MINI execs were undoubtedly aware that the asymmetrical door layout of the previous-gen Clubman was not hugely practical and not necessarily to everybody’s taste. That’s why when they made a new Clubman, based on the all-new and bigger MINI hatch, they gave it two proper rear doors.
It was shown in concept form in Geneva this year and now we learn it’s set to debut in 2015, at the Frankfurt motor show.
CarAdvice got more information on the upcoming Clubman from Mini’s head of communications, Andreas Lampka. He explained “the Clubman will not be a spinoff of the Hatch, the Clubman is a different architecture, [it] is a bigger car,” while admitting that “back then the Clubman in 2007 was the longer wheelbase Mini, which had one additional door. [It] wasn’t really practical, and it’s why it only happened one time.”
The “barn door boot” layout will remain, though, but the rest of the vehicle will be a far more practical transportation solution for people and stuff. It will rival hatchbacks from the class above for space (probably). Production spec new Clubmans will stick very close to the look of the Geneva concept, with only minor detail changes.
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