The 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman hatchback comes in three trim levels: the Cooper Clubman, the turbocharged Cooper S Clubman and the new-for-2009 turbocharged John Cooper Works Clubman edition. It competes with sporty hatchbacks ranging from the Mazda3 to the Volvo C30. New for 2009, all Clubmans get a newly optional Dynamic Traction Control system that features an electronic differential lock and allows drivers to turn off the electronic stability system. There's also a new, optional factory-installed roof rail or rear roof spoiler for bikes and surfboards, plus a smart phone prep option that allows full access to a USB-enabled smart phone, like the iPhone. The regular MINI Cooper had loads of curb appeal and an undeniably fun air about it, but MINI quickly realized that the standard Cooper's limited space was driving away some customers. In order to address the needs of those who simply needed a little extra storage room for their weekend getaway gear, MINI introduced the 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman, a lengthened version of the classic MINI Cooper. The John Cooper Works Clubman is new for 2009. It's powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder that, according to MINI, can briefly raise boost pressure to achieve 207 pounds-feet of torque when accelerating. Besides the extensive changes under the hood, this hot-rod MINI also features unique high-performance brakes and a different exhaust system. As with other MINIs, the automaker offers a number of ways to personalize John Cooper Works cars.
MINI Clubman Design
MINI stretched the length of its Cooper by 9.4 inches to make the Cooper Clubman. The extra length benefits legroom for the Clubman's two rear passengers, and cargo room behind the backseat is larger. There's also a pair of split-opening rear doors that swing out to either side, rather than the regular Cooper's conventional hatchback. There's also a rear-hinged access door on the passenger side. Differences between the regular Cooper and the Cooper Clubman are most apparent in back, where the Clubman's rear-quarter pillars are painted in contrasting black or silver. It matches the rear bumper and, if desired, the roof. The swing-out doors necessitate a split rear window, and each portion gets its own windshield wiper. The wheelbase is 3.2 inches longer, which MINI says helps the Clubman keep its wheels near the bumpers to improve handling. The Clubman has more than 40 possible color combinations, as well as options like checkered side mirrors and a Union Jack roof.
Powering the 2009 Clubman
With the manual, MINI says the Cooper S Clubman can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds, which is just 0.3 seconds slower than the regular Cooper S. The Clubman gets a maximum 32 mpg in mixed driving. The MINI Clubman is powered by a normally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine rated 118 horsepower. The MINI Clubman S is equipped with a 172-horsepower turbocharged version of the same engine, stiffer suspension, performance exhaust system, and 16-inch alloy wheels with 195/55R16 all-season run-flat tires for both body styles.
2009 MINI Clubman Cabin
The interior of the Clubman looks much like the regular Cooper's, with a large circular speedometer mounted in the center of the dashboard and plenty of toggle switches among the center controls. Backseat passengers have 32.3 inches of legroom, up from 29.9 inches in the regular Cooper. Cargo room behind the rear seats totals 9.2 cubic feet; with the rear seats folded, maximum cargo room totals 32.8 cubic feet, up from 24.0 cubic feet in the regular Cooper. That makes for a habitable space, but don't take it to mean the Clubman has cavernous dimensions — it's nowhere near as roomy as most cars in its class, but it is appreciably roomier than the regular Cooper. Inside the cabin of the 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman lineup is a retro-themed interior that clearly emphasizes form over function.
John Cooper Works Clubman
The names MINI and John Cooper have been intertwined for more than 40 years and now they are closer than ever. When British race car and engine builder Cooper prepped the original MINIs for the Monte Carlo rally back in the 1960s, he helped cement the iconic status of the little car. When the MINI was reborn as a product of BMW earlier this decade, the Cooper model was a standard element of the lineup. A semi-official tuned John Cooper works edition was also available for the hard-core addicts. Earlier this year, BMW announced that the John Cooper Works MINI would become an official factory product analogous to M models from its parent company BMW. The JCW edition is available on both the standard MINI hardtop and the extra-length Clubman. Having a JCW MINI means you have opted for the fastest factory MINI ever built. At first glance the JCW Clubman doesn't look dramatically different from a regular Cooper or Cooper S. A pair of small John Cooper Works badges grace the lower right corners of the front grille and tail-gate. The most obvious visual distinction for the JCW is the wheels. One of the particularly welcome options on the JCW is the heated seat package. The rest of the JCW interior is pretty standard MINI, although many of the trim bits are now finished in a glossy piano black. The center of the dash is dominated by the over sized speedometer, with the smaller tach sitting in a pod on top of the steering column. The integrated Bluetooth connectivity works well and the voice recognition is user-friendly.
Conclusions
One of the most significant challenges facing the MINI Cooper Clubman design team was how to preserve the MINI's cute and quirky styling elements while at the same time adding a few extra inches in both wheelbase and overall length. Opting for the Clubman version of the MINI moves the rear axle three inches further away from the front and stretches the overall length of the body by 9.6 inches. That extra length in the Clubman makes all the difference in the world. A pair of adults can sit in the second row in relative comfort. Access to that space is enhanced by an extra rear-hinged half door on the passenger side. In the back, the top-hinged hatch is replaced by a pair of side-hinged vertically slit doors. Overall, the availability of the Clubman offers those interested in MINI models a whole new level of utility and passenger space, while remaining true to the MINI heritage. Visit the official MINI Clubman site for the latest information.
