The last MINI Clubman, which debuted in 1969, has been produced at MINI Plant Oxford 55 years after its debut. The iconic model, with its unique styling and signature rear split doors, remains globally recognized. The end of the MINI Clubman signifies a closing chapter in MINI's history, as the brand continues to introduce its all-electric MINI family.
The Clubman silhouette dates back to the early 1960s when British Motor Corporation (BMC) introduced two estate versions of the original Mini: the Austin Seven Countryman and Morris Mini Traveller. In 1967, British Motor Holdings hired renowned designer Roy Haynes to combine attributes from all four models into a single car: the Mini Clubman. The final design was far more angular and featured a distinctive front nose, which was 10cm longer than the original Mini.
Three production vehicles were based on the Clubman, with the first car debuting in 1969 as a saloon, followed by the Clubman Estate a year later. The third was the 1275 GT, which did not bear the Clubman name but did share its distinctive nose and was famed for its motorsport career.
The first modern MINI Clubman was reborn in 2007 while delivering a modern aesthetic. It retained characteristic styling cues from its predecessors, most notably the signature, split rear doors. However, reinstating them into a modern-day vehicle proved quite the challenge for engineers at MINI Plant Oxford.
In 2013, MINI introduced the world's first premium compact delivery van, the MINI Clubvan, inspired by the Morris Mini Van. The model offered businesses a larger, easily accessible loading area with a completely flat floor. With the third generation in 2015, the Clubman grew, offering a boot capacity of up to 1,250 litres, enhanced usability thanks to four full-sized doors and an 8-speed Steptronic transmission. Numerous other features made their brand debut on the Clubman, including an electric parking brake, full electric seat adjustment, and the optional MINI Yours Interior Styles with backlit door bezels.
As the Clubman's half-century journey draws to a close, an electrifying new chapter begins with the continued launch of the new MINI family.
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