Mini Clubman Cooper test drive since 2007 Hatchback

Taming of the Shrew

I turn to those who are good for 30 today. Remember, gentlemen, my childhood is golden, in which, perhaps, there was such fun on car. The car was meant a homemade vehicle: a wooden frame of a trapezoidal shape, a hilt that turned the front axle to a small angle, and three or four bearings instead of wheels. They sat on the car, rested their feet on the front axle and rolled under the hill. In those years, the asphalt served for decades, since all the cars in the yards could be counted on the fingers of one hand, and we had fun rushing down with a decent speed of a decent speed, the wind in the ears, slightly shakes, and the bearings roared inimitably.
Remember? If so, then great. Because otherwise I just don’t know what words to describe what you feel when driving Mini Cooper Clubman.
A child of savings
The story of this almost toy car is an example of an extremely successful reincarnation of a once -cult car. I mean the 2000th year, when BMW dominion returned to life a machine, which became a legend even before the author of these lines was born.
Today it is generally accepted that the designer, the Greek by birth, Alex Isigonis created Mini because I dreamed of quoting to build a car for a man living in a cluttered metropolis. In fact, everything was much more prosaic. At the end of the 50s of the last century, Great Britain experienced not the best times. Due to the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflicts, oil prices were growing, which was delivered to the islands by sea. Gasoline also cherished, which simply became many to afford.
This is on the one hand. On the other hand, there was not a very large Cooper Car Company company, which in the late 40s was registered by the designer of racing cars and in the past the racer John Cooper. And there was his son, Michael, who, together with the designer Isigonis, decided to create a car. Compact, economical, but such that four people are placed in it, as in an adult car. The body, by the way, was developed as follows: they took four chairs, put them in two rows in two, put four adult men on them and measured proportions. In pre -set sizes, the engine, installed longitudinally, was no longer placed, and for the first time in the history of the passenger automotive, it was put transversely. Then I had to conjure with the placement of the box, then the steering mechanism had to be squeezed into the back of the racks and a gas tank. Naturally, the salon also could not boast of the wealth of decoration: there was not even an internal upholstery in it. Spartan conditions and a feeling of elbow. Nevertheless, the machine turned out to be well -controlled and maneuverable and, according to legend, John Cooper, cutting several circles on a walking layout in the factory court, exclaimed: Alex, this is it! I want to see this car on the conveyor!

Well, the name was born by itself, especially since almost simultaneously the skirts appeared.
Another legend that the car in 1959 produced a splash. In fact, the audience accepted it very coolly, despite the fact that Mini was only 497 pounds, and in the version of De-Luxe 537. In the first year of production around the world, only 20 thousand cars were sold. But the very next year, Europeans tried the novelty, on which the economic miracle has not yet affected. The car was supplied to the continent under the names of Austin 850 and Morris 850. Already in 1961 100 thousand Mini were produced, in 1962, 200 thousand, and at this level production continued until 1977. There were improved versions of Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S.
There were also modifications of station wagons, for example, and even convertibles. By the end of his rather long life, Mini gained millions of fans around the world and became cult. The company changed owners and patrons, but the little car remained.
And the most-most last real Mini left the assembly line on October 4, 2000: by that time it became finally clear that the small price of the model of the model, which was already 40 years old, would not save. Over the years, more than five million Mini have been released, which dispersed in all countries and continents, played in many films (including in no less cult old robbery in Italian with Michael Kane).
Second birth
In the new millennium, Rover Group, under which Mini huddled under the wing, went under the control of BMW. But if the Germans gave the passenger compartment to Rover almost for nothing, they retained the NEW Mini name.
It was already clear that the typewriter was destined to reincarnate, but not the same as with New Beetle. The appearance of the new Mini was widely discussed in the British press, and the creators of the first mini those who lived to take part in the discussion. They decided how to preserve the image and style of the machine, making it more comfortable and modern. And already in May 2001, the first New Mini came off the assembly line. Then the News prefix was naturally lost somewhere, the price was already nonsense from 10 thousand euros, but this did not scare away. Circles were prevailed in the cabin, there was a place for a radio, air conditioner, airbags to emphasize sports and miniature, the creators of the interior laid the functions of the electric package not on the buttons and verniers, but on the levers. Which, like in old aircraft, were separated from each other by nickelled arches.
By 2002, the ONE and Cooper models were joined by the sports modification of Cooper S. If the only one on the Mini 1.6-liter engine develops 90 hp. (on one) and 115 hp (on cooper), then on Cooper S, its power increased to 163 hp. As a result, Cooper S has become one of the most powerful cars in the world of this class.
Unlike the new beetle, which failed to repeat the success of the Kafer, the new mini was accepted almost immediately. Today it is a real hit both in Europe and in Russia. However, with the growth of the needs of modern youth, the requirements for Mini grew up: he decided to buy more trunk bags. So the mini cooper Clubman was born. Recently, my acquaintance with him took place. Prior to this, the grown -up baby ran along the roads only 800 kilometers.
24 centimeters
On the upper open floor of the parking lot in Kurkino, I was met by a fluid wind and nasty cold rain. And suddenly a miracle! Smiling eyes look at me from under the canopy! A smile is emphasized by a radiator grille, the corners of which are rounded and raised. Bright scarlet color, black stages of the body and doors, glass roof Black stripes on the hood Mini like mini?
The similarity was lost as soon as I brought the car from the parking to the fresh air. And, despite the weather, went around it.
The one or the wrong one? The one, and not the same, seem to be the size of the body, but I know that Clubman grew 24 centimeters in the body and eight in the base. But now, in addition to full -fledged four chairs (although a subtile child between adults will also fit in the rear seats), the car has an equally full luggage compartment with a volume of 260 liters. Which, if you fold the rear seats, will grow almost four times to 960 liters.
Another difference from Mini is five doors. Two behind, one on the left, two on the right.

