Car Information

Stretching the wheelbase nine and a half inches in comparison to the MINI Hardtop does virtually nothing to diminish the go-kart-like driving characteristics of the 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman and MINI Cooper S Clubman. But the added length significantly enhances interior room and utility as well as driver/passenger comfort and convenience for those who want more of this iconic British brand. And – in true MINI fashion – mixing the traditional with the modern results in both the car's unique, but unmistakably MINI appearance and unique ways to access this interior: The tailgate carries forward the twin, outwardly hinged 'Split Rear Barn Doors' found on the Clubman's ancestors, while rear-seat passengers ingress and egress is eased through the rear-hinged 'Clubdoor' incorporated in the car's right side.

The 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman, an expansion to modern MINI lineup, mirrors the latest MINI Cooper hardtop – both inside and out, in terms of equipment – from the radiator grill to the B pillars. This means the new variants share the 172-horsepower turbocharged engine of the MINI Cooper S and the 118-hp, naturally aspirated four-cylinder powerplant of the MINI Cooper, both driving the front wheels. Inside, the dashboard, seats (with the exception of some upholstery colors and materials as well as interior trim colors), comfort and convenience features and switch gear that have already been made familiar . And they share the chassis components, as well as the soul, which have earned the MINI accolades on its fun-to-drive, go-kart-like handling characteristics.

Not shared between the MINI Clubman and MINI hardtop is the area behind the front seats and the number of doors providing access to the interior. Stretching the Clubman 9.4 inches and the wheelbase 3.2 inches results in a very different environment for passengers and all of life's precious cargo. Virtually the entire extra wheelbase is translated into additional leg room for rear passengers and the revised body work provides a bit more shoulder room for them as well. The most dramatic transformation comes in terms of luggage space: the Clubman offers 61 percent more space (9.18 versus 5.7 cubic feet) with the rear seats up or 37 percent more (32.8 versus 24 cubic feet) with both seats folded. And the Clubman offers an optional flat-luggage-floor system which also brings a covered storage bin between the Split Rear Barn Doors and the seatbacks.

Those rear split-doors offer the most striking visual differentiator for the Clubman from the hardtop. In keeping with the marque's heritage, the 2009 MINI Clubman's rear look is modeled along the design of the rear doors found in the Austin Mini Countryman, Morris Minor Traveller and the Mini Clubman Estate from the 1960s. The new MINI Clubman eschews the more common hatch for a pair of Split Rear Barn Doors hinged on the outer edge of the C-pillars, thus providing a wide, open access to the luggage area. Opening/closing operation of the doors is very specific: the left, or main, door must be opened prior to the right one (and closed in reverse order) and the doors effortlessly glide open with the aid of a pair of gas struts.

A similar sequential operation allows for the opening/closing of the Clubdoor which provides a more convenient means for rear passengers to enter or leave the MINI Clubman cabin. Hinged at the rear on the right side, the Clubdoor can be opened with as soon as the front-passenger door is opened. Integrated into the leading edge of the Clubdoor is the right-side B-pillar, including the front-passenger three-point seatbelt. Compared to the MINI hardtop, with the Clubdoor open, passengers have four times the space to enter the rear seats of the Clubman (when the front seat is in the easy-entry position).

Once inside, all of the four possible occupants have their own three-point seatbelts and are further protected by six standard airbags. Strong, stable body construction provides the MINI Clubman with a platform for a high level of crash protection. In the event of a collision, optimized load paths within the body structure serve to effectively divert forces acting on the car, despite the short overhangs front and rear.

Active safety is enhanced in critical driving situations by the standard anti-lock brakes (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBFD), Corner Brake Control (CBC) and All Season Traction (ASC+T) as well as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), standard on both Clubman models. Additionally, new for 2009 and offered for the first .time on a MINI product is Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), which is a sportier mode of DSC, optional on both models starting production in December 2009.

The Brake Assist on both models detects emergency operation of the brakes and builds up maximum brake pressure very quickly. MINI's Hill Assist start-off assistance is featured in conjunction with DSC. The system continues to hold the brakes for a maximum of three seconds after letting off the brake pedal and before the clutch is engaged. This feature is beneficial when setting off on an uphill gradient to prevent the car from rolling back.

