2013 Mini Cooper Reviews

Launched to an amazed world in 1959 the Mini became a huge success worldwide as well as in Australia, with it being built in Sydney for years. It faded from the 1980s onwards though some variants were still being made overseas till the year 2000. The British motor industry was in serious trouble for many years and

Despite sceptics having serious doubts about the new Mini when it was launched in the UK and Europe 2001, it has been a big success.

BMW’s Mini seems intent on becoming all things to all men and women, continuing to come up with new versions of the iconic British brand. The John Cooper Works high-performance range is now offered in every model: Mini, Clubman, Coupe, Cabriolet, Roadster, Paceman, Countryman and GP.HISTORYJohn Cooper, who gained legend status during the 1950s and 1960s designing Formula One and Indianapolis 500 race cars, began putting a sting in the tail of competition Minis – he designed the first high-performance Mini Cooper for the 1960 Monte Carlo Rally - and perking up the performance of production models. These days, many gentleman of a certain age glaze over at the mention of the Mini Cooper - enough to bring a tear to a glass eye. John Cooper died in 2000, aged 77. Cooper’s son, Mike, has brought the same passion to the company as his father and John Cooper Works continues to pump JCW Minis into a market attracting enthusiasts of high performance vehicles with individuality, versatility and, in this case, an impeccable pedigree. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSIONHeart and soul of the range is a new generation 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine featuring twin-scroll turbo technology, direct fuel injection, variable valve lift and timing, and a reinforced cylinder head and pistons, sodium filled exhaust valves and lightweight crankshaft, all fashioned from the racing-car list of goodies With a maximum output of 155 kW and 260 Nm of torque, (280 Nm with overboost), which increases to 160 kW and 280 Nm (300 Nm with overboost) in the ALL4 all-wheel-drive Mini JCW Countryman and Mini JCW Paceman. Mated with a standard six-speed manual gearbox, an optional six-speed automatic transmission is available for all Mini JCW variants except the GP limited edition model. TECHNOLOGYDepending on the model, a Mini JCW sports suspension, with dynamically tuned dampers and anti-roll bars, comes as standard or as a no-cost option. Stopping is guaranteed with a standard high-performance sports-brake system. A ‘Sport’ button on the centre console allows the driver to change engine response and accompaniment, as well as the power steering effort. In auto models, engaging Sport mode also quickens shift times. DRIVE IMPRESSIONSWe tested the latter models to great effect in cold and damp conditions on several sections of the Targa Tasmania route outside Hobart. A raspy motor note rang out through the narrow, twisty tree-lined avenues courtesy of the standard JCW sports exhaust system, which was cut to popping and crackling on over-run. Smiles all round. Precise speed-sensitive steering enabled the steerers to put the cars in perfect alignment over the fast and testing stages, while the tightly tuned suspension maintained the cars’ handling stability. However, there was a downside, with the Paceman producing a choppy ride over uneven road surfaces. It was similarly the case with the GP on the track, a fact that was highlighted by the media minder for the day, Mike Eady, the BMW driver trainer flown in from New Zealand. A former racer in Europe with much experience testing on the Nordschleife of the Nurburgring where the Mini JCW GP was shaken down, he suggested turning down the damping a notch or two would not have sacrificed performance to the production of a smoother ride. We spent time under the direction of Eady in the Coopers barreling around Baskerville circuit, near Hobart, weaving through cones in a rapid direction-changing exercise and scorching up the straight to come to a stop with heavy braking testing to the full the ABS effectiveness. No brake fade became evident in any of the cars – JCW hatch, Coupe, Roadster or GP - throughout the entire uncompromising workout. Star of this event was undoubtedly the limited edition GP which, with its stripped-back 1160 kg unladen weight and highly modified 1.6 litre turbo engine pumping out peak power of 160 kW and maximum torque of 260 Nm, traction control system with a specific GP mode, as well as a bespoke racing suspension and braking system, is the essence of the John Cooper Works philosophy. Aerodynamics, consisting of under-body panelling to reduce drag and a carbon rear wing to improve down-force over the rear axle, give the Mini JCW GP a strong street presence. The driver and co-driver are securely supported in heated leather Recaro sports seats with contrasting red stitching and a special knee roll for bracing during all-out driving.  The fastest series production car to come from the British marque, only 2000 with a single specification will be produced, with 55 pencilled in for Australia, on test in the ‘Green Hell’ of Nordschleife clocked a very respectable lap time of 8min23sec, 18 seconds faster than its predecessor, the Mini Cooper S with JCW GP kit.VERDICT No doubt for the driving enthusiast with a fancy for the ultimate sporting Mini, the new GP cannot come quick enough. MODEL LINE-UPMini JCW: from $50,400Mini JCW Clubman: from$51,800Mini JCW Coupe: $52,600Mini JCW Roadster: $55,100Mini JCW Cabrio: $58,500Mini JCW Countryman ALL4: $56,800Mini JCW Paceman ALL4: $58,600Mini JCW GPII: $56,900Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Mini dealer for driveaway prices.Mini John Cooper WorksPrice: from $50,400Engine: 1.6-litre turbo petrol, 155kW/260NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWDThirst: 7.0-litres per 100km, CO2 163 g/km

