library of motoring » MINI Clubman

MINI Clubman 50 Hampton Edition photos

James — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:00:10 +0000

Our German partner site bigblogg.motoring has exclusive photos of the forthcoming MINI Clubman 50 Hampton Edition. The “50″ this time refers to the 50th anniversary since the introduction of the Austin Countryman and Morris Mini Traveller. The MINI Clubman 50 Hampton Edition will be available in current colors Eclipse Grey, Midnight Black, and Pepper White but also in a new color, Reef Blue Metallic, shown above. Exterior details include mirror caps and bonnet stripes in a dark red called Damson Red, special side scuttles, MINI 50 grille badge, and wheel center caps on the 17″ Twin-Spoke Alloy wheels.

See more photos from bigblogg.motoring at Exklusiv: Der MINI Clubman 50 Hampton (English translated version).

collectible of the day: THE OTHER FRANKFURT. guide

James — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 07:00:07 +0000

Pictured is the two covers for “THE OTHER FRANKFURT.” guide. Both sides have the dual-image effect. One side shows the rear of the MINI Clubman with the slogan “MINI CLUBMAN. THE OTHER MINI.”. The other side is taken from one of the MINI “family photo” ads and reads “THE OTHER PETERMAN.”.

Inside is a folded map and guide to Frankfurt, Germany.

THE OTHER FRANKFURT.

Everything’s going to be different now! Because MINI presents: doors to explore. What’s hiding behind it all? Another world over and over again. In 22 locations, stores, and clubs which are simply different, have their own style, surprise everyone and are fun. Open the doors and check out the other experience!

collectible of the day: KEEP IT MINI. Clubman Kalender 2008

James — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 07:00:55 +0000

From Germany comes this KEEP IT MINI. ORIGINAL MINI ZUBEHÖR. MINI Clubman Kalender 2008. The calendar, measuring approximately 5″ long, has a pivot pin in the top-left corner on which the pages rotate. Each month’s calendar page features a MINI Clubman accessory.

collectible of the day: THE OTHER MINI ads

James — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 07:00:52 +0000

MINI USA’s ad agency Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners created an extensive series of print ads for the introduction of the MINI Clubman. One of those was a five-page ad with three family portraits followed by a two-page spread with a Hot Chocolate MINI Clubman:

THE OTHER NIEDERMEYER.
THE OTHER FITZPATRICK.
THE OTHER PETERMAN.
THE OTHER MINI.

The set of ads can be found in Swindle. No. 15. 2008. (pages 49, 51, & 53-55).

collectible of the day: ZIG. ZAG. ZUG. ads

James — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:00:17 +0000

MINI USA heavily advertised the MINI Clubman when it launched in March 2008. The advertising campaign by Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners introduced the terms “ZIG” (MINI Hardtop), “ZAG” (MINI Convertible), and “ZUG” (MINI Clubman).

The first two print ads simply featured those words above the corresponding model. Attached to the ad under “ZUG” is a removable booklet on the MINI Clubman titled “The Book of ZUG”.

ZIG. ZAG. ZUG. [Version 1]

MINI Cooper (ZIG.) and MINI Cooper S (ZAG.) side-by-side above a detachable MINI Clubman brochure (ZUG.). Version 1 can be found in these magazine issues:

Anthem. No. 33. Masculine/Feminine 2008. (between pages 34 & 35)
Automobile. Vol. 60, No. 3. March 2008. (between pages 92 & 93)
Esquire. Vol. 149. No. 4. April 2008. (between pages 76 & 77)
Motor Trend. March 2008. (between pages 124 & 125)

ZIG. ZAG. ZUG. [Version 2]

MINI Cooper (ZIG.) above a MINI Cooper S (ZAG.) above a detachable MINI Clubman brochure (ZUG.). Version 2 can be found in these magazine issues:

Fader. 52. March 2008. (between pages 80 & 81)
Spin. March 2008. (between pages 32 & 33)

collectible of the day: NEW MINI OWNER gift

James — Wed, 26 May 2010 07:00:14 +0000

In the first few years of the MINI in the US, MINI USA gave new owners the MINI UNWRAPPED CD with information about the vehicles. In keeping with current technology, MINI USA now gives new owners a gift including a USB memory stick and a fold-out guide on THE IDIOSYNCRASIES OF YOUR NEW MINI [MODEL].

