Mini builds last Clubman

Mini have ended production of their Clubman model, retiring the nameplate that was introduced on the modern Mini in 2007 but has a heritage going all the way back to 1969. The wagon departs to make way for new models, including a convertible, that will be built at the Oxford and Swindon plants in the UK.

Over the course of its 18 years on the market, 550,000 Mini Clubmans were built. Combine that with the original version from 1969-1982 and the total climbs to more than 1.1 million.

“We are incredibly proud to have built the Mini Clubman over the last 18 years for customers all over the world,” said Dr. Markus Grüneisl, CEO of Plants Oxford and Swindon. “With its departure, we look ahead to welcoming members of the new Mini family to our Oxford and Swindon lines.”

Following Mini’s rebirth under BMW ownership in 2001, the new Mini Clubman debuted in 2007 and would only be available in wagon form, unlike the original, which was offered as a sedan and wagon. The first Mini to be sold as a five-seater, the new Clubman had distinctive barn doors inspired by the original, while a unique feature was the single, rear-hinged ‘Clubdoor’ on the passenger side that allowed easier access to the rear seats.

In 2013, the new Clubman’s platform and body was used to create the Clubvan, which replaced the rear seats with a flat-floored storage space that included tie-down points and multiple 12V outlets. Load capacity of the Clubvan was 500kg.

A third-generation Mini Clubman arrived in 2015, now with two conventional rear doors, more boot space and an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission, while the ‘ALL-4’ variant from 2016 added all-wheel drive.

Last year, Mini announced ‘The Final Edition’ Clubman that was limited to three colours and featured edition-specific Shimmer Copper detailing, unique 18-inch 2-tone alloy wheels and ‘Final Edition’ identification inside and out. Not offered in Australia or NZ, The Final Edition was limited to just 1,969 units, the number paying homage to the launch year of the original Clubman.