Farewell to a legend: MINI Clubman retires

The MINI Cooper S Clubman subcompact is taking a well-deserved rest. It is a pity that without an heir. The British decided to say goodbye to the model, which was released in the already quite distant 2007. The “farewell” version with the talking prefix Final Edition will enter the market. On this occasion, we will go through the history of the legendary station wagon and pay attention to its final model.

Back to 1969 - how it all began

The debut of the MINI Clubman took place back in 1969 - 10 years after the release of the first of the brand's cars, which at that time was still purely British. The need for its appearance was dictated by the fact that the models Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet, which were popular at that time, had pretty much lost their attractiveness and relevance. In other words, cars are obsolete.


BMC made the decision to replace the two cars with one new model, which eventually became the original Clubman. At the same time, the creators planned to reduce production costs, that is, to make the car cheaper to manufacture and retail. However, this did not succeed. Otherwise, everything turned out pretty well.

So, on the basis of "Clubman" three serial cars were produced. First, a sedan went on sale, followed by a station wagon with the prefix Estate, which was produced right up to 1981. In the latest version, the car had a 45-horsepower gasoline engine instead of the original 38-horsepower engine. With.

2007 - rebirth from the ashes

25 years have passed since the release of the last original Clubman, and now, in 2007, the decision was made to revive the once popular station wagon. Like the original source at the time, the novelty could not help but surprise with unusual engineering solutions. So, there is only one door on the driver's side, while there are two on the passenger side. Rear, by the way, oar - this is done for the convenience of loading luggage. Many will agree that this is more practical than a roll-up door.


From 2012 to 2014, another interesting car based on Clubman was produced, namely its commercial version MINI Clubvan. He did not have rear seats - instead of them, a spacious and flat platform for loads. The rear windows have been replaced with opaque metal panels.

In 2015, Clubman underwent an update - the second generation appeared on sale. It no longer has the original passenger door on only one side of the body. But instead, the car as a whole has become longer and more spacious. This also made it possible to install four full-fledged doors - two on each side. Until now, it is a practical family car for 5 people.

If the original Clubman seems like a car for too quiet people, consider the John Cooper Works version. With the dynamics of this station wagon, things are much more interesting.


It is impossible not to pay tribute to the creators of the station wagon and not to note their approach to body customization. Although this is a production car, the buyer could (and still can) configure it like a designer, however, only in terms of design. Choose from a range of colors or add decorative stripes, accent colors and anything else that will make you stand out from other MINIs.

It is also important that Clubman is also available in various special series that entered the market for one reason or another. For example, the latest Untold Edition for today. It is interesting that farewell to the station wagon takes place in a manner characteristic of the brand - the release of a new series.

What will the Clubman Final Edition look like?

Unique decor, copper accents, three body colors - a small part of what awaits the buyer of the last Clubman in history. The model is available in three colors: snow white Nanuq White, jet black Enigmatic Black and Melting Silver. The palette isn't as varied as the original Clubman station wagons, but there are a few other interesting features.


One of them is a unique interior upholstery scheme with really expensive leather without any fashionable substitutes. The interior is decorated in two colors at once, leather trim is interspersed with fabric.

Copper inserts in Chimmer Copper color will decorate both the interior and exterior details. In particular, these are R18 rims, elements of the hood and doors, as well as the front grille.

If you take a closer look at the instruments, you notice the Sage Green decorative stripes, which are new for this model. Finally, a truly unique moment for the latest line is the floor mats and metal plaques, which indicate that the car belongs to a limited edition. Stylish steel nameplates can be found in duplicate - in the cabin and on the C-pillar.

"1 of 1969" - this is how, for example, the first copy in circulation is indicated. As you may have guessed, exactly 1969 cars will go on sale. This is a reference to the year in which the first Clubman was born - the native "grandfather" of the station wagon, later revived in 2007 under the wing of BMW.

Something needs to be clarified here. The original "Clubman" was produced from 1969 to 1981 in Britain. Then BMW bought the rights to use the MINI brand, and already in our millennium launched the new Clubmen. At the time of its appearance, it was the largest "Mini", and even with 4WD.

Engines

In terms of technology, the limited edition will not surprise us. Two engines will be available in most markets: a 1,5-litre three-cylinder turbo with 134 hp. With. and a 2,0-liter ICE with four "pots" for 176 liters. With. A diesel version will also appear in a number of countries.

Equipment

The farewell edition will be released in two trim levels - Cooper and Cooper S. They did not save money. Even in the basic version, owners expect a full leather interior, heated all seats, a rear-view camera and a panoramic sunroof. Multimedia is presented by professional audio from Harman Kardon in tandem with an 8,8-inch touchscreen in a branded round frame on the panel.

What's next for Clubman?

Alas, the company refuses to further develop the line and leaves it without a successor. As soon as the entire Final Edition is sold out, the model will retire for a well-deserved rest. Partially, the niche of compact station wagons will be filled with electric cars similar in characteristics.


Already this year, MINI plans to launch the production of a new generation of electric Countryman SUV. According to current data, he will receive one or two electric motors - 188 hp. With. and 268 l. With. respectively. The SUV is expected to go on sale in early 2024.

Behind him in the queue for release is a more compact "all-terrain vehicle" in the face of Aceman. In the basic version, it will receive an electric drive with a capacity of 181 hp. With. and a power reserve of 300 km. It is expected that for the first time in its history, the company will focus on the Chinese market with regard to new electric traction products.

Conclusion

Of course, counting on the delivery of limited edition MINI Clubman Final Edition would be too naive. However, you still have the option to buy the "regular" option. In addition, there are cars from Britain on the secondary market at an average price of 2,5 to 4 million rubles for copies from 2020-2021 and with adequate mileage of no more than 100 thousand kilometers. Be sure to share your opinion with us about the departure of the station wagon from the market - we are already waiting for you in the comments.