But here, there have only been two such entries: the lightweight Honda Transportation Hook up, released as a 2010 style, and the now-discontinued professional edition of the Chevy HHR lightweight vintage five-door style.
Next season, though, there will be a third entry--an even lesser one.
MINI, the unique, legendary English product, is releasing what it calling the MINI Clubvan, a professional edition resulting from its MINI Cooper Clubman model--the one with a motorist's entrance on the departed, two traveler gates on the right, and "church door" double starting gates at the back.
It's MINI's first automobile marketed in the U.S. since the overdue Sixties, when a few old Small pickup trucks and automobiles were introduced in for use by BMC dealers--many of which endure these days.
And it may end up as the most fuel-efficient professional automobile marketed in the U.S. that doesn't connect in.
The 2012 MINI Cooper Clubman is ranked at 27 mpg town, 35 mpg freeway, for a mixed 30-mpg score, regardless of whether you get the automated or the six-speed guide with its only website choice, a 1212-horsepower 1.6-liter four.
The 2012 Honda Transportation Hook up, in comparison, has a 138-hp 2.0-liter four, an historical four-speed automated gearbox, and a mixed score of just 23 mpg.
To be reasonable, it also has more than four times the freight volume--135 cubic toes for the Transportation Hook up, 30 cubic toes for the Clubvan--and twice the payload: 1,600 weight compared to about 800 for the MINI.
MINI says the Clubvan will come with the same couple of website alternatives as the Clubman, and the external proportions will be similar.
The back part windows are blanked out with steel sections, secured within by plastic strengthening sections and carpeted part surfaces. There's a smooth fill ground without a back chair. The the big sleep cup is colored to cover up the freight space.
Cargo van functions consist of 12-volt electrical sockets in the freight box and a cargo-tiedown program in the fill bay. An steel and stainless-steel capable partition behind the top side traveler place keeps the material of the freight pocket there even in the occurrence of a car incident.
Only four colours are provided, and fabric chairs are conventional.
Options consist of game chairs in fabric or set, substitute decrease pieces, automated heating and cooling, MINI Linked with a 6.5-inch LCD display, a routing program, parking-distance receptors, and a variety of internal furniture looks and components.
The idea of a MINI professional automobile first showed up as a idea car at the Geneva Engine Show, but it was obviously followed by a lot of, "Hey, that's type of neat!" response.
And as the MINI variety balloons--the make wishes to provide 10 unique designs within a few years--a MINI automobile is likely to add some small sales, in addition to strong up MINI's quirkiness aspect.
We now desperately welcome a Fiat 500 van and a Vw Beetle automobile.
To be obvious, we don't seriously think the MINI Clubvan will be a serious competition to Ford's Transportation Hook up.
We do think, though, that it's likely to be a lot more fun to generate.
The 2013 MINI Clubvan comes at MINI traders this drop.
