Clubman with a host of styling enhancements, including alloy wheels, bodykits and unique interior materials.

[Paul]

They also say the rear suicide door changes side for the UK market.



If it's a five seater, I feel sorry for the one in the middle!

See here:

http://www.mini2.com/2007/06/21/mini...terior-photos/

[ONED]

So is that a true or false statement?

[rentagas]

I don't think anybody knows. The Clubman doesn't seem any wider than the normal MINI, appears to have two headrests and two isofix mounting points. But if you look at the posted interior shots there is a seatbelt buckle emerging from the seat within the two lateral isofix points, wheras they normally appear in the middle of the set. This suggests to me that there is a centre seat belt, the next question would be is is a lap belt or a proper seat belt?

[Harpo]

Perhaps more importantly is whether or not BMW is likely to manufacture a separate bench seat together with unique seat belt arrangements to accommodate three?

If I were a betting man, I'd bet against it.

[ONED]

I'd be more interested in the lefthand door rumour!