MINI Range
Messing with a winning formula clearly wasnt on the cards with the second generation MINI. Despite sharing barely a component with its predecessor, this version looks virtually the same. The philosophy this time round has been to ruthlessly excise all the parts that users felt werent up to par and to keep the aspects of the MINI that they loved, styling manifestly being one of them.
More spacious and easier to drive, with more efficient engines and a more customisable interior, the latest MINI range is an impressive achievement. It also includes an interesting Clubman estate derivative which, for a premium of around £1,200, offers buyers a rather quirky package of extra versatility. If youre used to the lines of the original MK1 BMW MINI, as most are, it takes a keen eye to spot the bodywork differences, despite this car and its progenitor sharing not one piece of sheet metal. The good news for British industry is that the car will continue to be built at what is now known as Plant Oxford (Cowley to us old timers), this factorys output being upped to 240,000 cars per year, more than double what it was when the first MINIs rolled off its lines in 2001.
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The front grille is tidier and the indicators are now housed in the headlight pod. The cars shoulder line is 18mm higher than on the former model, giving the latest version a more hunched, powerful appearance. Its inside the MINI that more obvious improvements have been wrought.
"The MINI has evolved in a very smart fashion"
Gone are those indicators that felt like you were snapping a biro every time you used them. The centrally mounted speedometer now houses entertainment and, if specified, navigation functions. The slimmed-down centre console offers more space in the footwells while the key has been replaced by a round signal sensor that slots next to the steering wheel. A start/stop button is also fitted as standard.
One of the most intriguing, albeit frivolous, aspects of the interior is the optional lights package which features custom ambient illumination. A panel of toggle switches in the roof lining allows the driver to switch the colours of the lights in said roof lining, the door storage pockets and the grab handle recesses. These can be changed at any time in five stages from warm orange to sporting blue, depending on personal taste - quite mad, but undeniably funky. Rear seat space, a big grumble amongst MINI customers, has been improved with recessed knee cut-outs in the fabric-trimmed front seat backs.
The engine line up merits investigation. The One uses a 95bhp 1.4-litre engine while the diesel in the MINI Cooper D also offers big improvements. The cars likely to provoke the biggest clamour, the Cooper and Cooper S, both use versions of the same 1.
6-litre powerplant. The Cooper, as before, is normally aspirated, this time round being propelled by a 120bhp engine that will get it from rest to 60mph in 8.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 126mph. The Cooper S gets an intercooled and turbocharged version of this engine thats good for 175bhp and will punt it through 60mph in 6.
9 seconds and on to a top speed of 140mph. The fuel consumption of both the Cooper variants has improved thanks to the improved efficiency of this modern 1.6-litre powerplant. The combined cycle figure for the Cooper is 48.
7mpg (previously 40.9) whilst the Cooper S was a real hog if you were heavy with the right foot but the figure is now 40.9mpg. As with any fuel economy figure, the real world results are usually around fifteen to twenty per cent less.
I can clearly recall driving an old Cooper S on track once and getting 11mpg over the course of a tankful! If economy is your number one priority, the 64mpg Cooper D will take some beating. Electromechanical power-assisted steering (EPAS) debuts on this version of the MINI and aims to reduce parking effort (a factor which turned off a proportion of mainly female potential customers) but still retain pinpoint accuracy at speed. Although keen drivers will at first lament the loss of the old system, the latest setup at least features a Sport setting that increases the steerings heft and gives the throttle a more aggressive map. Also fitted as standard on Cooper models are run flat tyres.
These are also fitted to the Copper S versions specified with the 16-inch alloy wheels. These tyres have a range of at least 90 miles in the event of a puncture and also mean that valuable space in the car isnt taken up with packaging a spare wheel. Pricing remains competitive with the One kicking off at £11,625 on the road, the Cooper pitched from £13,025, the Cooper D from £14,190 and the Cooper S giving the Renault Clio 197 something to think about from £16,025. Buyers will often specify their cars to their own tastes and spend a good deal more, indulging themselves with options like the Colour Line trim packs or DSC+ stability control.
Not even the most deluded optimist could have predicted quite how successful the MINI has been since its launch in 2001. The shift to German ownership was handled sensibly and sensitively with the heart and soul of the car remaining British. This time round, the MINI range aims to excise the flaws with Teutonic efficiency. The British way would have been to milk the formula until buyers grew bored.
Looks like weve got the best of both worlds now.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: MINI range
PRICES: £11,625-£17,995 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 5-17
CO2 EMISSIONS: 139-164g/km
PERFORMANCE: [Cooper] Max Speed 126mph / 0-60mph 9.1s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [Cooper] 48.7mpg (combined)
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: [Cooper] Six airbags, ABS with EBD and CBC, runflat tyres
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length 3686mm WHO TO SEE:
