Car and Driver: Gripping News: Mini Adds All-Wheel-Drive Option to New Clubman

[FeedBot]

-

It’s never too early to get a grip, literally and figuratively, so we’re happy to report that just as the slick, new Mini Clubman wagonette is landing in the U.S., Mini has announced that its all-wheel-drive system will be offered on the Clubman starting in April. Keen readers may remember that we had heard rumors of this sort before, but official confirmation and product information did not arrive until now.

-

As with the front-drive Clubman, the ALL4 will come in base Clubman and Clubman S forms, the former powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder with 134 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, the latter getting the feistier turbocharged 2.0-liter four with 189 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. Both ALL4 models will offer six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmissions.

-

-

The all-wheel-drive system is on-demand and fully electronic, directing engine power to the front wheels only during normal driving, but able to apportion power to the rear axle almost instantly, according to Mini. The system works not only when the stability control system detects wheel slip at the front wheels, but also proactively, factoring in steering angle, longitudinal and lateral forces, road speed, and accelerator position, and other factors, much of which are monitored by the standard Drive Mode Select system. Brake-based torque vectoring at the front axle is also standard. In most other respects, the Clubman ALL4 is no different than the front-drive Clubman, which you can read all about here.

-

While Mini is very proud of its very compact (by necessity) all-wheel drive system, it nonetheless does gain some weight—up to 265 pounds—slowing the Clubman ALL4’s 0­-60 mph time from 8.9 to in 9.2 seconds, according to Mini. Interestingly, the S model will do the sprint in 6.7 seconds with the manual, or 6.6 with the automatic, each 0.3-second quicker than their two-wheel-drive counterparts.

-

---

-

• -
• 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman Pricing Announced: More Expensive Than the Countryman-
• First Drive: 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman-
• Mini Full Coverage: News, Photos, Specs, Reviews, and More-

-

---

-

Official pricing for the Clubman ALL4 has yet to be announced, but with front-drive Clubman starting at $24,900 and Clubman S models currently $28,500—and all-wheel drive representing a $1595 upgrade on the Countryman crossover—it’s safe to say that Clubman ALL4 base prices are likely come in under $27,000 and under $30,000 for the S model.

-

-

Read Full Article