Mini reveals Clubvan concept 07 | 03 | 2012

THIS IS THE NEW Mini Clubvan which, despite the fact BMW hasn't officially confirmed it will go into production, is expected to arrive in Scottish dealerships later this year.

Badged as a 'concept', the Clubvan was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, five years after the Mini Clubman went on sale.

The 'van' version was always seen as a natural progression. The Clubvan has side windows which have been replaced with polycarbonate panels and the load bay has been moderately increased in size.

BMW bosses, in their corporate stance, describe the Clubvan as a ‘compact lifestyle van for business and leisure – the first concept of its kind in the premium segment’.

See more official photos of the new Mini Clubvan

That's as might be, but there's no denying if BMW get the car's pricing right, we'll see a significant number on the road: it's the perfect marketing tool.

In fact, the elegantly sign-written exterior was created for BMW by the real Hugh Buckingham of Southport.

A strict two-seater, the Clubman's rear seats and false boot floor have been removed and replaced by a continuous, deeper load bay with six load attachment points and 12V charging sockets.

Adding to the Clubvan's styling, the rear doors have been very darkly tinted and the stowage area in the concept boasts a bespoke aluminium and stainless steel load bay partition to protect the driver.

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Don't expect the production version to be a load-lugging commercial vehicle. Sure the Clubman is 240mm longer than the Mini hatch and has an 80mm longer wheelbase, but it's not exactly built for shifting fridge-freezers or sofas.

With its rear seats folded flat, the Clubman has a maximum load capacity of 920 litres. That means, despite its lowered load floor, the Clubvan isn't expected to be able to carry much more than 1200 litres.

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Jim McGill