Buyers clamour for Clubman

Enthusiasm shown for the new Clubman model at the Frankfurt Motor Show has led to a marked increase in showroom traffic and marketing staff being inundated with requests for information from potential customers.
“We’re holding more than 1,500 orders and some of our dealers have already forward sold this year’s stock even though the car is still six weeks away from being launched,” said Mini UK general manager Andy Hearn.
“Prior to the Frankfurt event, we had more than 4,000 names on our interest register and this level of response suggests a huge number of orders will be going into the system when sales begin on 10 November.”

Production flexibility
Speaking as the BMW subsidiary launched its third variant, Hearn told Motor Trader that additional flexibility in production at the modernised Oxford factory could help to hold waiting times to the current average of eight weeks for hatchback models.
“We don’t want to threaten our customer satisfaction ratings by stretching this period, we’re expecting the situation to result in a lot of hard work,” he said.
Longer by 24cm, more spacious and the first Mini to boast five seats, the Clubman is likely to account for up to 20 per cent of the record 50,000 Minis expected to be sold in the UK next year.
“We’ll win customers because the range is now broader and the really positive aspect is that the Clubman will attract buyers from other marques because it has no direct competition.
“Despite being more versatile and having increased carrying capacity, this car is still cool – it’s not a niche model and will achieve significant volumes,” said Hearn
He claimed that during the past two years, the brand’s network had invested £40m in new facilities and that in 12 months’ time, every dealership would have separate showroom facilities
to BMW.
“Mini is different. Our new
all-black developments have a different layout, different lighting and play more modern music to create a nightclub-like environment. Customers who visit them are buying into a different way of life while also getting the best possible standard of professional attention,” said Hearn.
Luggage capacity is 260 litres with the seats in place and rises to 930 litres with the seats folded, and access to the rear compartment is one of the main innovations of a model that takes its cues from practical Mini models of the 1960s.
The two rear doors use hydraulic assisters and a third door, on the right side of the body, opens backwards and requires the driver’s door to be open before it can be released.

Engine types
Two versions of the Clubman, the Cooper and Cooper S, use
1.6-litre petrol engines in 120bhp and 175bhp tunings and a 110bhp diesel motor boasting just 109g/km CO2 emissions and claimed combined mileage of 68.9mpg powers the Cooper D.
All examples feature auto stop-start, brake energy regeneration and a gearshift indicator.
“Compared with 2006, sales are already up 18 per cent this year without our dealers having to offer discounts. We’re very confident about this new range,” said Hearn.