From left: Prestige Automobile (Pvt.) Ltd. Director Marketing Ranjith Jayawardena, MINI Coordinator Karen Taylor, Prestige Automobile Chairman  Heinz Reuter, MINI Manager Geeshan Wijenayake, MINI Sales Consultant Nuwanga Kirthiratne and MINI Marketing Manager Katharina Honegger
Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

By Zahara Zuhair
Prestige Automobile (Pvt.) Ltd, authorized importer for MINI cars in Sri Lanka, invites Mini aficionados to experience the latest Mini Clubman cars at their Borella showroom this Sunday, as they launched MINI Cooper Clubman and MINI Cooper S Clubman in Sri Lanka this week. 
MINI Manager Geeshan Wijenayake told Mirror Business that they have already launched few MINI models in Sri Lanka, namely, MINI 3-door, MINI 5-door, MINI Countryman and MINI convertible.
He shared that their next MINI product would be launched by mid part of this year, which will be Countryman 2017 model, a plug-in hybrid which also comes as a Countryman S version with 1500cc engine.
He said that so far they have sold 100 MINI cars since its launch in Sri Lanka. Prestige Automobile and MINI Asia launched MINI brand in Sri Lanka in 2014.
Prestige Automobile (Pvt.) Ltd., Director Marketing Ranjith Jayawardena said that they believe the new MINI Clubman will turn heads on the road and deliver a classic MINI driving experience that will appeal to MINI fans and car enthusiasts alike. 
It was noted that the cars which are eye candy, offer the highest level of everyday practicality, long distance suitability, versatility and ride comfort.
The MINI Cooper Clubman comes with a three-cylinder petrol engine and the MINI Cooper S Clubman comes with a four-cylinder petrol engine.
The other key features of the cars as noted were; air curtains and air breathers optimising air ducting,  split doors and rear lights in novel design, Interior with generous space and new design, atmospheric lighting, powerful engines with Mini twin power turbo technology etc.
It was revealed that the basic price of the car would be Rs. 12.5 million. 
Prestige Automobile (Pvt.) Ltd, Chairman Heinz Reuter said that when the MINI Clubman was first presented in 2007, it was responding to a desire for space to accommodate more passengers and luggage as well as to expectations of a  21st century automobile in terms of comfort, safety and efficiency. 
In East Asia, this car is sold in Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, New Caledonia, Guam, Tahiti, Philippines and Indonesia. The full range of MINI cars available in these market are; MINI 3-door, MINI 5-door, MINI Cabriolet, MINI Clubman, MINI Countryman, and MINI John Cooper Works.
MINI, created by Sir Alec Issigonis, is a British automotive marque, and the brand is owned by BMW since 2000.