New for '09: Mini Clubman

Mini Clubman

After the initial popularity of the BMW-owned Mini, the marque has been expanded with special performance models and a convertible. For 2009 Mini has added a version called the Clubman -- known outside the U.S. as the Traveler -- which loosely can be described as a station wagon. It's still a two-door model, with two small clamshell rear doors, a rear hatch and extra 3.5-cubic feet of cargo area. It comes in standard Mini form, with a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder that makes 118 horsepower, and an S version that adds a turbocharger to produce 172 horsepower. For 2009 there's a John Cooper Works model, which has a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 208 horsepower. It delivers the power through a six-speed manual transmission. Prices range from about $20,000 to $30,000 for the John Cooper Works model.