If you remember Mini's concept from the Detroit auto show, the Beachcomber, you will recognize the production Mini Clubman, the jacked-up, all-wheel-drive, not-that-mini Mini. Compared to the concept though, the production model has 400 percent more doors and zero shark/man hybrids. So that's good.
Otherwise we're a bit perplexed by the Mini Clubman, because to us, a Mini is not jacked-up and it has no real use for the Clubman's all-wheel-drive system. Although, the model's existence is less perplexing than the sight of the weird Village-People-esque booth personnel all done up in crazy country-western outfits.
Anyway, the normally aspirated 1.6-liter engine is rated at 121-horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque while the turbocharged engine now generates 181-horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Both will come with a six-speed manual transmission standard. A six-speed automatic is optional. And for some reason , buyers will be able to spec their Clubman with up to 19-inch wheels.
The Clubman will be the first model to get the company's new Mini Connected system that includes the world's first availability of web-based radio reception, a sassy new interface and some other iPod/music-friendly stuff.
That might be cool, but are we wrong to want a Mini to be mini?
pat1usmc says:
04:44 AM, 03/ 2/10
The article keeps saying Clubman, but is it supposed to be Crossman?
blueprint1 says:
05:24 AM, 03/ 2/10
Countryman, not Crossman or Clubman (that is the current mini-wagon).