Mini USA Debuts New Models at LA International Auto Show

MINI USA featured two North American premieres at this year’s Los Angeles International Auto Show – the freshly redesigned Clubman and the all-new MINI Convertible. They also rolled out the 500,000^th MINI Countryman to celebrate a milestone in the production of that model.

The MINI Clubman, the largest and most utilitarian MINI in the current lineup, made its World Premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this year. The Convertible was first unveiled just a few weeks earlier at the Tokyo Motor Show. The new MINI Clubman represents a complete redesign and engineering of the earlier version that was launched in 2007.

Mini Coopers bearing the name “Clubman” were originally introduced in 1969. This early models, and the 2007 re-imagined MINI Clubman were both built on the same platform as the standard-fare Hardtop models. This time, the Clubman has been developed as a separate model “taking the legendary MINI sporting feel into a larger class of vehicle,” according to MINI USA.

The new MINI Clubman’s design, with its vertical, split gate rear doors, harks to the uniquely British estate car, (we call them Station Wagons in the USA) , providing for a unique combination of utility and styling in a modern, comfortable, and, by all accounts, fun to drive platform. Expect to see them for sale in the U.S. in January 2016.

The new MINI Convertible is the first open top MINI using a BMW powerplant. The four-seater convertible combines practicality and comfort with a requisite dose of hallmark MINI performance.

Like all MINIs the Convertible is built with individualization in mind. This latest entrant to the MINI gene-pool should hit U.S. showrooms in March 2016.

MINI of the Americas Vice President, David Duncan, says “The new Clubman strikes the perfect balance between MINI’s heritage and future, while the new Convertible offers open-top driving without compromise. Both cars represent the unique and premium style of MINI and I’m excited for our U.S. consumers to see them.”

Also debuted at this year’s Los Angeles International Auto Show was the 500,000^th MINI Countryman. The MINI Countryman, the brand’s SUV-like crossover model with optional all-wheel drive, started production in 2010. The milestone vehicle featured a Kite Blue exterior, which will be available for the Countryman as of spring 2016.