MINI fans will be delighted to learn the new Clubman is on its way and thankfully it has reverted back to tradition.
Gone is the rather peculiar three-door configuration of its predecessor and in its place a car with four side doors.
As the estate version of the popular MINI range the Clubman is big on practical features and now has a storage capacity of 360 litres increasing to a maximum of 1,250 litres – a third larger than the outgoing version.
The new Clubman shares the same design and appearance as the new generation MINI models launched last year but is 10 inches longer than the hatch and about two inches wider with a wheelbase extended by four inches.
It retains the convenient double door tailgate with side opening doors but gone is the small ‘suicide’ door on the driver’s side which gave access to the rear seats.
Buyers can choose from three powertrain options with a diesel priced from £22,265 and a 2.0-litre petrol Cooper S version costing from £22,755.
MINI claims the diesel Clubman, now fitted with a 2.0-litre engine developing 150bhp, can average 68.9mpg with emissions of 109g/km while the three-cylinder petrol has a fuel figure of 55.4mpg. The Cooper S – which has a 0 to 60 time of 7.2 seconds – is rated at 45.6 to the gallon.
Sat nav is standard on all versions and the Clubman will also be the first MINI to be available with a new eight-speed steptronic auto gearbox which can be fitted to the diesel and Cooper S powertrains.
Another MINI first for the Clubman is the introduction of electric front seats which will be an optional extra.
The original Clubman joined the MINI line up in 2007 and ran until 2014. As before, the new model will be built at BMW’s MINI factory in Oxford and will be on the road in the autumn.