As you may note, I am getting really stir crazy in my new digs down in South Carolina.

 

Even while I lived in the suburbs for the last six months of my time Chicago from 2005 to 2013 — I am really a pretty urban person.

I moved from Wrigleyville to suburbs to be closer to the auto fleet offices.

So, I just moved again!  To Charleston!  What is up with that? My family is here.

Car-Revs-Daily.com is way ahead of schedule in terms of the broad launch flowcharts detailed December (post-kickstarter-flop).

So. Big changes in my home office dynamics, to say the least.

But also a really sumptuous resort lifestyle, living with family while I try — seriously, try by working my ass off for 12 months in a row — to get this site destination moving into a sustainable, revenue-generating self-proprietorship before a Series B in November 2014.

2015 UK Ford Focus – Sharper New Nose, LEDs and High-tech Features

But where do I realllly want to be? I want to be in GENEVA March 3rd and 4th!  Shooting for my 2015 debut instead.

In truth, I was not even able to attend my home-town Chicago show this month. A confluence of factors made it no longer a safe or secure environment.

EVEN SO! GOOD NEWS ABOUNDS

— Approved and welcomed into Washington, DC automotive media association! Which is sweet. Working on Georgia now, with the local Road Atlanta and Porsche Cars North America part of the Georgia club. I hope.

A true moonshot chance for some Porsche driving event first-hand. Tantalizing enough to keep me at my desk clattering out words. =]

— The next MINI Clubman actually looks new! Which is dynamite. It has a very smooth and flowing shape that looks both high-quality and hero-optimizied.

Oh yea! New phrase! Boom

These are tiny, tiny shutlines and pretty shapes.

A detail observation, perhaps. But a good one for MINI’s future Clubman!

Final note: The white-wall tires are a ghastly surprise uncovered when cropping for details.

The mirrors and lower fender vent are a treat, however.

MINI TO UNVEIL CLUBMAN CONCEPT AT GENEVA AUTO SHOW — 25/02/14

MINI Clubman Concept is a new class in terms of space, function and supreme elegance

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – February 25, 2014… At the 2014 Geneva Auto Show MINI presents the MINI Clubman Concept, showcasing a new brand philosophy for a higher class of automobile. 26 centimeters longer and just under 17 centimeters wider than the current MINI Clubman, the Concept comes over as sophisticated, cool and elegant. The iconic design is supplemented by high-quality details, plenty of space for functional features and selected materials. Refinement of the hallmark MINI styling ensures instant recognition, both on the exterior and the interior. The extensive color and material concept redefines contemporary elegance and high-end quality in this segment.

• Four doors and five seats offer plenty of utility space, thereby supporting an active lifestyle.
• Classic MINI design features such as the hexagonal radiator grille, Side Scuttles, the Black Band, short overhangs and elliptical front and rear headlights ensure high recognition value from every angle.
• Length: 4223 mm, width: 1844 mm (not incl. mirror), height: 1450 mm.
• Integrated aerodynamics as an essential part of the exterior design.
• The interior design interprets typical MINI shapes and colors, presenting an effortless and elegant combination of high-end quality and functionality.
• An elaborate color and material concept in the interior with exclusive materials and unexpected details.
• The Center Instrument with newly conceived user interface creates an event-controlled interaction space with touch operation.

A new class for the future of MINI

“The MINI Clubman Concept shows how the MINI Clubman could be taken a step further: more interior space, a greater sense of high-end quality and yet still clever, bold and distinctive. In short: more car, more MINI,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design, explaining the approach to this model. For over 50 years now, MINI has stood for maximum use of minimum space. 26 centimeters longer and just under 17 centimeters wider than the current MINI Clubman, the MINI Clubman Concept applies this aspiration to a new class of automobile.

As Head of MINI Design Anders Warming explains: “With the MINI Clubman Concept we are presenting a car with space, flair and style in a segment where the focus is mainly on function and utility. With clever ideas, emotional design and a cool blend of colors and materials, it offers an overall experience which remains unique in this segment to date.”

