THE RETURN OF A LEGEND

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This is the latest road test for the new MINI, courtesy of 4car.co.uk. Nearly everyone has their own memories of the original Mini. Whether you passed your test in one, clattered through college in one or tuned one to within an inch of its life, the Mini was an intrinsic part of many people's lives, changing not only the way we approached driving but, by opening up motoring to so many, changing society as well. Now, over four decades since Alec Issigonis penned the original, there's a new MINI, a car designed with the fundamental principles of its predecessor in mind, but with an eye very much to the 21st century. Created by a joint team of Rover and BMW designers and engineers, but built at the former Rover plant at Cowley in Oxfordshire, the new MINI is as much a fashion accessory as a piece of transport. Of course, it is a serious car as well, for BMW's intention is to make the new MINI a true baby BMW - which means class-leading build quality, specification, design and desirability. While it has no obvious rivals (except perhaps other fashion statements like the new VW Beetle or the MCC smart) other manufacturers will still be keen to see the effect this baby BMW has on buyers. Most importantly, are they prepared to trade the space and utility offered by practical superminis like the Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris for style and pose value? And does being a trend-setter demand any compromises? 4car.com Overall Rating: For: Superb build quality and eye-catching design that brings BMW-standard motoring to the supermini sector. Against: Expensive; disappointing engines, not as sharp or inspirational as the original and almost as impractical - no rear space, tiny boot. Sum-up: A car that will make you smile. As far removed from the spartan original Mini as you can imagine, but no less worthy for it. Reliability and Quality Our exclusive early drive of the new MINI was a hush-hush affair using early, pre-launch production models. Nevertheless, it would be hard to fault the condition of the two cars to which we had access. Both the base MINI One and sportier MINI Cooper have a wealth of detailing that catches the eye. From the stylish red and white paint-job on the Cooper to the scalloped seats of the basic model, it's evident that time and effort have gone into developing the new MINI. With BMW expertise behind it, you can expect few problems. Image Where do we start? Fun, cool, cheeky, stylish - this is a car that will turn heads. It looks striking from every angle and even manages to appear larger than it really is. In reality, it's just a few centimetres wider and longer than VW's Lupo. Performance BMW speaks of trying to replicate the original's go-kart feel, but even allowing for the fact that the Cooper model we drove was not fully run-in, we expected more of a sporty character and more plain grunt. Although it sounds great, the pick-up and power delivery is flat and it feels uninspiring; the peak torque (pulling power) is set high and the Cooper seems like it never really gets going. The transmission is rather more exciting: the five-speed manual is positive and sporting, with an engaging notchy feel between gears. A high-tech Steptronic CVT automatic gearbox with tiptronic selection will also be available. Ease of Driving The high-shouldered, low-roofed stance of the MINI might lead you to think that the cabin offers little hope for taller drivers, but BMW engineers have worked hard to ensure that the adjustable seats and steering wheel permit comfort for drivers of all shapes and sizes. The large, circular speedometer, which echoes the original Mini's, suggests a car that's easy to drive as confirmed by the wieldy power steering, the light clutch and easily operated switches. Safety and Security BMW is rightly proud of the fact that the MINI's bodyshell is over twice as rigid as any of its rivals. That stiffness is useful when it comes to tuning handling and ride, but also gives improved crash protection. BMW is predicting an impressive four stars in the Euro-NCAP crash test. Brakes, too, are effective, with all-round discs supported by an anti-lock system, electronic brake-force distribution and, in a first for this class, a tyre pressure warning indicator. BMW's Dynamic Stability Control system, which counters skids, is an option. Roominess Or lack of it... In a car called MINI you can hardly expect limousine-standard space, but this is definitely the car's biggest stumbling block. In fact, the overall packaging is actually less clever than in the original. Although there's loads of room in the front and a marginally more useful boot, the rear seats are really only suitable for children when there's a tallish person up front. The boot, at 160 litres in volume, will swallow a few bags of shopping and little more - don't expect to get a pushchair in the back without folding down the split rear seats. Running Costs Remember this is a BMW in all but name, which should mean good residuals, but also some costs to be swallowed for servicing at BMW main dealers. There's a theory doing the rounds that BMW will struggle to make money on the MINI project: the quality is just too good and the price not high enough. That may mean when the car is revised in a few years' time, the company may have to opt for a simpler version or steeper pricing. Either way, this generation of the car might just be a rarity: a brilliant car at relatively low cost. Comfort Other manufacturers pay attention. The new MINI offers comfort levels that drivers of 206s, Micras and the like will find hard to believe. The complicated Z-axle suspension at the rear offers an excellent ride matched to solid handling and the interior adds to the experience by offering up extremely supportive seats. All round the MINI has that big-car feel BMW is so good at providing. However, as we didn't have time to take our Cooper onto some of Britain's less well-maintained roads, we'll hold fire with a final judgment on the ride. Fun to Drive Fun to drive? Most definitely, but there's something lacking. The MINI is well balanced at lesser speeds in quicker corners, but will understeer (sending the front wheels sliding wide) if you really attack the turns. The steering is nicely weighted - on the heavy side by modern supermini norms - but whilst it's direct, it's not particularly sharp and doesn't give feedback like Minis of yesteryear. That said, the front-wheel-drive MINI is not slow and, with its excellent gearchange, will provide plenty of enjoyment for the majority of owners. Stereo/Sat Nav Specification levels on the MINI vary wildly depending on whether you opt for the base MINI One or one of the nauseatingly named Salt, Pepper or Chilli derivatives. Whatever seasoning you settle for, the optional spec list is massive, with a sat-nav system that slots into the central speedo mounting, climate control, bigger wheels, trip computer, rain sensor and an excellent panoramic sliding sunroof. Value for Money Compared with supermini rivals, the MINI is certainly not cheap. BMW quality notwithstanding, what you're really paying for is kudos and that's hard to put a price on. Suffice it to say, if you want to run a fully loaded MINI Cooper, you're going to be ordering a seriously expensive supermini. Used You might have quite a wait here, for there's a good chance that second-hand MINIs will actually be selling for a premium. Rumour has it that orders for new cars are already stretching towards the end of the year. That means the classified ad columns are going to be frightening a lot of punters, and making some sellers very happy indeed. Specification MINI Cooper 1.6 Engine: 1598 cc, 16 valves, four cylinders Max power: 115 bhp at 6000 rpm Max torque: 110 lb ft at 4500 rpm 0-60 mph acceleration: 9.1 seconds Maximum speed: 124 mph Fuel consumption (combined): 42 mpg CO2 emissions: 163 g/km VED rating: N/A Transmission: front-wheel drive, five-speed manual or CVT automatic Suspension, front: MacPherson struts, coil springs, lower arms, anti-roll bar Suspension, rear: Z-axle with twin lateral links, coil springs, trailing arms, gas shock absorbers Brakes: discs (ventilated at front), anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, cornering brake control Weight: 1050 kg Length x width x height: 11 ft 11 in x 6 ft 4 in x 4 ft 7 in Wheelbase: 8 ft 1 in Tyres: 175/65 R15 This article is courtesy and copyrighted by 4car.com.

Matt Franey
Article Date: May 10, 2001
Car Accociations: NEW_MINI
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