The second generation Mini Clubman will soon find its way from concept car to production reality. Our spies nabbed a new prototype model testing out in the open and were able to take a quick shot of the car’s cabin.
While similar, the next Clubman’s dashboard won’t be identical to the new hatchback featuring reshaped upper and (elevated) lower center consoles, rectangular instead of round corner air vents as well as an electronic rather than a mechanical handbrake.
With the new Clubman, Mini is targeting the compact estate market giving the car a proper four-door layout, instead of the current model’s small rear-hinged third door (2+1), while retaining the two “barn” doors at the rear, making it a 6-door model.
It’s not only the extra doors that will help the new Clubman to become a more family-friendly proposal, but the increased dimensions as well. The near-production concept revealed by Mini at last year’s Geneva show was 260mm longer than the Clubman Mk1 at 4223mm, 170mm wider at 1,844 mm and 25mm taller at 1,450 mm, and we expect those proportions to be carried over to the production car.
Mini is expected to release the new Clubman later this year.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops