MINI Clubvan

New MINI Clubvan - Goodwood Festival of Speed debut for this premium market commercial vehicle, recalling the days of the original sixties Morris Mini Van

Story: RALPH MORTON

 

The Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’s a great event, and usually car makers are keen to show their newest and most glamorous models.

Not BMW.

It’s showing the world a van. Its brand new MINI Clubvan.

This will be the world debut for the production model – a Concept was shown at Geneva earlier in the year – which will be built at BMW’s Oxford plant in the UK.

And we suspect many small business users will be by-passing some of the more glamorous models on display to get a glimpse of the MINI Clubvan, which goes on sale this autumn.

Because the Clubvan looks certain to bring MINI glamour to the small car-dervied van market, for those small businesses wanting a strong and premium road presence.

BMW reckons commercial customers will embrace such trades as caterering, event planning, small retail businesses and photographers.

The Clubvan offers a maximum payload capacity of 500 kg, with a flat cargo area that stretches back 115 cm and 860 litres of space if loaded to its roof.

There are five doors and a bulkhead – made from a solid aluminium lower section with a steel mesh upper – to protect driver and passenger. No ply-lining for the MINI Clubvan though – the load floor and side walls are trimmed in high-quality upholstery.

Goodwood Festival of Speed

Goodwood Festival of Speed: all the glamour and pizzazz...and a van!

Six heavy duty attachment loops are recessed into the floor at the sides to help prevent cargo from moving around in transit, while multiple 12-volt sockets can be used to power electrical equipment.

The rear side windows are body-coloured with interior polycarbonate reinforcement. In addition, there’s tinted glass in the rear doors to conceal the contents of the Clubvan’s load compartment.

There will be three engines available:

  • 98 hp MINI One Clubvan;
  • 122 hp MINI Cooper Clubvan; and
  • 112 hp MINI Cooper D Clubvan.

All models feature fuel efficient MINIMALISM technology for reduced running costs, including Auto Start/Stop, Shift Point Display, Brake Energy Regeneration and on-demand operation of ancillary units.

Additional business van news is that BMW says the MINI Cooper D Clubvan can offer up to 72.4 mpg, with CO2 emissions of just 103 g/km.

It is the first commercial vehicle to be offered since the MINI brand was relaunched under BMW’s ownership in 2001. Business users will be able to claim back their VAT on purchase.

What does the new MINI Clubvan cost?

  • MINI One Clubvan, £11,175
  • MINI Cooper Clubvan, £12,475
  • MINI Cooper D Clubvan, £13,600

All prices are ex-VAT.

 

What are the MINI Clubvan’s dimensions?

  • Length: 3,961 mm
  • Width: 1,683 mm
  • Height: 1,426 mm
  • Wheelbase: 2,547 mm

 

What about the MINI Clubvan’s specification?

Standard items include DAB radio, air-conditioning, electric windows, anti-theft alarm and side and head airbags.

There are four exterior colours – Pepper White, Ice Blue, British Racing Green metallic and Midnight Black metallic.

The standard 15-inch Delta-spoke alloy wheels, which are exclusive to the MINI Clubvan, can be replaced by alternative 15, 16 or 17-inch alloy wheel designs.

Standard interior trim features black seats with Cosmos fabric upholstery, a black interior colour scheme and Fine White Silver trim strips are standard. Options include black sports seats in Ray Cloth/Leather, Punch Leather or Lounge Leather.

Other options include xenon headlights, black headlight shells, adaptive headlights, automatic climate control, park distance control, automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors and a trailer hitch. The optional MINI navigation system, as well as MINI Connected, with the Google send to car service will keep the Clubvan heading in the right direction on its delivery runs.

We shall bring you a business van test in due course.

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