We love to tell you all about the scoop photos at CAR Online. But here we were stumped. Our spies captured this strange Mini Clubman prototype on test with the mother of all bodykits and a glaringly obvious ‘Hybrid Drive’ sticker on the flanks. And we didn’t know what it was!
Mini launched a John Cooper Works pack for the Mini Clubman some six months after launch in mid 2008, but this aero kit is significantly more aggressive than the Clubman JCW’s.
According to our friends over at Worldcarfans, this car is in fact a demonstrator by Getrag. It was shown at the 2009 Frankfurt expo and showcased a twin-clutch transmission as part of an experimental hybrid drive system.
The Getrag Clubman S Hybrid had a 375-mile range, 99mph top speed and a 45g/km CO2 average.
A hybrid Mini? Sounds cool
So far Mini itself has developed a prototype Mini E, of which trials continue in the UK and overseas. But that’s a pure electric Mini, which ditches the rear seats to house the batteries and power control gubbins.
Although badged Cooper S, there are no exhaust pipes visible at all at the rear of this test hack; normally there would be a pair of pipes at either edge, alerting us to this car’s hybrid powertrain.
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