What you see here is not a Mini Clubman, but rather a development mule for the upcoming Mini Crossman crossover. It rides slightly higher and sits on bigger wheels, but the telltale sign that this is not just a Clubman is the presence of a rear differential, which gives away its all-wheel drive nature.
The Clubman's swinging doors have reportedly been ruled out for the 158-inch long Crossman, but another pair of doors is expected to be tacked on, with the filler cap moved back to create the necessary space. Power will come from Mini's 1.6-liter four-banger, with a turbocharged S variant possible.
The Crossman should appeal to fans of Mini's styling that need more people space, with the extra ride height and all-wheel drive making it appealing to residents of colder climates that want both features but not a proper crossover -- in essence, Subaru Forester territory.
For more on the Crossman, read Paul Horrell's report on
BMW's Crossover Offensive