After 17 years in production, the Mini Clubman has been discontinued to pave the way for the introduction of the electric Aceman, which serves as its indirect successor.
It marks the end of a production era that spanned 1.1 million Clubmans since 1969. Interestingly, more than half of this extensive production, specifically over 550,000 units, comprised the 'modern' versions, characterised by their larger size and association with BMW. It was relaunched in 2007 as an estate-bodied version of the Mini hatchback, featuring a distinctive vertically split tailgate.
As part of Mini's overall range revival, it has now made room for the Aceman crossover and traditional petrol versions of the new Cooper (available in three-door, five-door, and convertible variants).
Production of these models will continue until 2030, after which the plant will transition to 100% electric vehicle (EV) production. This shift is made possible by a joint investment of £600 million from parent company BMW and the UK government. The funds will primarily support the extension of the body shop, the establishment of a new area for battery installation, and the development of new logistics facilities in Oxford and Swindon.
The Mini estate, originally launched as the Traveller in 1960 and later updated as the Clubman, faced a hiatus after being discontinued in 1970 before its revival in 2007.
The reimagined Clubman, introduced in 2015 as a second generation, incorporated Mini's distinctive circular daytime running lights, which remain a signature feature today. The unconventional rear doors were replaced with a more conventional setup, and a high-performance John Cooper Works version boasting 302bhp was added to the line-up.
Throughout its nearly two-decade production run, the Clubman offered various powertrain options. Initially available with engines ranging from a 1.4-litre petrol to a 2.0-litre diesel, the model provided choices of six-speed manual and automatic gearboxes. Over time, seven-speed and eight-speed automatics, including a dual-clutch variant, were introduced.
The discontinuation of the Clubman aligns with a broader industry trend, as several manufacturers reconfigure their line-ups to accommodate the shift towards electric vehicles.