Supreme, dynamic, elegant – the exterior design.

Even with larger exterior dimensions, the MINI Clubman Concept is instantly recognizable as a typical MINI. With the characteristic agility of the MINI proportions, the prolonged roof line clearly reflects the car’s extensive utility space. It also gives the silhouette a distinctive elegance, underscored by generous surfaces. The powerful, warm Berry Red color shows surfaces and shapes to optimum effect. The roof in the color “Blade” – a metallic grey – creates an elegant contrast with the warm red of the corpus.

Classic MINI design icons such as the hexagonal radiator grille, Side Scuttles, Black Band and the typical lights are designed in precise, high-end style. The modern, reduced interpretation of these features gives the MINI Clubman Concept a more sophisticated, charismatic look. The themes of aerodynamics and air ducting are clearly highlighted in the exterior design. All openings and outlets are integrated in the geometry and elegantly shaped. Clearly defined wheel arches and the roof spoiler accentuate the car’s dynamic appearance, underscoring the overall impression of sporty flair.

Typical MINI in every detail – the front section

Seen from the front, the circular headlamps, hexagonal radiator grille and roof with add-on look clearly identify the MINI Clubman Concept as belonging to the MINI family. The radiator grille is strikingly elaborated and incorporates the bumper in the front section. The bumper is finished in Black Chrome, adding a touch of exclusive style to this functional element. Elaborate details such as the three-dimensional structure of the chrome ribs inside the front grille further enhance the front section. The high quality standards of the MINI Clubman Concept even extend to the surface modelling. Fine edges add precision and presence to the generous surfaces.

In the lower area of the front-end design there is a continuous air inlet which highlights the breadth of the MINI Clubman Concept, thereby emphasizing its solid standing on the road. Meanwhile a finely wrought chrome rib appears to hover inside the air inlet, giving this sporty detail a touch of exclusive appeal. In the outer section of the front apron there are so-called AirCurtains – an aerodynamic feature that gives the wheel arches an aerodynamically optimized closure. These dynamically surround the lower part of the front section like two brackets.

Plenty of space for characteristic dynamism – the side

Reduced to the essentials, the side view instantly conveys the qualities of the MINI Clubman Concept: a long wheelbase, flatly positioned windows and short overhangs reflect characteristic MINI agility. At the same time, the long roof line and the typical two-box design clearly emphasize the car’s high level of functionality and its generous utility space. Meanwhile the four doors reflect the extended exterior dimensions and increased functionality. Generous surface expanses elongate the side, while at the same time subtle surface modelling and precise lines make the silhouette appear flat and dynamic. Three chrome elements give the side section a sense of exclusivity with modern understatement. At the front, the Side Scuttle incorporates the filigree mirror base and turn indicator in an elongated element whose shape is echoed by the two electrical door openers. Integrated flush with the surface, these draw a line back to the rear which is taken up by the rear door handles. Above this, the surrounding shoulder line in chrome offsets the corpus of the car from the greenhouse and roof in hallmark MINI style. This so-called Waistline Finisher embraces the entire passenger cell, reinforcing the exterior graphics so typical of the brand. The 19″ light alloy rims in bicolor Black Chrome and Chrome finish are the highlight of the side view. A clear cup formation gives the elaborate multi-spoke design a highly dynamic touch. In between, glossy accents are added by non-cupped polished surfaces.

Aerodynamic details for optimum air ducting.

The MINI Clubman Concept is the first MINI to be fitted with a so-called AirBreather at the side. The AirBreather echoes the design theme of the AirCurtains in the front apron, cutting dynamically into the surrounding Black Band. The elaborate double roof spoiler at the rear is shown to best advantage from the top view. The third brake light is integrated in between the two wings of the roof spoilers in Formula 1 style. There are also two longitudinal sections of plexiglass which run across the entire length of the roof like rally stripes. In conjunction with the roof spoiler, this means that the distinctive dynamic air typical of MINI is applied to the MINI Clubman Concept from a bird’s-eye perspective, too.