Car blogs

Filed under: Hatchback, Mini



Much as we love the Mini Clubman and its rear-hinged, passenger-side door, this would be an incredibly stupid idea. Functionality is one thing, but ruining the design of the fetching Mini Cooper hardtop would be a downright shame.



Nevertheless, Autocar reports that a rear-hinged door could be in store for the next Mini. A recent set of spy shots showed a Cooper hardtop prototype with an unusually short driver door with what appears to be a small suicide door behind it. Our best guess? This could just be Mini playing with door configurations, since the automaker received quite a bit of criticism for the placement of the Clubman's rear door in right-hand-drive markets.



Mini is keen on the rear-hinged door idea, though. Autocar states that the next-generation Clubman is expected to get a door on either side instead of just one, and that rear-hinged doors will be found on the Countryman-based Paceman coupe, as well. Fine by us, but please, leave them off the original hardtop.

Next Mini to get rear-hinged Clubman doors? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tags: clubman, cooper, mini, rear-hinged doors

---

Report: Next Mini to get rear-hinged Clubman doors? was originally published by Autoblog. Read the full story by clicking here.