I pull the handle of the right door to myself glass (without a frame) squats a centimeter, and the door is open. How does the second sash open? Yeah! It is necessary to find a semicircle of the door hand on its inside and pull on yourself. Now the doorway is just huge more than a meter! If, say, children go from behind, they can enter the salon, even if the front seat is pushed back to the end. And without folding the back. And if, nevertheless, you need to find a lever on the back of the backs on the back of the back. And she easily leans forward.
To open the luggage compartment, just press on one of the three buttons on the keyboard. He pressed the right sash with a slight blush of the pneumatic breeder jumps on you. Now you can open the left sash. The trunk is really spacious, although small. Under the policeman of the trunk, there is still no spare wheel, only a minimum of tools and containers for all sorts of little things.
In the mini salon, everything, if not too comfortable, is as functional as possible. Convenient seats sheathed with black leather with lateral support, which is enough even in steep turns. The leather wheel of the steering wheel is comfortably lay down in the palm of your hand. The key here is electronic, with a microchip. It is enough to insert it into the nest to the right of the steering wheel to the click and press on Start. At the same time, of course, the automatic transmission lever should be in the Parking position, and the leg on the brake pedal. So I do. O! What a delicious sound both the motor and exhaust system! You might think that the engine with a boost, but no: under the hood is a simple version of 1.6 liters and with a capacity of only 120 hp.
Right behind the bagel, a small hemisphere of a tachometer with a screen of a triple-computer in the center. But the dial differently cannot be called a speedometer right above the central console. However, from the inside Clubman the same well -familiar mini.
And what about your head? There are two hatches. One for front passengers, the other for the rear. Both can be opened, but only the front shifts up and back. Maybe it is right.
Tough, but good!
Well, now ahead to Moscow. I lay out the side mirrors of visibility, by the way, so -so, although the mirror element is large. In general, little can be seen in the salon mirror: the overhang of the roof and massive sash of two rear doors interfere. The simple mini has better with this.
However, the mirror is not very necessary in the parking lot. Parctronics here is very smart and sound, and the image on the screen. But I found out then. In the meantime, drive.
We must separately say about the handle of the Communist Party. She is so unlike the handle of the machine gun that I involuntarily pulled for her several times and she obediently went to the left, in manual mode. But there are also two petals on the steering wheel! Comfortable.
I shake Mini for a second thinks, and then the run begins. Don't you like thoughtfulness? Go to the sport mode and put you in the back of the seat. But do not rush to accelerate if you are not sure on the road. Rather, in her state.
While under the wheels there was an even new asphalt, Mini rushed along it, rather grumbling with an engine. But the road repair area began, and even hidden by water of such a shock, including the physical, I have not experienced for a long time. The feeling that the car has no shock absorbers and springs, that I am on a bearing in a hill, as if in childhood, I rush from a slide on bumps, and the blows from them are clearly transferred to the steering wheel, and the pedals, and to the body. I had to drop speed.
Clubman does not like irregularities, as well as to stand even low borders. The clearance is present, but it is small, so the bumpers must be protected. In addition, the machine was shod in low -profile tires 225/45/R17, which also imposes certain obligations on the driver.
But, as mentioned above, he has no equal on a good road. At the start from the traffic light, he easily left more powerful rivals. And how attracts the views!
The fact that the car has practically no competitors is interesting. Few produces a toy car, which, in fact, is Mini. You can recall Fiat 500, built on the basis of Panda. Perhaps if it is possible to reincarn the Citroen Deux Chevaux, the French will have their own mini. As for the price, it is by no means minimal: from 810 thousand rubles, a solid surcharge for all options.
I was very sorry to part with him. With hard yes, but perfectly controlled. As with a toy that I fell in love, but from which he grew up. As with childhood. Bright, beautiful, cheerful and cloudless. I could imagine a young guy and a girl behind his wheel. Maybe her daughter is in ten years. After all, the new mini, like the old one, seems to be for all times.
 
Dmitry Semenov
 

Source: Magazine Automobile Izvestia [June 2008]

Video Test Drive Mini Clubman Cooper since 2007

Mini Clubman Cooper test drive since 2007