There are three different types: for the MINI Hardtop, MINI Convertible, or MINI Clubman which is the one shown here.

The 256 MB USB memory stick, black with a white MINI logo on one side, contains 33 short videos on “Things You Should Know About Your MINI”. The same content can be found on the webpage About Your MINI Videos.

Car Talk MINI test drives

James — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:00:59 +0000

Listeners of National Public Radio (NPR) on weekends are familiar with the program “Car Talk” featuring “Click and Clack”, or Tom and Ray Magliozzi. On the program the brothers review cars and attempt to solve the car problems of callers.

They have reviewed two MINI models:

The 2002 MINI Cooper review is very thorough with a rating of “Awesome!” by Ray and “Pretty Good!” by Tom.

As you might expect from a car developed by BMW, the driving experience in the Mini Cooper is pretty damn sporty. The car is fun to drive. The handling is exceptionally good. When you turn the Mini into corners it digs in, in the way a good-handling car does. In other words, if you make a left turn, you don’t feel yourself falling out the right passenger window. Why? Several reasons.

The Mini has a low center of gravity. It’s wheels are pushed all the way out to the corners, like the original Mini (if they were pushed any further, they’d be on someone else’s car). Finally, the Mini has good, tight suspension components throughout.

The 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman review consists of lists of “Pros” and “Cons” with a few photos.

collectible of the day: MINI Clubman fortune cookies

James — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:00:49 +0000

The MINI Clubman went on sale in the US two years ago today on February 16, 2008. Because Hot Chocolate Metallic was a new color on a MINI, much of the advertising for the MINI Clubman contained a lot of brown. MINI dealerships distributed free chocolate Chinese fortune cookies. Instead of a fortune inside, each piece of paper had a clever MINI Clubman slogan (found in contemporary print ads) and a “ZUG says” or “Lucky Number” Clubman fact.

Known fortune cookie slogans:

BROWN SHEEP.
ZUG says: Split Rear Barn Doors are good for you.

BUSINESS IN THE FRONT. PARTY IN THE BACK.
Lucky Number: 7 (Cooper S Clubman 0-60 time)

THE ECCENTRIC MEMBER OF AN ALREADY SLIGHTLY ECCENTRIC FAMILY.
Lucky Number: 37 hwy/28 city (MPG for Cooper Clubman)

FRINGESTREAM.
ZUG says: Try anything once.

JUMBO SHRIMP.
Lucky Number: 139 (top speed for Cooper S Clubman)

LEARN TO DRIVE UNSTANDARD.
ZUG says: A climate-controlled glove box is cool. Literally.

PART HEAD-TURNER. PART HEAD-SCRATCHER.
Lucky Number: 10 (possible exterior colors)

RUNS ON IRREGULAR.
Lucky Number: 177 (lb-ft of torque for Cooper S Clubman)

UNAPOLOGETICALLY UNAPOLOGETIC.
ZUG says: Follow unconventional wisdom.

YOU CAN ZIG. YOU CAN ZAG. BUT NOT EVERYONE CAN ZUG.
Lucky Number: $20,600 (starting MSRP for Cooper Clubman)

collectible of the day: The Book of ZUG

James — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:00:10 +0000

MINI USA’s partner advertising agency, Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners, created the award-winning “ZIG. ZAG. ZUG.” ad campaign for the launch of MINI’s third model, the MINI Clubman. The term ZIG was applied to the hardtop MINI, ZAG to the MINI Convertible, and ZUG to the MINI Clubman. In the advertising brochure The Book of ZUG, the term ZUG is imagined as a philosophy of being different, if not outright odd.

The Book of ZUG was attached to the print ad in the following magazine issues:

Anthem. No. 33. Masculine/Feminine 2008. (between pages 34 & 35)
Automobile. Vol. 60, No. 3. March 2008. (between pages 92 & 93)
Esquire. Vol. 149. No. 4. April 2008. (between pages 76 & 77)
Motor Trend. March 2008. (between pages 124 &n125)

Download The Book of ZUG.