MINI Pondering Bigger Clubman That Would Ditch Wagon Body, Become Yet Another SUV

The MINI Clubman could become a totally different car as owner BMW reportedly considers turning the next-generation model into an SUV.

While that fails to surprise anyone in a market where crossovers and sports utility vehicles are king, it does make us wonder whether a Clubman SUV would be able to retain the identity of a model that has always been a wagon since its debut in 1969.

MINI chief designer Oliver Heilmer hinted to Autocar that the next-generation Clubman could become bigger and adopt an SUV body style. Apparently, this will be done to further differentiate the Clubman from the Countryman since both models currently share a similar footprint and pricing range.

Related: Mini Updates The 2020 Clubman With A Series Of Small Changes

Another reason is that the BMW-owned brand is losing sales in the U.S. because it offers only one SUV many American consider too expensive for its small size – the Countryman.

A MINI Clubman SUV is reportedly seen as the solution to that problem, though it is unclear at the moment how big the Clubman would become – especially since the Countryman is expected to grow too when it changes generations. Basically, MINI has no issues with its models growing in size, with one exception – the Hatch/Hardtop.

Designers are actually working on making the next-gen model smaller and reduce the current MINI Hardtop‘s exterior bulkiness that has drawn criticism for straying too far from the proportions of its predecessors.

“The footprint is most crucial with the hatch. Size is less of a problem with the other models,” Oliver Heilmer told Autocar. “I want each model to be the smallest in the segment, or visually the smallest. But small may not be helpful for sales,” the designer added, hinting at the possibility of a larger Clubman.

Note: 2020 MINI Cooper S Clubman pictured