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Despite Mini's woes, Clubman sales surging

The Mini Clubman has a polarizing design, but those who like it are snapping it up. According to Automotive News, the Clubman is on pace to become Mini USA's best selling model. Almost 1,700 vehicles were sold during the first quarter of 2016, and the vast majority – 1,037 units – were sold last month alone. These facts are made all the more noteworthy because Mini's sales fell 15 percent during the first quarter. The surging sales of Mini's newest model are especially good news for the brand's coffers. The Clubman is the most expensive non- John Cooper Works model you can get, aside from the upcoming Convertible. It doesn't sound like there are too many Clubman models going for the $24,950 starting price, either. According to Mini Dealer Council Chairman Michael Vadasz, dealers are doing solid business on customized orders, which, he tells AN, "is what Mini is all about." About one in four Minis built today are custom orders submitted by consumers, who love taking advantage of the Porsche-like breadth of a la carte options, no matter what it does to the final price. The fact that Mini is seeing so many custom Clubmans, then, is a very good thing. As for why the Clubman is doing so well, Mini USA Vice President David Duncan says it's because the car just isn't so Mini, moving the brand beyond its traditional subcompact class to the compact segment, where it can challenge cars like the Audi A3. "We see that as a fast growing segment, so having an entry in there gives us that opportunity," Duncan told Automotive News. "And then when you look at the car itself, it's got a premiumness about it that really takes us to the next level and allows us to compete against brands that we weren't typically competing against." Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Mini Cooper SE ditches ‘Corona Spoke’ wheel name for obvious reasons

We’ve recently spent time in the all-electric 2020 Mini Cooper SE, and weÂ’ve found it to be plenty of fun. It packs all the Mini charm with none of the tailpipe emissions. Part of its quirky appeal is its styling, and the top Iconic trim has those funky 17-inch wheels that resemble a U.K. power outlet, ringed in a bright yellow circle. Those wheels, called “Corona Spoke,” are getting a name change. TheyÂ’re now called “Power Spoke.” As a Mini spokesperson told CarBuzz, “This was done to ensure Mini remains sensitive to all those experiencing the widespread impacts of Covid-19,” despite the naming coming long before the coronavirus pandemic. Indeed, MiniÂ’s press release from last July applies the “Corona Spoke” name to the asymmetrical, “aerodynamically optimized” alloy wheels. The Monroney sticker for our recent tester also listed the "17" MINI E Corona Spoke 2-tone" wheels. The name change is a minor footnote in the saga of the coronavirus pandemic, but it's understandable. So with any handwringing over an unfortunate naming coincidence thwarted, we can get back to appreciating the electric Mini for the joy it is. We should note that in addition to being a fun little EV, we also discovered that the Mini SEÂ’s electric range is very conservative — we were able to handily best its 110-mile EPA rating. Related Video:

On Location in California with BMW and Mini

A mid-winter escape from frigid Michigan to drive a trio of new BMW and Mini products? It'd be a busy couple of days, but you can't argue with Southern California in February. The temperatures in LA, where we drove the Mini Cooper S Convertible, hovered in the mid-80s, and it was solidly in the 70s further north, at Monterey, where we drove the M2 and X4 M40i. The highlight of the trip was Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, which is a rewarding track to drive in a street car. The M2 was a blast there. The canyon roads above Malibu in the Mini were a close second, but even the lazy drive down the PCH to Big Sur was a blast. More important is the California state of mind we were in when driving all three of these cars. I've spent a lot of time in this state, and it has a complicated relationship with the car – and there's also a huge difference in attitude between the greater Bay Area and Southern California. Ample sun and twisty roads clash with image-consciousness, eco-consciousness, and brutal urban gridlock, and each BMW dealt with that paradox admirably, in its own way. Take a quick jaunt to California with me and check out the locations and experiences that helped form our impressions of these vehicles: the 2016 BMW M2 First Drive, the 2016 Mini Cooper S Convertible First Drive, and the 2016 BMW X4 M40i Quick Spin.