Thursday 26th February 2015

Mini creates Vision Gran Turismo Clubman

395hp and four-wheel drive for mad Mini concept. Should be enough for the Sunday Cup

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Hang on, we've been here before. Mini has shown us a Clubman concept already, exactly a year ago today in fact. Now there's a Vision Gran Turismo Mini that looks a lot like that Clubman, albeit quite a lot racier.

Anyone else seeing old SEAT Leon?

So there's probably quite a lot we can glean from the two concepts about the new Mini Clubman. Take away the motorsport addenda from this Vision GT car and the silhouette is familiar from the Clubman concept, and the rather odd rear lights have remained too.

But this is a Vision Gran Turismo car, the land of the 600hp Golf cabriolet and that bonkers Alpine thing. So this isn't just a Mini Clubman. Oh no. We're told it has 395hp, four-wheel drive and a six-speed sequential; sure to make it very fast in the game but don't hold out too much hope for a road car...

Styling? Mini promises 'pure motor racing flair', 'maximum sporty flair' and 'broad shoulders' from the Vision GT. It's certainly, er, distinctive, from its wildly flared front arches to its centre-exit exhausts. You'll notice a few John Cooper Works badges around the GT concept, perhaps hinting at an eventual JCW Clubman. Probably without the 22s and the retro tape though.

The Vision Gran Turismo is available on GT6 with today's update. And the road car? Well 26 February 2016 would seem like the most suitable date!

 

[designndrive62]

I will admit to having owned a 'new' type mini, but this truly sts all over the mini name. Horrible

[P4ROT]

Reminds me of a Leon Cupra K1 from the rear.

[unsprung]

designndrive62 said:

I will admit to having owned a 'new' type mini, but this truly sts all over the mini name. Horrible

Given the ever-expanding MINI portfolio, let's see if they are able to introduce something that's a bit closer to their roots.

[soad]

MINI Clubman Vision Gran Turismo: Unveiled
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBpBK8_csfU

[chryslerben]

designndrive62 said:

I will admit to having owned a 'new' type mini, but this truly sts all over the mini name. Horrible

So your suggesting that some concept design drawings S*** on the MINI name?

[Dr3w]

Mini's are fking disgusting.

[mightymouse]

"And the road car? Well 26 February 2016 would seem like the most suitable date!"

More like 1st April 2016

[JaguarsportXJR]

"Take away the motorsport addenda from this Vision GT car and the silhouette is familiar from the Clubman concept, and the rather awful rear lights have remained too."

I've corrected the article for you.

Not my blend at all to be honest.

[menoy]

designndrive62 said:

I will admit to having owned a 'new' type mini, but this truly sts all over the mini name. Horrible

More than the Countryman?...

[vikingaero]

I have a Clubman and when I asked the MINI rep about the launch date for the next Clubbie I was told "the car will be very exciting on the design and lifestyle front". That makes me cringe that it will be a piece of wky jewellery.

[alexpa]

Yuk

[Ug_lee]

I was behind a new MINI One yesterday, thought initially it was the countryman.

What the hell have they done to it? Okay the first MINI was a pastiche of the original, but now it seems to have morphed into this overweight oversize blob of nastiness.

[chris watton]

It looks like something from a Pixar animation!

[CarreraWB]

When I was looking to buy a mini the salesman actually said "I don't like cars", pretty much sums up the brand.

[DUMBO100]

The original Mini was a design classic now they are just stretching it in ever more ridiculous ways. The first modern Mini was acceptable but everything since then has been a design disaster. Hopefully sales will falter and BMW will put a stop to this nonsense. I own a 2012 Cooper S but won't be buying another

[DanielSan]

This is the first new MINI I really like, Works GP aside anyway. If they released a works version that was a tamed down version of this I'd genuinely want one.

[k-ink]

Why are computer game fantasies news?

[soad]

k-ink said:

Why are computer game fantasies news?

Nothing is more therapeutic than grabbing the odd hour of gaming after a long and stressful day to help you unwind.
Only trouble is finding the time these days (whilst fitting everything else in).

[anonymous-user]

I thought GT cars were to designed to drive down to the South of France at speed & with comfort. This is more of a sport model ..
The latest Coopers are quality cars, they are comfortable/quiet/well bolted together - so nothing like the original!!

[DanielSan]

Jimboka said:

I thought GT cars were to designed to drive down to the South of France at speed & with comfort. This is more of a sport model ..
The latest Coopers are quality cars, they are comfortable/quiet/well bolted together - so nothing like the original!!

The vision GT cars are created for the Gran Tourismo game. Hence the name.