While the performance hatchback market is heating-up like never before, the Mini Cooper S stands tall
BMW-owned Mini is showing its German rivals and a host of other brands how to evolve and freshen an iconic design while maintaining desirability in the fickle hot hatchback market segment. Diversity is the key and you can get a Mini priced between $31,100 and $58,900, powered by a choice of engines ranging in output from 85kW to 154kW.
The Mini Cooper S has a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine delivering 128kW of power at 5500rpm and peak torque of 240Nm between 1600 and 5,000. A John Cooper Works kit, fitted by a Mini dealer, boosts the power to 154kW. Drive is via a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearboxes.
As far as automotive ‘hip’ goes, the Mini is king – from the gorgeous buttons and switches to the choice of interior ‘mood’ lighting colours (blue, pink, purple, green, yellow and orange) – funky yet stylish, true to the original concept yet immensely practical.
It’s like BMW’s designers have taken the best of the original Mini but delivered a truly modern car with the features and dynamics one is accustomed to from BMW.
For instance the Cooper S interior feels quite luxurious whereas the original British Mini was – well on the ‘basic’ side of ‘plain’. But, just like the original, the new Mini has a central-mounted big round speedo (with a unique multi-function display included).
The new Mini actually had a freshen-up late last year with subtle changes to both the interior and exterior. As a result, Australian Minis now have steering wheel-mounted rev counters like the rest of the world had from day one.
Ride and handling are sensational – pin-sharp steering and immediate bite going into corners. For some, the ride may be a little firm but that’s the price you pay for that go-kart like dynamic handling response.
And while the Mini’s styling may be a throw-back to a previous era - as you would expect from BMW - its safety and technology are right up there with today’s best-practice, including standard automatic stability control and traction control, ABS anti-lock brakes with corner braking control, electronic brake distribution and brake assist to name just a few.
