2013 MINI Clubman.Pdf
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MINI US Press Information For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Nathalie Bauters MINI Communications Manager 201-930-3166 [email protected] Yvonne Malmgren PFPR Communications 586-453-2912 [email protected] THE 2013 MINI CLUBMAN Woodcliff Lake, NJ – October 31, 2012 More Room, More Utility, More Fun Stretching the wheelbase nearly nine and a half inches in comparison to the MINI Hardtop significantly enhances interior room and utility in the MINI Clubman, as well as driver/passenger comfort and convenience for those who want more of the iconic British brand. And – in true MINI fashion – mixing the traditional with the modern results in both the car’s unmistakably MINI appearance and unique ways to access this interior: The tailgate offers the twin, outwardly hinged “Split Rear Barn Doors” found on the Clubman’s ancestors, while rear-seat passenger ingress and egress is eased through the rear-hinged “Clubdoor” incorporated in the car’s right side. To make passenger MINI USA ingress and egress easier, there is a slot in the Clubdoor that can hold the passenger Mailing address front seatbelt buckle. PO Box 1227 Westwood, NJ 07675-1227 Exclusive to the MINI Clubman is the additional space behind the front seats and the Office address 300 Chestnut Ridge Road number of doors providing access to the interior. Stretching the Clubman 9.4 inches Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677-7731 and the wheelbase 3.2 inches results in a very different environment for passengers and Telephone all of life’s precious cargo. Almost all of the extra wheelbase is translated into additional (201) 930-3166 leg room for rear passengers, and the unique body work provides a bit more shoulder Fax (201) 307-3607 room for them as well. The most dramatic transformation comes in terms of luggage Internet space: the Clubman offers 61 percent more space (9.18 versus 5.7 cubic feet) with the MINIUSA.com rear seats up, or 37 percent more (32.8 versus 24.0 cubic feet) with both seats folded. And the Clubman offers an optional flat-luggage-floor system which also brings a Printed on Recycled Paper - more - - 2 - covered storage bin between the Split Rear Barn Doors and the seatbacks. A roller-style cargo shade is included as standard. In keeping with the marque’s heritage, the 2013 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 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 right, or main, door must be opened prior to the left 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 is integrated into the right-side B-pillar. Compared to the MINI hardtop, with the Clubdoor open, passengers have four times more space to enter the rear seats of the Clubman (when the front seat is in the easy-entry position). 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. The structure of the body shell, beyond providing the basis for superior crash protection in this segment, creates a solid platform for the suspension pieces. The front suspension features MacPherson-type springs over struts, keeping the steering smooth and responsive, and remain unaffected by engine power both in accelerating or braking. The five-link central-arm rear axle offers optimum road contact, regardless of conditions. Compared with the MINI Cooper Clubman, the MINI Cooper S Clubman has a more sporting suspension and greater performance, and the John Cooper Works engine delivers the ultimate exhilarating experience MINI has been known for. As an option, all three models – Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works – are available with sports suspension for an even higher standard of driving enjoyment. The chassis, suspension, brakes and electronic-driving programs of the MINI Cooper Clubman are basically the same as those of the MINI Cooper Hardtop, with slight modifications (to compensate for the slight weight increase of the Clubman model) to provide the characteristic go-kart feeling of the MINI. Featuring front-wheel drive, a - 3 - low center of gravity, relatively wide track and short overhangs, the MINI Cooper Clubman offers sporting, active handling, with the agile experience of all other MINIs. At the same time, the MINI Cooper Clubman offers a high standard of active safety in the chassis design. The EPS Electric Power-assisted Steering helps make the MINI even more nimble and agile on the road, by delivering speed-related assistance ensuring low steering forces when parking and precise control at high speeds. And when the standard Sport button is depressed, EPS offers a sportier mode that specifically increases throttle and steering response for an even more direct driving experience. MacPherson-style spring struts on the front axle ensure precise wheel guidance, keeping the steering almost entirely free of drive forces in fast bends, when accelerating and when applying the brakes. The multi-link rear axle, a concept unique in the MINI segment, ensures optimum tire contact with the road at all times through its kinematics. The sporting-minded customer can choose a sport suspension on either model to receive stiffer springs and dampers, and thicker anti-roll bars. With this kind of equipment, the 2013 MINI comes even closer to the extremely direct driving behavior of a genuine go-kart. More fun with less guilt: The MINI Powertrain The 2013 MINI Clubman will include three versions of a 1.6 liter, four-cylinder engine, placed transversely over the front axle as its predecessor was in the first generation MINI, but far more efficient, clean and powerful. The MINI Cooper Clubman accelerates from 0-60 mph in 8.9 seconds. The MINI Cooper S joins the forces of direct injection and a twin-scroll turbocharger with the incredible power-enhancing and fuel-efficient technology known as Valvetronic, making the engine the most efficient in its displacement class. The MINI Cooper S Clubman accelerates to from 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds, while the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman makes the gain from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds. The MINI Cooper produces 121 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque, while the MINI Cooper S boasts 181 hp and 177 lb-ft respectively (192 lb-ft with overboost). The John Cooper Works model produces 208 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque at 1,850 – 5,600 rpm (207 lb-ft with Overboost at 1,700 – 4,500 rpm). - 4 - Despite their much higher level of dynamic performance and sporting character, both MINIs return superior fuel economy, with the manual Cooper S Clubman having a 2013 EPA fuel economy estimate of 35 Highway / 26 City mpg for a combined EPA estimate of 29 mpg. The new 2013 John Cooper Works engine also delivers combined EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 29 mpg (35 Highway / 26 City). The Cooper Clubman 2013 EPA estimates are 35 Highway / 27 City for a combined rating of 30 mpg. All fuel economy numbers are for models equipped with manual transmission. 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. All three engine options come standard with a six-speed manual transmission. And for the first time ever, all three powertrains, including the John Cooper Works engine option, can be ordered with an optional six-speed automatic transmission that features a sport mode and includes steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters on the Cooper S and Cooper Works, allowing the driver to keep both hands on the wheel even during gearshifts. All MINI models come with a self-adjusting clutch. Automatic readjustment ensures that the pedal feel you expect from a MINI is there to be enjoyed over the car’s full service life. Plus, the synchronization of the gears is further optimized by a carbon coating for the clutch linings. Unique, characteristic design with striking MINI features The exterior styling now has a precision design, the MINI Clubman’s sporting potential. The geometry for the front bumper and larger deformation zones, introduced in 2010 reduce the risk of injury in a collision with a pedestrian or cyclist. The designers went to great lengths with the three-dimensional sculpting of the body elements to ensure that the customary MINI proportions, including its short overhangs, were kept intact. Seen from the side, the MINI Cooper Clubman retains the firm, taut and striking look of the MINI Hardtop, despite the added length and revised C-pillar design, resting - 5 - 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 MINI with a look of having 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.