Mini Cooper S

[Sci-Fi]

From AutoExpress:




Like all good recipes, the pocket rocket formula is a simple one. Add a big, powerful engine to a small, light shopping car, sprinkle on a dusting of chassis magic, then put in the oven at gas mark 10 and watch the adrenaline levels rise.

Successful cooking is by no means guaranteed. But get the flavour just right – as the original Mini did with the Monte Carlo Rally-winning Cooper S – and you'll earn the respect of performance enthusiasts across the globe.

And that's something BMW wants badly. Having established itself as a force in the saloon, coupé, off-roader and convertible markets, the German firm is finally ready to unleash in the UK its first attempt at a full-blown hot hatchback – the new MINI Cooper S. With power-packed newcomers such as Honda's Civic Type R and Ford's Focus ST170 locked in battle, things are already pretty hot in the superhatch sector. But the new flagship MINI has a trick up its sleeve. As with Mel Gibson's car in the film Mad Max, the S has a supercharger under its bonnet and the result is much more power.

Whereas the standard Cooper's 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine produces a respectable 115bhp – enough to push the car from 0-60mph in 9.2 seconds and elevate it to 'warm' hatch status – the S's blown 16-valve unit is good for 163bhp at 6,000rpm. Not only does this cut the 0-60mph time to 7.4 seconds and boost top speed to 135mph, it finally delivers what's needed to fully exploit the MINI's talented front-wheel-drive chassis. Flex your right foot and the car surges forward smoothly and progressively. With six closely spaced gear ratios driving the front axles, and such a flexible, lag-free power delivery, the Brazilian-built unit is an immensely enjoyable driver's package.

The car is also more refined than any hot hatch we've ever driven. In traffic, the Cooper S is as docile as a sleeping lion. But when you nudge the gearlever into a lower ratio and drop the hammer, the MINI feels every inch the full-blooded pocket rocket.

Only then does the retro-style four-seater reveal the depth of its ability. The superbly direct steering – which has been sharpened even further to only 2.5 turns lock-to-lock – points the car's nose into bends, clinging fiercely to the road in even the most slippery conditions. The stiffened anti-roll bars, springs and dampers provide excellent mid-bend composure, combining with the extra power to make it easy to use the throttle to adjust the car's line. Fun, fluid and secure, yet with a ride that's supple enough to absorb cracks and potholes, the Cooper S is everything a good hot hatchback should be.

The newcomer's twin-exit exhaust tailpipes, side vents, striking 16-inch alloy wheels and a bonnet scoop that accommodates the supercharger give it a serious dose of attitude. Most importantly, they do so without detracting from the shape that has made the standard MINI such a global success.