The popular line of Mini Cooper automobiles will be getting a big brother, a model that will go on sale in Germany in November and will come to the United States during the first quarter of next year.

The Mini Clubman will gain approximately 9.5 inches over existing models. The vehicle is not quite an inch taller and has an identical width to the rest of the Mini line.

The European version of the Clubman will feature a single door on the driver's side and two doors on the passenger side.

The smaller of the two passenger doors will be outfitted with a rear hinge and will not have a handle on its exterior.

In the back the Clubman will have double doors with a convention "van" hinge arrangement.

In Europe the new Mini will be classed as a five-door vehicle but in the U.S. it will be a four-seater with no seat belt in the middle rear.

Other European features that may be missing on the U.S. version include automatic start/stop and a fuel saving feature that captures energy while the driver is braking.

Although prices have not been firmed up for the Clubman, sources have indicated that the vehicle will carry an opening MSRP of $20,650 including the cost of shipping.

The current Cooper sedan sells for $18,700 with the sportier convertible going for $22,600.

The Clubman should be an appealing offering for drivers who want a Mini but who need to feel they're getting just a little more flexibility and carrying space.