2009 Mini Clubman

A Bigger Mini:The 2009 Mini Clubman, named for the station wagon model offered by the company in the early sixties, is a new version of the wildly popular Mini Cooper that has taken the country by storm over the past few years. But, while the Clubman may be bigger than the Cooper, it still deserves the name Mini. The wheelbase has been increased by 3.1 inches, and the overall body length has been stretched by 9.5 inches. These increases were necessary to get the size necessary to transform the car into a station wagon.
A Different Kind of Wagon:The Mini company is known for designing vehicles that are both small and innovative, cars that combine small bodies with big features. Well, the Clubman does not disap-point in these respects. Most station wagons features four full sized doors as well as an extended cargo area in the back. The Clubman has three doors, the third positioned behind the passenger side door. This third door is also hinged in the rear, so its similar to the extra door you’d find on an extended cab pickup truck. There is no exterior handle on this third door, so you’ll have to open the passenger door in order to open the third door.
Getting at the Back:Most station wagons on the market feature a rear lift gate to access the cargo area. The Clubman, however, has two center-opening doors. While the vertical struts that support the door do present an obstruction to the driver’s rear view, this design allows for the clubman to have easier access to the cargo area and also allowed the designers to add more cargo room than a traditional lift gate would allow. The cargo area is 9.1 cubic feet behind the back seats and, with the rear seats folded down, increases to 32.6 cubic feet.
Two Levels:Just like the Mini Cooper, the 2009 Mini Clubman will be available in two de-signs, the standard and the S. The S is the higher end model and features a more po-werful engine that pumps out 175 horsepower as compared to the standard model’s 120 horsepower. Also, the S version will feature run-flat tires on sixteen inch wheels. One unusual feature of the Clubman is its electrical power regeneration system on the brakes. This feature, normally only found on hybrid vehicles, generates electrical power whenever the brakes are applied. This system has found its way to the Clubman because the car disengages the alternator while accelerating in order to utilize every ounce of the car’s power. Technologically advanced? Fun to drive? Utilitarian? The Clubman is definitely a car to look at if you’re considering a station wagon and want something compact.