The Mini Clubvan Concept manages to reconcile apparently opposite qualities, opening the path to an innovative car concept. The concept-car, developed on the basis of the Mini Clubman and that opens worldwide in the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, combines the typical dynamic qualities of Mini with greater transport capacity.
The concept-car differs from the Mini Clubman especially by its load volume closed behind the two front seats and by the posterior side windows sealed and, therefore, not translucent. The Mini Clubvan offers new qualities that can be used on business trips, as well as in leisure times. This car is designed for different professionals: a haute couture designer, an owner of an art gallery or catering suppliers for special events. The Mini Clubvan Concept is also the car that offers the versatility that a professional photographer seeks, for example, on their work days must transport its cameras, tripods, lighting equipment and the like, and that in its leisure times uses its car to transport large sport equipment.
The Mini Clubvan Concept manages to combine surprisingly the increase in functionality with an aesthetic that expresses a special lifestyle. Already in the year 1960, just one year after the launch of the Classic Mini, the brand reacted and attended the demand for a model with greater load capacity. The Morris Mini Van had a ten -centimeter wheelbase, a closed load behavior and a back door of two wings, optimally fulfilling the requirements for the use of the car for professional purposes. In addition, that model was the basis for the Morris Mini-Traveller, a four-seat version with glazed surfaces in all windows, which is the predecessor of the current and successful Mini Clubman. More than fifty years later, the story is repeated with the Mini Clubvan Concept, although altering the original sequence of presentation of models.
Two seats, five doors, multiple possibilities of use
Since the Mini Clubvan Concept has only two seats, it offers a wide useful space and also expands the possibilities for car customization. The new concept-car has a load behavior that advocates a maximum space inside and minimum exterior dimensions. The load compartment begins in the separation grid that is located just behind the two seats and reaches the back door of two wings. The surface of its floor is completely flat and extends along the entire interior. Under these conditions, the usable volume for transport tasks is even higher than the maximum space offered by the Mini Clubman.
The four harmels stare at the floor allow you to set diverse objects with adjustable straps to prevent them from moving, regardless of length, wide or height. The separation rack, staring at the body, prevents transported objects from invading the space occupied by people in the cabin if the driver is forced to stop tightly. The lower part of the separation element is solid aluminum, while the upper part is a silver stainless steel alveolar rack. The lateral parts and the floor of the load compartment are covered with high quality anthracite color textile material. The trimmer of the entire roof, including the cabin and the load compartment, is also anthracite color.
Like the Mini Clubman, also the Mini Clubvan Concept is a five -door car of a special nature. The front doors, one for the driver and one for his companion, the doors of two wings on the back and the Clubdoor door on the right side that opens in the opposite direction, allow accessing any part of the inside of the car comfortably. Thanks to the mode of operation of the Clubdoor Gate, it is possible to introduce and remove smaller objects from the side.
The large space inside the car can take advantage of very diverse ways. If the use is for commercial purposes, it is possible to opt for a personalized cargo compartment equipment in order to be able to place tools or goods in drawers or shelves in an orderly manner. 12 volt plugs in the back of the load compartment underline the functional character of the car.
The exterior design
The great functionality and typical brand of the brand give the Mini Clubvan Concept an unmistakable character. Thanks to its external dimensions equal to those of the Mini Clubman and the load of expanded volume, the concept-car is the first car of the world of premium nature in the segment of the small vans. Because of its exterior design, it is evident at first glance that the Mini Clubvan Concept is a mini. The modifications experienced by its design for functional reasons do not affect the proportions of the typical forms of a mini. The users of this car have several possibilities to combine the professional or commercial use of the car with their personal style.
The outer color of the Mini Clubvan Concept is British Racing Green. The ceiling, the upcoming C and the housings of the exterior rearview mirrors have that same color. The rear side windows of the Mini Clubvan Concept prevent seeing what the load compartment contains, as usual in this type of cars. These windows are polycarbonate and on the outer side they have the same body color.
Since the lateral surfaces of the Mini Clubvan Concept have the same color, they are ideal to customize them according to the preferences of their owner. In the case of the concept-car, the surfaces corresponding to the side windows carry the logo of a poster designer of Great Britain, a place of Prvenience of Mini. The graphic elements added subsequently give the car a unique image. Therefore, the versatile Mini is not only appropriate to transport products of different kinds, but also to visualize the advertising of the company in an especially elegant way. The Mini Clubvan Concept that is exposed in Geneva shows this form of customization in a doubly authentic way. On the one hand, the British company that has literally put its seal to the concept-car, is effectively dedicated to capturing advertising in the cars of its customers. And, on the other hand, it rightly demonstrates how a commercial vehicle of the Mini brand could be seen by resorting to the example of the Mini Clubvan Concept.
