The Mini Clubman has gone out of production after 17 years as Mini makes way for the introduction of the electric Aceman, its indirect replacement.
The Clubman first went on sale in 2007 as an estate-bodied version of the Mini hatchback, complete with a novel vertically split tailgate.
It was assembled at the brand's Plant Oxford facility in Cowley since it first went on sale as part of Mini's revival of its entire range.
It has now bowed out to make space for the Aceman crossover and petrol versions of the new Cooper (in three-door, five-door and convertible forms).
These will be produced until 2030, when the plant will switch to 100% EV production following a combined £600 million investment from parent firm BMW and the UK government.
Mini told Autocar the money will chiefly fund an extension of the body shop, the construction of a new area for battery installation and new logistics facilities in Oxford and Swindon.
The Mini estate was initially launched as the Traveller in 1960, before being updated as the Clubman and then renamed as the 1000HL. After being axed in 1970, it wouldn't return until 2007.
The reborn Clubman was updated in 2015 for a second generation. It adopted Mini's signature circular daytime running lights, a feature still seen today, and ditched the unusual rear doors for a more conventional set-up, while a John Cooper Works version was introduced with 302bhp.
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The original "estate" versions of the classic Mini (effectively Mini vans with windows, rear seats and the external woodwork) were badged as Traveller for the Morris version and Countryman for the Austin version.
The Clubman was an attempt to modernise the Mini after around ten years of production by introducing the bluff front end styling, a plusher interior and an instrument pack in front of the driver instead of the large speedometer etc in the centre of the dashboard. These were mainly saloons but there was also the estate (pictured) and, of course, the 1275 GT which was in the Clubman style but didn't carry the name.
Manufacturers always dredge up model and variant names from their back catalogues and apply them "inappropriately", but those who don't remember them from the first time around seldom know or care.
My partner has a 2007 MINI Clubman she's had from virtually new - she planned to keep it until all the dogs had died but, when they had, she hung on to it anyway. I quite like it. I think the current (outgoing, I suppose) Clubman is the best looking car in the MINI range, but I agree it's not in the same mould as the 2007-14 version, but bigger, more expensive and, if you've ever sat behind one for long, with annoyingly dazzling brake lights!
Always thought the original Clubman was just the square front-end. My dad had one and it wasn't an estate. The estate predates the clubman facelift. Shame they've discontinued this, an interesting alternative to Golf/A3/A-Class.