Mini has small businesses in its sights with upscale delivery van
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Mini may target companies looking for an upscale delivery vehicle with a car-based van.
The BMW-owned brand will unveil the Clubvan concept at the Geneva auto show next month. The concept sits on a version of the Mini Clubman's platform.
Mini said the concept shows a potential small car with extra load capacity for "premium" small businesses who want to make a style statement.
"A car in the mold of the Mini Clubvan concept would fit excellently into the fleet of a fashion designer, art gallery owner or event caterer," the UK-based company said in a statement.
The five-door Clubvan has two seats in the front and a flat load compartment in the rear. It has two doors at the front, a rear-hinged door on the right-hand side and split rear doors that open to the load area.
Mini has not said whether the concept will go into production although reports say the car likely will go on sale later this year.
If built, the Clubvan won't be the first car-based van produced by Mini. In 1960, the brand introduced the Morris Mini Van for commercial use, just a year after the iconic Mini four-seat car went on sale.
Currently, Mini is rapidly expanding its lineup and has added wagon, crossover, coupe and roadster variants as it seeks to build on record sales of 285,060 cars last year, up 21.7 percent from 2010.
You can reach Paul McVeigh at pmcveigh@crain.com.
