A new Mini estate car to be known as the Clubman will be launched from the Cowley plant this year.

Early versions of the car are already being built at the plant with bosses saying the first models will be available for sale by November.

Details of the design are being kept a closely guarded secret but Mini spokesman Mark Harrison said it would be based on a concept version first seen at the Frankfurt motor show in 2005, later appearing at events in Detroit and Tokyo.

He added: "The Clubman will be more practical and will be aimed at people with an active lifestyle looking for increased luggage space."

The announcement came at the Geneva Motor Show where the second generation of the Mini One is being launched along with the diesel-powered Mini Cooper D.

A statement from parent company BMW added: "The new car promises to be distinctive, yet authentically embody the MINI character.

"Offering more versatility without compromising the revered chassis of current hatch models, the production version of the car is further evidence of Mini's aim to break boundaries in car design."

The Clubman is named after the estate version of the original Mini which was on sale during the 1970s, although the styling is expected to hark back to the 1960s Traveller version.

The Mini One will go on sale on April 14 and will cost £11,595 while the Cooper D will be £14,190 and will be available simultaneously.

The Geneva show also featured 'Sidewalk' versions of the Mini Convertible with a host of accessories including leather upholstery. Prices range from £16,910 to £20,235.

A total of 12,215 Minis were sold in February, a drop of 2.5 per cent on February 2006.

The drop is due to the new car not going on sale in the USA until February 17. In the UK, sales for January and February are up 64 per cent on the same period last year with 3,699 cars sold.