Driving Fun Remains Centerpiece of MINI Clubman's Mission
A low center of gravity, wide track and the wheels moved to the extreme corners of the car guarantee agile and nimble driving behavior, that go-kart feeling. The structure of the body shell, beyond providing the basis for superior crash protection in a car of this segment, creates a solid platform for the suspension pieces. The front suspension features MacPherson-type springs over struts ensuring excellent wheel guidance, keeping the steering smooth and responsive, and, thanks to careful engineering, unaffected by engine power both in accelerating or braking. The five-link central-arm rear axle offers optimum road contact, again regardless of conditions.

Compared with the MINI Cooper Clubman, the MINI Cooper S Clubman has a more sporting suspension set-up, and as an option, both models are available with sports suspension for an even higher standard of driving enjoyment.

The EPAS (Electrical Power Assisted Steering) helps to make the MINI Clubman even more nimble and agile on the road, speed-related assistance ensuring low steering forces when parking and precise control at high speeds. In conjunction with the optional sport switch, EPAS even offers a special sport mode specifically increasing steering forces for an even more direct driving experience.

Despite the slight increase in weight of the Clubman, the two four-cylinder engines carried over from the hardtops provide the performance to enhance this driving experience. The turbocharged 1.6-liter version in the Cooper S Clubman produces 172 horsepower, eclipsing the magical '100-hp-per-liter' measure revered by enthusiasts. This translates into zero-to-60-miles-per-hour acceleration in 7.0 seconds and the same top speed, 139 miles per hour, as the six-speed manual hardtop version. The naturally-aspirated engine in the Cooper Clubman, also 1.6 liters, features variable valve control and accelerates this agile athlete to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds with a top speed of 125 mph.

These engines are designed for overall efficiency, which means high performance, low weight, low emissions and, of primary concern for all cars, but especially ones in this segment, good fuel economy. Despite their much higher level of dynamic performance and sporting character, both new MINIs return superior fuel economy, with the MINI Cooper S Clubman having preliminary 2009 fuel economy ratings of 34 mpg Highway, 26 mpg City and a combined preliminary rating of 29 mpg. The MINI Cooper Clubman is even more efficient with preliminary ratings of 37 mpg Highway, 28 mpg City and 32 mpg combined.

Both engine versions are fitted – in a design pioneered in the original, 1959 Mini – crosswise at the front, powering the front wheels. Composite – instead of conventional cast – camshafts and a weight-optimized crankshaft are part of the lightweight concept of the aluminum alloy power units. Fuel consumption, in turn, is optimized by a volume flow-controlled oil pump and an electronically controlled water pump for the coolant circuit – two technical features previously limited to larger and more expensive model segments.

The MINI Cooper Clubman and the MINI Cooper S Clubman both come standard with a six-speed manual transmission. Both models can be ordered with an optional six-speed automatic transmission controlled by either console-mounted selector or Formula 1 style steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Unique, characteristic design with striking MINI features
The two versions of the MINI Cooper Clubman are virtually identical in their design and body structure to the MINI Cooper Hardtop up to the B-pillar, all the classic design icons of the MINI coming through in the new model. At the front these include the large, round headlights supplemented by the round parking-light units (which include, when fitted, the optional fog lamps) and hexagonal radiator grill. On the front flanks are the distinctive side direction indicators.

Seen from the side, the new MINI Cooper Clubman retains the firm, taut and striking look of the Cooper Hardtop, despite the added length and revised C-pillar design, resting powerfully on its wheels in a look well-known to friends and aficionados of the brand as the 'stance on the wheels.' Another characteristic is the seemingly uninterrupted 'flow' of windows around the car, adorning the new MINI like a complete, 360-degree band of glass, which is accentuated by a chrome band extends around the entire car at shoulder level, helping to create an impression of a greenhouse 'floating' above the lower section of the car. Measuring the same width and virtually the same height than the Hardtop, the MINI Cooper Clubman, with its low-slung overall appearance, compact proportions emphasized by the tires-at-the-out-edge design, creates the same nimble and dynamic impression as all other members of the MINI family, including the previous modern-generation versions.

The rear-light clusters are kept as small as possible to maximize the opening of the split-doors as well as complementing the overall style of the car. Thoroughly unique amongst the MINI models, the new Cooper Clubman is nonetheless a MINI; there is no other car offered with a rear appearance like it!

