Mini, in its quest to fill every conceivable automotive niche with a Mini-flavoured offering, has lifted the wraps off its latest creation ahead of the Geneva Motor Show. The Clubvan concept is the company’s attempt to bring a bit of lifestyle flair to that somewhat mundane realm that is the light-commercial-vehicle segment.
Although touted as a concept and yet to be given the official sales greenlight by Mini, the Clubman doesn’t look too far removed from the Clubman upon which it is based. According to Mini, the Clubvan is described as a “compact lifestyle van for business and leisure – the first concept of its kind in the premium segment.”
In essence, the Clubvan does away with the Clubman’s rear seats, replaces the rear side windows with polycarbonate panels, places an aluminium and stainless-steel load cage behind the front occupants and added a smattering of load tether points along with six 12-volt charging sockets to the load bay.
Have these changes made a significant difference to the Clubman’s 704 dm3 (with the rear seats folded) load capacity? Seeing as Mini has not yet divulged any official measurements it’s hard to say, but the absence of rear seats and a deeper load bay floor should see the Clubvan serving up around 1 200 dm3 of load space.
Stylish delivery vehicles aside, Mini is also in the process of upgrading its Oxford, UK-based plant and will continue to produce the existing line-up of models based on the current platform until 2015.
