Mini will launch the Clubman variant of its sporty hatch family in India tomorrow. It is going to be offered in the Cooper S variant which was launched at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor show and is now in its second generation. It will be the fourth addition to the Mini line-up after the Cooper, Cooper Convertible and the Countryman in India.
The Clubman can be categorised as an estate or a station wagon and is based on BMW’s UKL2 platform, which provides it more space on the inside and therefore it is comparatively a larger Mini. The characteristic rear barn-doors are a unique feature of the Clubman and it opens up a large boot space to give the Mini practical credentials. The Clubman has a boot capacity of about 360-litres which can be further expanded to a massive 1,250-litre with rear seats down.
The Clubman Cooper S will be powered by the 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder petrol engine which churns out 189bhp and 280Nm of torque. It will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission which sends the power to the front wheels. A 2.0-litre diesel mill is also on cards and is expected to be launched later next year. The Clubman will come with all the bells and whistle in the features and safety department.
When launched in India tomorrow, the Clubman will face competition in the form of Volvo V40 and Mercedes-Benz B-Class. Expected price for the Mini is between Rs 40 lakh – Rs 45 lakh