New for 2009, MINI Clubman drivers who are looking to transport their sports equipment in style (bicycles, snowboards, surfboards etc.) or simply wish to have an extra sporty look on their car, will be able to include optional factory Clubman Roof Rails or a Rear Roof Spoiler (options cannot be combined together). In addition, for those that want to stay connected to their smartphone, MINI is offering a Smartphone Prep option that allows full access to a USB-enabled smartphone as it sits in the center arrest's cradle.

To further distinguish the look of the MINI Cooper Clubman, the buyer can specify one of 40 color combinations of body and roof paint. Hot Chocolate is offered exclusively to Clubman buyers, one of 12 colors including Astro Black, British Racing Green, Laser Blue, Pure Silver and Chili Red.

Interior design reflects both MINI standards and an owner's tastes
The interior of the 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman combines traditional MINI elements – like the large, central speedometer, clear, round dials and toggle switches – with a palette of colors, trims and upholsteries to allow complete personalization within the familiar cabin.

The central element is the MINI-signature center speedometer, which for 2009 features a new maximum speed of 160 mph/260 kmh. It includes an enhanced range of functions serving far more purposes and requirements than on the former generation. The displays for the entertainment system as well as the display for the optional navigation system are integrated in the speedometer, while the tachometer remains a separate unit positioned, as befits a sporting car, behind the steering wheel in the driver's line of sight.

The vertically arranged rotary knobs for the ventilation, the two cupholders integrated in the bottom section of the center console and the racing-inspired toggle switches are typical of MINI. Indeed, these characteristic metal toggles, operating the fog lamps, the power windows – with express, one-touch up and down – and central locking functions, are joined by similar switched in the roof console for sunroof and interior-lighting control.

A round transmitter finished in typical MINI style serves as the Clubman key, the driver controlling engine operation with a start/stop button. All instruments and controls are very smooth and easy to operate, positioned at the right point for optimum ergonomics.

Background illumination in five colors
The Clubman interior lighting reflects typical MINI style and class, including ambient lighting which can be varied in five stages from warm orange to sporting blue. Serving as discreet 'waterfall illumination' from above and as indirect illumination of the roof lining, the door storage bins and the door handle recesses, this illumination scheme creates a unique atmosphere inside the 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman.

• Typically MINI, Uniquely New Design:

The 'godfather' was the Shooting Brake. This is the term applied in Great Britain, the home the MINI, to sports cars combining the flair and character of a coupe with a hatchback, thus offering more functions than a 'regular' coupe.

The 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman takes up this shooting brake concept, an authentic and unconventional re-interpretation of MINI's brand values. Based on the MINI Cooper Hardtop with its extremely agile performance and typical go-kart feeling, the MINI Cooper Clubman is a unique and emotional concept taking typical features of MINI design and carrying them to a new and different segment of the market.

Unique proportions underline the individual, sporting, active and masculine character of the new MINI Cooper Clubman. The rear-hinged Clubdoor, the two-piece split-door at the rear and wheelbase extended 3.15 inches beyond the standard MINI, make the Clubman quite unmistakable. This is a car appealing to the active and extroverted individualist, the connoisseur who sees his or her car as a genuine statement standing out from the usual crowd in road traffic.

Modern interpretation of classic functions
Following MINI's motto of 'from the original to the original,' the new MINI Clubman is fully aware of its historical DNA and interprets these genes with all the features now possible in the 21st century. Hence, it quotes design features from its ancestors, the Morris Mini Traveller and the Austin Mini Countryman, both of which were built from 1960 - 1969. These cars, served as sources of inspiration in developing the MINI Cooper Clubman. And in the process the designers responsible for the car succeeded in blending classic features of the shooting brake concept in an entirely new style, creating a car through the interaction of ultra-modern technology and functionality which meets the challenges of today's world in a truly fascinating manner.

A good example in this context is the split-door at the rear: The 2009 MINI Clubman takes up this principle of two wing doors hinged at the side dating back to the 1960s, adding innovative details and features appropriate in our modern times. Characteristic highlights in this context are the rear light clusters fitted in the structure of the body itself and not in the doors, the split-door opening mechanism supported by gas pressure springs, as well as the use of two window wipers at the rear, one on each of the doors. The focus was on everyday function and practical use.

