Currently reading: Mini estate to be called Clubman
Brand announces estate's name at Geneva show; has special publicity mule driven around city

BMW's growing Mini brand had a relatively quiet Geneva show; it had no new concept cars to show, and only the Mini Cooper D to unveil on the production side. However, that didn't stop the brand's executives courting the motor industry headlines by announcing the name of the forthcoming Mini estate model, and by parading it through the city at night.Those of us who'd been convinced that Mini would rejuvenate one of BMC's old Mini monikers for this new shooting brake were proved right at Geneva, but as it turned out, many of us had backed the wrong name. The Mini estate will be called Clubman, not Traveller (like the concept) or Countryman (another of Mini's 1960s identities), and it'll be on sale in the UK before the end of 2007.In order to whip up interest in the Clubman (without actually putting it on the Geneva show stand, that is), Mini also had a thinly-disguised development mule driven around the streets of Geneva with 'Just Teasing' written on the side in a mock Graffiti script. Some bright spark (possibly in Mini's employ) also produced a video of the car and has posted it on YouTube. To watch it, click here.Mini also uncovered its first batch of 'John Cooper Works' tuning options for the new Mini Cooper S at the show. It has developed a range of JCW catalogue upgrades for the hot supermini in association with John Cooper Works; they include a new ECU which boosts power to 192bhp and torque to a maximum 199lb ft, stiffer springs, perforated front brake discs and 18in light alloy wheels. JCW sports seats and a JCW sports steering wheel were already on the new Mini's options list.There's no word yet on how much these options will cost in the UK. Mini has confirmed, however, that the proper Mini Cooper S Works, the factory-built ultimate Mini with 210bhp and some even more focussed hot hatch paraphernalia, will come next year.

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