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Mini teases new Clubman

Mini is expected to expand its refreshed lineup with the reveal of the new Clubman, at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. So to give us something to look forward to, it has released the teaser image you see here. Previewed in concept form in Geneva last year, by the Vision Gran Turismo a few months ago, and by numerous prototypes spied undergoing testing in between, the new Clubman promises to be even longer and more versatile than the previous model. That's due in part to the emergence of the five-door version of the core Mini Hardtop, which already packs more (or at least more-conventional) doors than the previous Clubman. The new one, then, is expected to go with a similar front-hinged door setup, and keep the split rear cargo doors from its predecessor (and the concept) in place of the smaller model's liftgate. The sketch was revealed on a promo page for Mini's "Go With Your Gut" campaign. Dark and sketchy as it is, there's little to be told from the teaser rendering above, but you can just make out a different roof design from the show car and an offset exhaust in place of the concept's center-exit pipes. We'll just have to hold on for a while longer to see the finished product. Related Video:

2016 Mini Cooper Convertible First Drive

Conventional gearhead wisdom says to go for the biggest, most powerful engine. For the first two generations of Mini Convertible, this was a no-brainer. You bought the Cooper S. But as Senior Editor Alex Kierstein argued in our first drive of the Cooper S soft top, the less-powerful Cooper Convertible has an ace up its sleeve: a highly entertaining, three-cylinder, turbocharged engine. After some time behind the wheel, this two-time Mini Cooper S (hardtop) owner is ready to say the Cooper Convertible is the droptop Mini you should buy, full stop. The Cooper's 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder makes just 134 ponies and 162 pound-feet of torque. That's a 55-horsepower deficit and an extra 1.5 seconds, compared to the Cooper S. But who's clocking a Mini Convertible with a stopwatch? The 8.2 seconds it takes to get to 60 mph is perfectly adequate , and the triple's power delivery is addictive. Peak torque comes in at 1,250 rpm, making for effortless acceleration around town. The engine is positively diesel-like in the way it generates twist below 4,000 rpm, and the way it runs out of steam well before its 6,500-rpm redline. But this isn't annoying. There's more than enough torque to make the Cooper's acceleration sprightly around town. Think about it this way: The Cooper S' 2.0-liter turbo has enough power to rescue you from bad driving. But because of the turbo lag and the wheezy top end, the base Cooper forces you to manage your momentum. In that way, it's not unlike the Mazda MX-5, Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ, and other so-called "momentum cars," that require drivers to maintain speed for a good corner exit. That, friends, is fun. But some of the car's shortcomings are less fun. We praised the triple's "offbeat, enticing growl" in our first drive, but this is still a three-cylinder engine and it vibrates like one. There's a diesel-like clatter from the direct-injection system on cold starts. And when rolling off the line at part throttle, the triple sends a weird vibration right to our hips. It disappears quickly as the speed increases, but the sensation is consistent enough to be annoying. Aside from the interesting powerplant, the best driving goodies aren't reserved only for the Cooper S. Tick the right boxes, and the regular Cooper can fit the adaptive dampers we raved about on the Cooper S first drive – Dynamic Damper Control is a $500 standalone option or included in the $1,750 Sport Package.

2016 Mini Clubman opens its many doors to the world

We've seen the spy shots. We've seen the teasers. We've seen the concepts and the video-game racers. And now the wait is finally over for Anglophile motorists as Mini has officially taken the wraps off the all-new Clubman. Larger than the model it replaces and with more useful apertures, the new 2016 Mini Clubman slots into the marque's new lineup above the four/five-door version of the core Hardtop hatchback. It measures a useful 10.9 inches longer than the Hardtop, 2.9 inches wider, and rides on a wheelbase that's four inches longer. It's also a big larger than the outgoing Clubman, which had been on the market since 2007. In fact, though it sits a few inches lower than the Countryman crossover, the new Clubman is touted as the longest and widest Mini yet. Size isn't the only element that sets the new Clubman apart from its predecessor, though. It's also got a more conventional door arrangement, with four proper, forward-hinged doors instead of the unusual suicide door on the outgoing model that opened onto the curb in countries where they know on which side of the street to drive, but into traffic in its own home market. The split tailgate doors carry over, however, and can be optionally operated hands-free to give access to 17.5 cubic feet of cargo space, or as much as 47.9 cubic feet with the split rear seats folded flat. The new Clubman, however, isn't just positioned as a more utile version of the smaller hatch, but as Mini's flagship model. There are even new interior trim choices available to that effect, including a diamond-quilted blue leather patterned after a classic English Chesterfield sofa. Naturally, it also packs all the technological advancements you'd expect of the latest product from the BMW Group. Though diesel options will be offered overseas, American buyers will be able to choose between Cooper and Cooper S specifications. The former comes with a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-three with 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, good for an 8.9-second 0-60 time and a 127-mile-per-hour top speed with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The Cooper S upgrades with a 2.0-liter turbo four good for 189 hp and 207 lb-ft, to reach 60 in 7.0 seconds flat with the six-speed manual or 6.9 with a new eight-speed automatic, topping out at 142. Despite the added size, Mini promises the new Clubman will offer the same go-kart handling for which the brand has become known.