Clubdoor: Easier access to the rear
The asymmetric structure of the car's flanks is an unusual design feature of the MINI Cooper Clubman. On the left side, the front door (identical to the driver's door of the Hardtop) provides convenient access to the front and rear, the additional rear-hinged Clubdoor on the right side ensures more convenient access to the rear seats. With both right doors open, and the front door must first be opened to use the Clubdoor, and the front seat in its 'easy-access position,' there is four times the opening when compared to the Hardtop's single right door. The B-pillar with its integrated seatbelt support for the front seat, in turn, is integrated into the Clubdoor, and the side pillar graphics likewise contribute to the unmistakable look of the Clubman.

The side view: Dune Line and the contrasting C-pillars
Seen from the side, the new MINI Cooper Clubman stands out with its dynamic wedge shape created by the interaction of the shoulder line rising up slightly to the rear and the horizontal roofline. The shoulder line extends from the headlights at the front along muscular shoulders to the C-pillars, where the distance to the roof is smaller than around the A-pillars. This creates side window graphics opening up to the front and giving the car a forward-leaning impression of power and action, bearing out the sporting character of the MINI Cooper Clubman even with the car stationary.

The dark surface color on the A- and B-pillars presents the window areas as one uninterrupted strip, at the same time creating the impression of a roof 'hovering' in space, connected to the rest of the body through the C-pillars.

A slender elevation, the so-called Dune Line, extends back on both sides from the A- to the C-pillars along the entire length of the roof, giving the roofline a distinctive look of tense motion and raising the height of the car's flanks by almost an inch, with the highest point just above the B-pillars. This gives the new MINI Clubman well-balanced, sleek and flowing proportions from the side, with the roof extending into a discreet spoiler at the rear. The result is a particularly aesthetic and functional combination of design and aerodynamics.

A wide track and very short body overhangs underline the typical posture of the car, its 'stance on the wheels' characteristic of the brand. Indeed, it is fair to say that the new MINI Cooper Clubman 'stands like a rock' on its wheels at all four corners. This overall impression is further enhanced by the plastic frame extending around the entire body and bordering on the front and rear air dams as well as the wheel arches and side-sills at the bottom.
The almost vertical C-pillars and the body overhang at the rear extended by 6.3 inches versus the Hardtop highlight the greater functional value of the 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman and create new proportions nevertheless still typical of MINI. The C-pillars, in a different and conspicuous color, help create a look of balance throughout the car from front to rear.

The rear end: split-door and rear lights integrated into the body
The rear end of the MINI Cooper Clubman is characterized by parallel, horizontal lines appearing clearly and distinctively from the vertical C-pillars. These lines serve to split the body into individual sections, becoming more slender and narrow step-by-step as they move up.

Such an arrangement of contours, referred to by the designer as a 'waterfall line,' highlight the car's low center of gravity and the stable roadholding of the MINI Cooper Clubman, guiding the eyes of the beholder towards the wheels.

This horizontal stratification of elements at the rear is further accentuated by the large third brake light integrated in the roof strip, the two wipers on each of the rear door windows, the chrome-plated door handles, the separate reflectors and the bracket on the bumper finished in a contrasting color.

The horizontal lines at the rear are barely interrupted, at least visibly, by the center joint of the split-door. The frame formed by the C-pillars together with the upper edge of the bumper generates a clear visual signal design statement. Regardless of the body color, this rear frame or surround is finished in black or silver metallic; the C-pillar frame and the split-door giving the MINI Clubman an absolutely unmistakable look from behind.

The rear lights are fitted directly to the body structure of the car and do not open and close together with the Split Rear Barn Doors. This design serves to meet legal requirements the rear lights must be clearly visible even when the rear doors are opened. Despite this requirement, the designers of the MINI Cooper Clubman wanted to hinge the split-doors as far to the outside as possible to capitalize on the space available. And the solution highlights the rear light clusters as design elements within the door frame, despite their small size intentionally reduced to the smallest dimensions allowed by world-wide standards. This is done by slightly tapering in the contours of the rear lights at the top, discreetly following the line of the rear door frame.

The MINI Cooper S Clubman has three distinct rear features differentiating it from the Cooper Clubman. The high-mounted brake light is white instead of red, appliqués flanking each side of the license-plate holder are in a grid pattern (mimicking the radiator grill) and the dual tailpipes are split, with one on either side of the body.

