News Source: topspeed.com

It’s been nearly two years since Mini  unveiled the new-generation 2014 Mini Cooper,  which brought many design and drivetrain changes to Britain’s iconic nameplate. Having already introduced a four-door version of the hatch  and a revamped 2015 Mini Countryman,  Mini has now launched an updated version of the Clubman. 

As expected, the new wagon  borrows heavily from the hatch as far as styling goes, but with major changes at the rear, the area that makes the Clubman a Clubman. Also, the new-generation car is significantly larger than its predecessor, confirming yet again that Mini has repositioned the Cooper  in a niche of its own.

Surprisingly enough, the brand selected the Clubman as the first Mini to use an eight-speed automatic transmission borrowed from BMWs  using the same UKL platform. However, it’s not yet available on all trim levels of the Clubman and it remains to be seen in which versions of the Cooper it will become available in the future.

The updated wagon will go on sale later this year for the 2016 model year.

Updated 09/25/2015: Mini announced prices for the all-new Clubman which will go on sale in January 2016. Prices will start from $24,100 for the Cooper model and from $27,650 for the Cooper S version.

The exterior styling of the 2016 Clubman is based on that of the new-generation Cooper, introduced in 2013 for the 2014 model year. It’s still recognizable as a Clubman, but features a wide range of improvements, starting with the larger headlamps, the one-piece, chrome-frame grille, and a smoother apron with bigger fog lamps. Around back, the 2016 Clubman is significantly different than its predecessor, looking sportier and less utilitarian. Although it retained its trademark barn-style doors, the new Clubman received a pair of massive taillights and exhaust pipes integrated into the bumper. What’s more, the taillights are now horizontal, making the rear fascia seem flatter and wider.

Speaking of dimensions, the 2016 Clubman is significantly larger than its forerunner. In fact, it’s the largest Mini  ever built. And even though this contradicts Mini’s original purpose for this car, a lot of customers will probably find it more practical and versatile. And it should be, because it’s huge compared to its predecessor.

Specifically, it’s 12.4 inches longer, 4.6 inches wider, and 0.6 inch taller. Likewise, the wheelbase has been increased by 4.8 inches. A comparison with the standard Cooper Hardtop 4 Door reveals that the Clubman is 10.9 inches longer, 2.9 inches wider, and its wheelbase is 4 inches longer. As a statement as to how much Minis have grown in size recently, the Clubman is also longer and wider than the Countryman. Seriously Mini, you should start thinking about building a car that’s actually a mini...

New dimensions aside, the 2016 Clubman also received four conventional doors, ditching the single, reverse-hinged opening on the passenger side.

As usual, the base and S models are set apart by various body features, with the S to showcase sportier bumpers and side skirts, as well as the mandatory "S" badges. Mini will also offer a wide range of customization options, including custom paints, liveries and a ton of accessories to be announced later this year.

Unlike the exterior, the interior is rather different than the Cooper Hardtop’s. Although both the instrument panel and the steering wheel are nearly identical, the dashboard features many design cues not available on the standard Cooper.

The A/C vents are rectangular rather than round, while the center stack is no longer integrated into the dashboard. The center console is brand-new, wider, and sits higher than on the hardtop model. Notable differences can be spotted on the door panels too, which feature larger storage compartments in the lower areas.

What’s more important here is that the Clubman’s increased size allows it to offer enhanced shoulder and legroom, as well as significantly more storage room. The luggage compartment now has a capacity of 17.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and up to 47.9 cubic feet with them folded flat.

The new Clubman receives two engines at launch. The base model uses a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder unit rated at 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet. That’s quite impressive for a three-pot and a 13-horsepower improvement over the previous 1.6-liter four-banger in the entry-level model. Hitting 60 mph in this version takes 8.9 seconds, while top speed sits at 127 mph.

Granted, the base Clubman is no rocket, but it should come with many advantages in the fuel economy department. The previous model returned 27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, so this new engine should bring a slight improvement to these numbers. We will have to wait for Mini to publish some estimates to find out more about that though.

Moving over to the Clubman S, Mini replaced the previous 1.6-liter four-pot with a 2.0-liter unit. This one cranks out 189 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque, which accounts for an eight-horsepower improvement over the previous model. The Clubman S is a lot quicker from 0 to 60 mph, needing just 6.9 ticks to hit the benchmark. It’s two full seconds faster than the base model and slightly quicker than its predecessor. As far as top speed goes, the Clubman S can take you up to 142 mph.

The even bigger news here is that the 2016 Clubman is the first Mini to feature an eight-speed automatic transmission. This new gearbox, however, is only available with the Clubman S’ four-cylinder engine. Mini also offers a sportier version of the same transmission with a launch control function and shorter shift times.

The 1.5-liter three-cylinder mates to either a standard six-speed manual or an optional six-speed Steptronic. The Steptronic is also part of Mini’s latest generation of automatics, with increased efficiency and optimized shift dynamics for a sportier experience.