The MINI Experience

The MINI Experience

The Mini Cooper S.. the most iconic car to come out of Britain. Before I start with my experience with the Cooper S, let me give you a brief history lesson. Pictures courtesy: Google Images

Released in 1959, the original Mini, designed by Six Alex Issigonis was meant to be a 2 door 4 cylinder efficient city runabout for the British Motor Company. The car was commissioned in response to a fuel shortage and it was the first front wheeled drive car which led to a lot of space inside the cabin. At around 3m long it was extremely good for the increasingly crowded city. This small car then caught the eye of John Cooper of the Cooper car company. He launched the Mini Cooper in 1963 with a 848cc engine and the Cooper S with a 1071cc engine. This was when the Mini was introduced to the world of rallying. Now you may be wondering what a 70hp car with a 0-100 time of around 13 seconds will do around the bigger engine monsters. Yes it was slow but the light and compact body meant it cornered like a go-kart. The results speak for themselves. The Mini, with its tiny engine won the Monte Carlo rally in 1964, 65 and 67.It was also the star of the 1969 British movie “The Italian Job” . The future of the Mini was uncertain during the 80s and 90s when its ownership kept changing hands. It was rescued by BMW who bought the rights to the brand in 1994. The Mini Cooper in its latest avatar was released in 2000. It has been subjected to constant tweaks and new variants since but it is still being manufactured in the iconic Oxford plant.

So, is the latest Mini fit to carry the brand name forward?? Let us find out with the latest and most sporty Mini to date, the 3 door Cooper S.

The new Cooper S has grown in size when compared to the original. At approximately 3.8 metres long and 1.4 metres tall, it is still a very small car for today’s standards. A small car that suits my size. In flesh, the Cooper S looks attractive. It’s not a car that will let you walk by without looking at it. It is a magnet for attention. That’s what a Mini should be and this does not disappoint with its cute looks. It is even better in red with black stripes and those brilliant 16 inch black alloys. It is a highly desirable car. The same style is carried over to the interiors as well. Crafted with high quality materials, it is designed to be different and stand out. You get a circular speedo in the centre console and a digital one in front of you.

Let’s first take a look at the not so interesting bits of the car. The most important thing the Indian buyer looks for is fuel efficiency. For those people, the car will give around 13kmpl in normal drive mode. But in sport mode, the mileage drops to around 10. The luggage space for such a small car is good at 211 litres and another 540 litres available with the rear seats folded down. The sporty seats in the front are comfortable and give good support. At the rear, there is more room than you expect. They can be relaxing on a long drive as well.

Now that has been dealt with, the more important parts come into picture: the driving experience.

The power plant that gives this car a punch is a turbocharged 2 litre petrol engine producing a massive 192 bhp and 290 Nm of torque. That in a car that weighs just 1.2 tons. This means that 100kmph is dealt with in just 6.8 seconds from a stand still. Now to the key characteristic that defines every Mini Cooper S: the handling. Am happy to report that the car still retains its go-kart like handling. The steering is accurate and pretty sharp. The driving experience is something I have never experienced before. The engine that revs to 6000 rpm, the handling and that brilliant exhaust note which crackles as well, combines to bring a wide smile on your face and leaves you wanting for more. The ride is slightly on the harsh side but that is something you will not notice while enjoying the drive.

The Cooper S is expensive. Starting at 45 lakhs on road, it can go up to 55 lakhs depending on your customization. But for a petrol head, it is a must have car. All petrol heads should, at some point in their lives, drive a Cooper S. If you have the cash, you should definitely buy a MINI Cooper S. It is the best car you can enjoy driving in without any worries that the bigger cars have. For the sensation it offers, the MINI Cooper S is definitely a steal.