The front end: distinguishing the individual model variants
Seen from the front, the 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman is virtually identical to the MINI Hardtop, the lone difference being the contour of the roofline. This means the MINI Cooper Clubman, complete with the homogeneous hexagon radiator grill and large round headlights, has the distinctive 'face' of the brand. Other common features are the direction indicators integrated in the headlights as well as the parking- light units beneath the headlight units, which also accommodate the optional fog lamps.

The front end of the car serves to distinguish the individual models. The MINI Cooper S Clubman, for example, stands out through two design features visualizing the power and performance of its turbocharged engine. First, the powerdome - the curved section of the engine compartment lid - is 20 millimeters or 0.79-inches higher. Second, the size of the bottom air intake is highlighted by a hexagon grid net paralleling the look of the radiator grill with its chrome surround. A further differentiator is the air-intake in the hood of the MINI Cooper S Clubman.

On the MINI Cooper Clubman the radiator grill boasts a chrome frame and three horizontal chrome-plated crossbars. The edges of the lower air intake are slightly curved upward slight, almost giving the MINI Cooper Clubman a smile on its face and creating an elegant, likeable touch at the front.

Chrome features emphasizing the premium character of the car are common to both variants of the 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman. These design elements include the headlights, the radiator-grill surround, the strip extending around the entire car at the shoulder line and the door handles.

• The Interior – Sporting Cockpit, Lounge Ambience at the Rear:

Inside, the MINI Cooper Clubman is again identical to the MINI Hardtop level of the B-pillars. In other words, it boasts the same avant-garde, sporting cockpit including the circular instrument in the middle so typical of the brand. This design, introduced in last year's Hardtop, brought more features and an even wider range of equipment, optimized ergonomics, more space, more sophisticated and stylish materials, and quality of finish reflecting the premium character of this MINI.

The high shoulder line of the body creates a sporting cockpit ambience within the interior, concentrating the overall look and impression of the car on just a handful of distinctive highlights which again serve to emphasize the new and even more striking character of the interior.

Round air vents moved to the outside serve to accentuate the greater width of the dashboard, emphasizing the horizontal orientation of the cockpit and at the same time acting as a transition leading over smoothly and harmoniously to the door linings.

Excellent ergonomics and easy control
The car's developers attached utmost importance to simple and ergonomic control by the driver. Hence, all control elements are in strict hierarchic arrangement as a function of their frequency of use and need for operation.

Absolutely unique: center speedometer and toggle switches
The principal highlight is – of course – the round, center-mounted speedometer, incorporating the audio controls as well as the optional entertainment and navigation functions. The most distinctive feature is the speed indicator, which for 2009 features a new maximum speed of 160 mph/260 kmh and surrounds all other functions like a 360-degree ring. And with the entire unit being placed high up within the instrument panel, all function buttons can be positioned for optimum ergonomic control.

The horizontally-oriented structure of the cockpit is also reflected by the arrangement of the controls and instruments housed within the center console right beneath the speedometer. Other features typical of MINI are the vertical arrangement of the rotary air ventilation knobs, the two cupholders integrated in the base section of the center console, as well as the toggle switches carried over from racing. Serving to activate the window lifts, central locking and optional fog lamps, these toggle switches are larger than those on previous generations of MINI. And for the first time they are matched by toggle switches in the roof console controlling operation of the sliding roof and interior lighting.

Like racing design, the tachometer is directly behind the steering wheel in the driver's line of vision. Additional information is provided by a supplementary digital speedometer as well as the on-board computer within the tachometer.

The conventional ignition key is replaced in this MINI by a round, electronic transmitter. Once inserted into the opening adjacent to the steering wheel, this transmitter enables the driver to start the engine by pressing the start/stop button. And with optional Comfort Access, the driver can leave the transmitter in his or her pocket or inside the car to open the doors and start the engine.

Beyond the front seats: a new space for passengers and life's cargo
The interior of the 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman takes on a unique personality behind the front seats. The three-plus inches of increased wheelbase benefits rear passengers by adding to rear-seat leg room for nearly 42-inches, virtually the same as in the front. And the subtle change in the body's roofline brings nearly an additional inch in shoulder space.

Utility is vastly improved with the design of the Clubman. The modular configuration of the rear compartment is enhanced by a split folding rear seat that allows either the left or right side to be erected or folded individually, and to add even more room, the flat loading floor can be lifted to reveal a small bin below it (behind the bottom of the rear seats). Overall, luggage space can go from 9.18 cubic feet with both rear seats up to 32.8 cubic feet with the seats folded (which compares with 5.7 cubic feet / 24 cubic feet of the Hardtop).

