BMW Mini Clubman India

BMW Mini Clubman has got nothing do with even with slightest inclination towards the word Club. In fact the BMW Clubman is a car that reminds its competitors that the company is not willing to sit on its successes forever. The company has just taken the mini variant to the next level with its estate version in the name of the Clubman to keep the hatch and convertible company. Not everyone will likely remember the first generation Mini Clubman, and for those who don't it was essentially a regular Mini but fashioned in the style of a more practical estate. Second time around and the concept remains the same: a slightly longer version of the hatch sporting van-type split rear doors. The BMW Mini Clubman for India will be positioned as premium saloon car that doubles up as a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door (the liftgate or tailgate), instead of the trunk lid.

BMW Mini Clubman Engine: The BMW Mini Clubman comes with Petrol engine options of 1.6-litre and 120bhp power and 1.6-litre and 175bhp. The diesel engine options come in a 1.6-litre and 110bhp. The transmission option comes in a six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed automatic gearbox as a cost option. It comes in Trim levels of Cooper, Cooper D, and Cooper S. The Indian model may however get only the petrol version.

BMW Mini Clubman Exteriors: The concept of BMW Mini Clubman remains the same with a slightly longer version of the hatch sporting van-type split rear doors. Only this time there's an added feature in the shape of a third door located on the driver's side. This rear door opens out rearwards, but only once the front door has been opened for obvious safety reasons. There are parallels here with Mazda's RX8 and its rear doors, although the BMW Mini only has the one - there is no door on its nearside. In reality, the BMW Mini Clubman is much like the older three-door hatch model. The cabin layout is the same and from the front the car looks the same. You can specify either two or three rear seats at no extra cost however, and the Clubman's ride is noticeable smoother thanks to its extra length and modified suspension settings.

BMW Mini Clubman Interiors: Although a snug cabin by family hatch standards, the BMW Mini Clubman's interior is well made and insulates you from the outside world better than some more expensive cars. The seats are supportive and two adults can travel in the front without bashing elbows. Road imperfections are expertly dealt with by the car's suspension, although anyone larger than a small child will find the rear accommodation limited. Carrying a pushchair plus shopping in the boot might be a struggle, and there's the issue of getting comfortable in the back if you're anything but a small child. The third door is useful as it would make attending to a child in a restraint easy, but there's no avoiding the fact it's on the wrong side of the car for the UK market.

BMW Mini Clubman Ride and Handling: The lack of a B-pillar on the driver’s side might be a concern for vehicle rigidity, yet this is NOT the case, as the chassis feels as impressively stiff as the Cooper – congratulations to the MINI’s engineers on achieving this feat. As a result the handling is almost as excellent as the smaller Cooper (so it’s very, very good) and the ride feels more compliant thanks to the stretched wheelbase. When attacking corners, driver’s familiar with the shorter Cooper may notice the extra weight in the rear, however we’re only talking tiny degrees here. Yes, the ride is better than the Cooper but it’s still not perfect (thanks to the stiff side wall run flat tyres).

BMW Mini Clubman Specifications: The BMW Mini Clubman is saloon class vehicle with a1.6 litre petrol, turbocharged in-line with four cylinders. It has an output of 155kW at 6000rpm with 280Nm of torque at 1850-5600rpm. The transmission is a Six-speed manual type with fuel efficiency of 7.0l/100km and CO2 emissions of 167g/km. The BMW Mini Clubman is an estate car version of the Mini Hatch, introduced for the 2008 model year and available in One, Cooper, Cooper S, and Cooper D variations. While identical to the Hardtop from the B-pillars forward, the BMW Clubman is 240 mm (9.4 in) longer overall, with a correspondingly stretched wheelbase that is 80 mm (3.1 in) longer; this provides more rear-seat leg room and substantially increased cargo space when compared to the Hardtop — 160 mm (6.3 in) longer, giving 260 litres (9.2 cubic feet) of space.

BMW Mini Clubman Ex showroom Price: The BMW Mini Clubman is a good car with all the ingredients like Anti-lock brakes, Electronic Stability Control and six airbags as standard (as are Rear parking sensors). The Fuel economy is excellent across all grades and resale rating is impressively high. But the car is highly expensive against its rivals like the Volkswagen Golf. Once again the BMW Mini Clubman is also no exception and is an odd little one-of-a-kind car with no direct competitor against it. The top-end Clubman is likely to cost around Rs 30 lakh and come with a complete sports package and accessories.

BMW Mini Clubman Mileage: Like the entire BMW Mini range the Clubman too has an exceptional mileage of 7.0l/100km and on test fuel efficiency: 8.2l/100km.

BMW Mini Clubman Safety Features: There's nothing special available for the Clubman, other than the usual alarm and immobiliser combination. Locking and unlocking is via the key fob, which can also unlock the rear doors separately. For extra peace of mind, a visible deterrent such as a steering lock would be a sensible low-cost investment. It's plain to see that a lot of BMW technology has trickled down to the Mini, which is no bad thing. All the usual safety kit is present, with advanced stability control also available. Airbags abound in the car's cabin, putting the Clubman on a par with more expensive machinery.

BMW Mini Clubman Colours: As with all BMW Mini's, the Clubman exudes the same amount of style. There are various supplementary packs that add various trim improvements, plus the usual choice of upholstery materials. Predictably, bright colours - inside and out- work best.

BMW Mini Clubman Awards: The BMW Mini Clubman has won many awards around the globe and is expected to win many prestigious awards in Indian market as well. The BMW Clubman awards are as follows:

• In 2008 the green version of the Mini, the Mini Cooper D, was nominated for WhatGreenCar.com Car of the Year Awards.
• In April 2010 Kelley Blue Book included the Mini Cooper as one of its Top 10 Green Cars for 2010