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Road Test: 2009 MINI Cooper S Clubman
I just finished another long term test, this time in BMW's latest version of the MINI, the Clubman. Since BMW took over MINI, the car has taken on a new life, building on an already unique brand and creating an all new following. The Clubman version of the MINI expands on it even further. With an extended wheelbase and split rear barn doors, the Clubman gives MINI buyers another choice at being just a little different.
Where's the nearest track?
I was expecting the MINI to handle like a go cart but I thought it would come at the expense of a smooth ride. I was wrong. BMW has done an excellent job of tuning the Clubman's suspension. When you're tackling your favorite back road, this MINI corners flat and quick, with minimal body roll.
But when you're simply in a get to point A to B mode, be it city streets or the freeway, this MINI is quite smooth. It absorbs the majority of road irregularities, with the occasional thump from rough city streets. I haven't driven a standard size MINI Cooper to compare it to the Clubman. To be fair, the Clubman's ride may be benefiting from its slightly longer wheelbase.
Performance in a small package
MINI has developed an all-new 16-valve 4-cylinder for their cars, with the 'S' models outfitted with twin-scroll turbos and direct injection. The motor puts out 172 HP and 177 lb/ft of torque. 
I noticed after driving it for a short time that the turbo does take a moment to spool up but when it does, the Clubman accelerates quickly with a nice rasp from its twin tail pipes.
BMW decided to use Getrag to build their MINI manual transmission and it appears to have been a good choice. Not quite as smooth as the manual in the BMW 3-series, the Clubman's six-speed is sweet. Shifts are crisp with nary a doubt as to which gear you're in. It took me a moment to get used to the "slide left and up" for reverse (my daily driver is a five-speed) but once past that, it's fun to find the right gear for the moment, keeping that little buzz saw under the hood in the power band.
First Impressions: MINI Cooper S Clubman
In the Ridestory Garage
I'm fortunate again to have extended access to another car, this time a MINI Cooper S Clubman. Since BMW took over MINI, the car has taken on a new life, building on an already unique brand and creating an all new following. The Clubman version of the MINI expands on it even further. With an extended wheelbase and split rear barn doors, the Clubman gives MINI buyers another choice at being just a little different.
What's different?
Potential MINI buyers will find one characteristic of the Clubman very appealing. And that's size. The Clubman is longer and definitely more roomy inside than a standard size MINI. Hop in the back seat and it's actually functional. So four adults in a MINI can be comfortable? In a word, yes.
Clubman uniqueness continues though. In addition to the extra leg room, the rear of the Clubman opens up with two barn-like doors. Swinging the doors out provides easy loading and access to the rear of the car. An additional suicide door on the passenger side provides access to the rear seat.
MINI performance
Just because it's a MINI doesn't mean performance is lacking. This Clubman happens to be the 'S' version, delivering 172 turbocharged horsepower. My initial impressions can't detect any turbo lag. In fact, the MINI's 4-cylinder has got a nice punch with just a little rasp to the exhaust note. It's loads of fun to keep high in the rev range.
In addition, my test car has a six-speed manual transmission. Which, for me, is exciting. If you're a regular reader of Ridestory, you know I'm not a fan of automatics. And, for the most part, the MINI's manual is quite enjoyable. It's a little notchy, definitely not as smooth as the BMW 328i's manual. But fun none the less.
Does MINI mean strength in the car market?
News regarding the future of the car market hasn't been good lately. Bankruptcy and bailouts don't exactly exude confidence. But if the future of the automobile is anything like what BMW is delivering with the MINI brand, enthusiasts will continue to be happy drivers.
Look for my MINI Twitter updates over the coming week and I'll of course post more about it here on Ridestory.
BMW's all-electric MINI E
Electric car to be unveiled at Los Angeles Auto Show
BMW has chosen the Los Angeles Auto Show to present the new all-electric MINI E to the media. As reported a few months ago by Autopia, BMW has been working on the plug-in MINI and will make it available to select markets.
500 cars for North America
Much of the speculation surrounding the electric MINI is that it helps BMW meet some states zero-emissions mandates. BMW has 500 MINI E's headed to three states in the U.S.: California, New York and New Jersey. These cars will go to private and corporate customers.
Each vehicle carries a one-year lease with an option to extend it. And following BMW's common practice of servicing their leased vehicles free of charge, any maintenance or service requiring the replacement of worn parts will be included.
Once the lease is up, the MINI E is returned to BMW engineers for comparative testing.
On a side note, BMW provides a wallbox installed in a customer's garage. It provides higher amperage for short charging times. Expect a MINI E to take about 2.5 hours to charge. Only lockable garages will be considered for MINI E power stations.
Production of the 500 cars will take place at BMW’s Oxford and Munich sites and should be completed before the end of 2008.
MINI-like performance?
As you might have guessed, the MINI E will only be available as a two-seater. The rear passenger seats will be occupied by the cars lithium-ion battery pack, made up of 5,088 cells grouped into 48 modules.
The cars electric drive train will produce about 162 lb-ft of torque, driving the front wheels. You'll get to 62 mph in about 8.5 seconds and top out at an electronically governed 95 mph.