Pleasure for all the senses
Encountering the new MINI is an experience beyond the visual and aural, for within the interior, the discerning customer will find numerous highlights appealing to the senses of touch and smell.
The design language of 'circular elements' combined with horizontal structures shows clearly in the door panels and linings, the elliptical main element on the door lining now extending to the rear. This elliptical frame encompasses the light-looking armrest, a door pocket, and the round door openers in one unit.

The wide range of colors for the interior offers the customer a choice of Carbon Black, Tuscan Beige and Hot Chocolate, either in harmony with the body color and trim chosen or differing as an exciting contrast.

The dashboard is made up of two horizontally separated sections with a trim division in between. The plastic surfaces come in particularly fine grain, highlighting the supreme value, class and style of the material.

Authentic and sophisticated: materials in premium quality
Different seat upholstery also serves to distinguish between the MINI Cooper Clubman and MINI Cooper S Clubman: 'effect-yarn' seams enhance the lifestyle ambience within the MINI Cooper Clubman in the 'basic' upholstery. The seat covers on the MINI Cooper S Clubman come in a design reminiscent of the checkered flag in racing and serving as a graphic element.

The checkered cloth used for this purpose emphasizes the sporting touch of the MINI Cooper S Clubman, and may be replaced by a classic pinstripe design combining an elegant and fine woven look with leather (available in four colors) on the side panels of the seats.

Exclusive to the Clubman is a Hot Chocolate interior hue. For the Lounge Leather version, hand-sewn piping finished in cream appears completely around the seats that are covered in the soft-touch hide. With the optional Leather/Cloth upholstery, Hot Chocolate abounds in the two materials that offer comfort and convenience.

The wide range of cloth materials, leather, interior colors, panels and trim options offers each and every aficionado of the MINI exactly the right option to personalize his or her car according to his or her individual taste. The ambience thus created within the car ranges from high-class elegance through outright sportiness all the way to superb extravagance. And, quite regardless of the customer's individual choice, premium quality and love for every detail is presented in every 2009 MINI.

The optional Color Line enables even the most discerning customer to individualize the cockpit according to his or her personal taste, color highlights in the lower sections of the dashboard continuing into the door linings and providing a particularly effective and attractive combination with the trim materials. Color Line is available in four colors (Dark Grey, Cream White, Pacific Blue and Rooster Red), with trim coming not only in its standard versions on the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S, but also in four exclusive, very special variants: glossy Piano Black, dark English Oak wood, sporty Brushed Alloy aluminum and a glossy Fluid Silver surface inspired by the structure of liquid metal.

A further expression of the authentic premium character of the MINI is the use of wood and aluminum, while a fully closed glove compartment or a CD changer may be integrated in the trim surface on the front passenger's side.

• High-Tech Power Units for Greater Driving Performance:

The MINI Cooper S Clubman and MINI Cooper Clubman are powered by two different four-cylinder engines boasting a wide range of innovative details. Both power units are made of lightweight aluminum alloy and displace 1.6 liters, benefiting from the decades of know-how in engine development and racing technology.

The engines in the MINI Cooper S Clubman and MINI Cooper Clubman differ in numerous respects. The MINI Cooper S Clubman features a 172 hp turbocharged engine with direct gasoline injection, while maximum output of the naturally aspirated power unit in the MINI Cooper Clubman is 118 hp, boasting fully variable valve management based on VALVETRONIC technology.

MINI Cooper S Clubman: turbocharged power unit for maximum driving pleasure
The 1.6-litre turbocharged power unit featured in the MINI Cooper S Clubman offers impressive performance on the road. Maximum output of 172 hp and specific output of 109.5 hp/liter are impressive figures for a four-cylinder, light-alloy power unit in this class.

The power unit in the MINI Cooper S Clubman achieves its peak output at an engine speed of 5,500 rpm. Maximum torque is 177 lb-ft and is maintained consistently throughout the speed range from 1,600–5,000 rpm. When accelerating, torque is briefly increased even further to 192 lb-ft by the 'overboost' function, an increase in boost pressure (from 0.8 to 1.0 bar), which gives the MINI Cooper S Clubman even more powerful 'punch.' And overboost acts exclusively on engine torque, not on overall engine output. The MINI Cooper S Clubman responds instantaneously to the driver's commands, accelerating from 0-60 mph in 7.0 seconds with a top speed of 139 mph.

