MINI Clubman ALL4 arrives. Unsurprisingly, it’s a Clubman with four-wheel drive

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The MINI Clubman ALL4 has been revealed as the first four-wheel drive MINI that’s not a Countryman. Arrives April 2016 from £24,305.

We’re not entirely sure the world needs a four-wheel drive MINI Estate, but that’s what it’s getting in the new MINI Clubman ALL4.

But if you’re prepared to pay a premium for a 4WD Clubman, the setup is clever and will improve traction in slippery conditions, although don’t expect to do much more than muddy boot sale car  parks. This 4WD MINI isn’t made for green laning.

That said, the 4WD setup is clever, sending power to the front wheels most of the time but directing torque across all four wheels when it detects slip, but it can also direct torque to individual wheels to improve driving dynamics and handling.

Assuming the Clubman ALL4 is for you, then you have the option of either the Cooper S with its 189bhp 2.0 litre turbo petrol or the Cooper SD with 182bhp.

The Cooper S Clubman ALL4 gets a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, can get to 62mph in 7.0 seconds (a smidge quicker than the FWD Clubman) and returns an official 40.9mpg. Opt for the eight-speed auto and you’ll get to 62mph 0.1s quicker and get 44.8mpg.

The Cooper SD Clubman is probably the pick, with its standard eight-speed auto ‘box, 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds and an official 58.9mpg.

The MINI Cooper S Clubman ALL4 costs £24,305 (£25,985 for the auto) and the Cooper SD Clubman ALL4 £27,410. Production is already underway and first UK customer cars are expected in April.