Of course it's hard to estimate how far the car will go on a single charge. According to BMW, one kilowatt hour equals 5.4 miles. A fully charged BMW E draws 28 kilowatts. So it's safe to assume the car has a 150 mile range. The MINI E also has a regenerative braking feature where the electric motor acts as a generator, directing power to the batteries that otherwise would be lost. BMW says this feature extends the car's range by up to 20 percent.
MINI E styling
Yes, should you be one of a select few to lease a MINI E, you will be comfortable knowing that what you are driving is unique. But the styling, not so much. All 500 MINI E's will look the same, as pictured here. Even more unfortunate, the stylized power plug "E" logo is everywhere: the roof; on the front and back of the car; the charger port lid; on the dashboard; and finally, on the door jamb. Yikes! I hope you like yellow!
And, with such a limited number of MINI E's, will BMW go the way of Honda and target Hollywood for it's eye-catching and media-hyped market? We'll have to see once the cars are ready for distribution.
How about some eye candy for your MINI?
Wraps, badges, stripes...
MINI customization has just been ratcheted up a notch with the just announced partnership between MINI and Colorado-based Original Wraps, Inc.
The graphics are available for every MINI model year since 2002 and are made from 3M vinyl. You can place everything from a simple badge on your car to wrapping your entire MINI. There's stripes for the hood, flags for the roof and 'A' panel wraps. You can even design your own graphics with Original Wraps manufacturing each for you. Templates are available to download from the web site.
Costs range from $9.99 to $349.00 and can be purchased from MINI Motoring Graphics or your local MINI dealer. They'll ship the wraps directly to you or to the dealer.
An additional cost to consider is installation. Unless you're experienced with vinyl graphics, get a professional. When you consider the investment you're making, you want it done right.
MINI's "Creative Use of Space" heads to New York
BMW's MINI brand usually takes a different path when promoting their cars and yesterday's announcement of their MINI ROOFTOP NYC promotion certainly fits the mold.
MINI ROOFTOP NYC will be a series of cultural events hosted on a New York City rooftop and will bring together "...high-profile performances, discussions and events." It will take place from September 4th to September 13th.
MINI's international campaign
MINI has built an international campaign based on the "Creative Use of Space." The intention is to give artists and performers a platform for collaboration and to further the arts. The public will benefit as well by being provided a venue with collaborative facilities and take part in events with art, music, fashion, design and wellness icons.
There are many ways you can get involved
There are a couple of ways the general public can get involved. First, starting today, DJs can go to MINIspace and compete for a chance to perform for an hour at one of the evening events. Second, there will be a competition where people can enter design ideas for the MINI Clubman shuttles that will be used to transport guests to the various rooftop events. The winning designs will be printed on the roofs of the shuttles.
A unique venue
In addition, the rooftop venue will provide visitors with areas for relaxation and creativity including a lounge area, sun deck, free WiFi and an art and photography studio. The space will have some unique features such as a grassy hill, a performance stage built into a large billboard, a lighting tower that will both light the space as well as provide a visual marker to the location, and a panorama bar overlooking the Hudson River.
Sounds like a great opportunity for artists and musicians, especially with the added attention it will receive with MINI's involvement.
Performance can be efficient
MINI's John Cooper Works edition bolsters our belief in small car fun
Yes, gas is expensive. One result? High-performance cars are picked on, frowned upon as unnecessary and gas-guzzling. But if you can turbo- or supercharge a four-cylinder, tuning it for horsepower and efficiency, what's the harm in that?
Hopefully none. BMW's MINI brand, since its introduction in 2001, has supported our belief that small efficient cars can be fun and fast. The new John Cooper Works version benefits from a larger version turbocharger, developing 211 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque from the base 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine. If you employ the cars Overboost system, the available torque jumps to nearly 207 lb-ft.
As passionate drivers, MINI delivers what we need now. A car that is quick and entertaining, putting a huge grin on our faces as we hit our favorite twisty back road. But when you need it to be, the MINI is efficient, sipping gas at a wallet-loving 40mpg.
And the MINI isn't the only model line available that offers performance and efficiency. There are many others, with auto makers producing small cars that are not only miserly but carry a nice punch.
- Here's a quick list of a few more cars that are fun yet easy at the pump.
- Mazda MX-5
MPG: 21 city/28 highway
0-60: 6.5 seconds - Pontiac Solstice GXP
MPG: 19 city/28 highway
0-60: 5.5 seconds - Nissan 350Z
MPG: 18 city/25 highway
0-60: 5.3 seconds - BMW 135i
MPG: 17 city/25 highway
0-60: 4.8 seconds - Lotus Elise
MPG: 20 city/26 highway
0-60: 4.6 seconds - Honda S2000
MPG: 18 city/25 highway
0-60: 5.3 seconds - Chevrolet Cobalt SS
MPG: 22 city/30 highway
0-60: 5.5 seconds
Can you think of any other quick, fun-to-drive small cars that will help you out at the pump when it needs to? Disagree with my list? Let me know. Give me your feedback. I want to hear from you.