Despite their much higher levels of dynamic performance and sporting characters, both new MINIs return superior fuel economy, with the 2009 MINI Cooper S Clubman having preliminary 2009 EPA estimates of 34 mpg Highway, 26 mpg City and a combined rating of 29 mpg. The 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman is even more efficient with preliminary EPA estimates of 37 mpg Highway, 28 mpg City and 32 mpg combined.

MINI Cooper S Clubman: direct fuel injection applying the common rail principle
Like the naturally aspirated version in the MINI Cooper Clubman, the new turbocharged power unit offers the highest standard of engine construction. The four valves per cylinder are controlled by two overhead camshafts, roller-type drag arms optimized for minimum friction, and hydraulic valve play compensation elements. The outlet valves are filled with sodium in order to meet the greater cooling requirements of a turbocharged power unit. The intake camshaft comes with infinite phase adjustment setting the engine's valve timing to the driver's respective power and performance requirements. The result is optimum output and torque on low fuel consumption and emissions reduced to a minimum.

Fuel is injected into the turbocharged four-cylinder by means of common-rail-direct-injection technology. The stainless-steel common rail connecting all cylinders is filled with fuel under high pressure by a pump at the rear of the intake camshaft. Injection valves positioned at the side in the cylinder head deliver fuel within fractions of a second and in exactly the right amounts from the rail directly to the combustion chambers, four valve pockets and the combustion trough in the middle of each piston ensuring optimum stratification of the homogeneous fuel/air mixture with a lambda factor of 1.0. Running in cast-iron sleeves and operating with a compression ratio of 10.5: 1, relatively high for a turbocharged engine, the pistons are cooled by splash oil.

MINI Cooper S Clubman: turbocharger with twin-scroll technology
Featuring a twin-scroll turbocharger, the MINI Cooper S Clubman comes with another feature unique in this segment. In both the exhaust gas manifold and the turbocharger itself, the ducts leading to two cylinders at a time are separated from one another. Reducing exhaust-gas counter pressure at low engine speeds, this arrangement capitalizes on the dynamic effect of the pulsating gas columns within the manifold in a special process enhancing the response of the turbocharger and accelerating its charge rotors to an optimum speed of rotation right from the start at low engine speeds.

The charge pressure, limited by a wastegate to 0.8 bar, starts to build at an engine speed of 1,400 rpm, almost eliminating the 'turbo lag' typical of conventional turbocharged engines. As a result, the MINI Cooper S Clubman accelerates smoothly and instantaneously; the 1.6-liter turbocharged power unit demonstrating the same kind of response and behavior as a larger normally aspirated engine.

MINI Cooper Clubman: powerful but fuel-efficient normally-aspirated engine
Also displacing 1.6 liters, the MINI Cooper Clubman engine combines superior driving pleasure with truly outstanding economy. Maximum output of 118 hp comes at 6,000 rpm, with the torque curve reaching a significant 103 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm and continuing to a peak of 114 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm. The wide, useful torque curve is an example this engine combines superior power and performance with equally superior fuel economy in a compact and highly efficient power unit. The 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman accelerates from a standstill to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds and has a top speed of 125 mph.

MINI Cooper Clubman: variable valve management for optimum power and performance
Variable-valve control based on VALVETRONIC technology is one of the innovative technical features incorporated into the four-cylinder engine. With this valve management, the stroke and opening period of the intake valves are adjusted within fractions of a second to the power requirements; the camshaft acting on the valves not directly via a drag arm, but rather through an additional intermediate lever adjusted in its pivot point by an eccentric shaft driven by an electric motor. Depending on the position of this lever arm, intake valve lift is varied infinitely between 0.2 and 9.5 millimeters, the entire process of changing over from minimum to maximum valve lift taking about 300 milliseconds.

Over and above variable management of valve lift on the intake side, valve timing on the intake and outlet sides is spread out variably as a function of engine speed. Again, this is also an infinite process switching over when necessary from one extreme to the other in 300 milliseconds.

This speed and fast reaction is ensured by a high-performance 32-bit processor integrated in the engine control system. Variable valve lift and speed-dependant camshaft control serve to optimize the torque curve and the engine's power output.