The fastest Mini allowed on the road will be remembered for corners rather than flat-out speed. The Mini John Cooper Works GP Edition hammers to 100km/h in 6.3 seconds.It’s impressive, but not nearly as appetising as this car’s capacity on the twisty stuff. A reinforced chassis, race-spec suspension, massive brakes and close-ratio six-speed gearbox helping keep the engine on boost make this a back-roads or track-day weapon. Australia secured 55 of the 2000-vehicle global production run and there’s still a handful in dealers.The price is $56,900 with no options boxes to tick. That buys a track-day car fitted with xenon headlamps, foglamps, airconditioning, stability control with a ‘GP mode’ for bigger slip angles, and a Sport button to sharpen up the already acute response.Competition comes from the Renault Megane RS265 Trophy Plus at $51,640, the $56,990 Mitsubishi Evolution and Subaru’s $59,990 WRX, though they all at least pretend to take passengers in the back. A massive strut brace just in front of the rear wheel arches restricts the Mini to two-seater duties only.This hot hatch is track ready, courtesy of adjustable coilover suspension to adjust the ride height by 20mm and a set of six-pot vented front brakes with more bite than a cornered politician. The stability control’s GP mode takes advantage of the upgraded hardware by only braking the inside wheel instead of also cutting engine power.The 1.6-litre turbo engine is common to the JCW family and uses an alloy cylinder block and bearing mounts, stronger cylinder head, reinforced pistons, low-weight crankshafts and sodium-filled exhaust valves. Torque is rated at 260Nm with a 20Nm overboost feature. In this well-sorted chassis, that’s enough to propel the lightweight Mini around the Nurburgring in 8 minutes and 23 seconds.The bewinged Mini JCW GP edition started out life as a regular hatch so there’s nothing wrong with its basic proportions. The designers didn’t have much say on the inside, with the rear seat ditched to make way for the brace.A chunky steering wheel fits well with the “go-kart with a roof” ethos. The exterior enhancements are all in the name of aerodynamics (red stripes excepted). A front apron spoiler and engine undertray shield have cut front axle lift and contributed to a six per cent drop in drag.The rarity of the GP Edition means it is unlikely to be officially crash tested, but the Mini Cooper base car is a five-star vehicle. There are head, side and curtain airbags along with ABS brakes linked to traction and stability control. An electronic front diff lock is also part of the safety repertoire.This is the purist’s Mini, in the sense it tracks and handles with more authority than any Mini before it and is a point-and-go rocket without being a handful. The biggest gripe with the GP Edition is the way it copes with back-road bumps, when the combination of rutted bitumen, taut suspension and rapid acceleration can briefly leave it without purchase on the road.Even then it’s predictable: the suspension refuses to squirm to the point of unsettling the car on landing and the steering resumes tracking to the degree of steering lock. Settle the nose down into the corner and the GP Edition follows the white line like Road Runner. The windier the route, the better the GP does. Passengers tend to hang on and loose items need to be secured. At least the Mini gives a moment’s warning as the turbo alters the exhaust note, or the driver downshifts entering an approaching corner …

The Paceman is built on the same platform as the more practical Countryman, but has a distinctive wedge-like shape, runs on sports suspension and is aimed mainly at young up-and-coming city slickers. It also lays claim to being the world's first SAC, or sports activity vehicle.THE RANGEPaceman come in two models, the Cooper and more powerful Cooper S, both running a BMW-built 1.6 litre four cylinder motor linked to a six-speed manual gearbox. A six-speed auto with paddle-shift is an option.THE WORKINGSThe Cooper has a 90kW/160Nm output compared to the 135/240 of the turbocharged S, which also has an overboost button that frees up an extra 20Nm of torque for a short burst. The bulldog-stanced car can get to 100km/h in 10.4 seconds with the 90kW engine while the S is three seconds quicker, but at 7.5litres/100km, it's a trifle thirstier. The non-turbo model averages 6.5litres/100km.PRICEParked in the premium compact nook of the market, the Cooper is $35,900 with the standard manual gearbox and the Cooper S is from $44,100.Mini expects most urbanites to opt for the auto shifter, which adds $2350. There's an extensive options list, from a glass roof and auto climate control to Sat nav, a 10-speaker Harman-Kardon audio and park distance control, plus a variety of alloy wheels, to customise the Paceman and adjust the price northwards.FIT-OUT AND EQUIPMENTLike others in the now seven-model range, the Paceman gets the dinner-plate sized central speedo with a rev counter in front of the driver, ambient lighting via switches above the windscreen and the full suite of electronics such as traction and stability control, hill start, brake assist and ABS. There's also an optional electronic diff lock that works when the stability control is switched off.The steering wheel is a multi-function delight and Bluetooth and a USB interface are also standard. Likewise front and rear fog lights auto-on headlights and wipers. The twin back seats can be folded nearly flat to expand cargo space from 330 to 1080litres. And that low sports suspension can be swapped for the regular set-up and ride height as a no-cost option.Seating is great, likewise visibility, and the sloping roofline is a bit of an optical illusion. The rear seats, which may appear to be squishy, can comfortably accommodate a couple of really big blokes.THE DRIVEWe spent time in a Cooper S manual and a Cooper automatic in the twisty terrain of Queensland's D'Aguilar range and on the freeways near Brisbane.The S is a potent beast, though the standard Cooper is hardly a slouch. Both have a razor-sharp electro-power steering, serious stopping power and provide a ride that's great for zipping along smooth roads, but fidgety on corrugations. The engine of Cooper auto, super-quiet inside at low speeds, howls at higher revs, whereas the twin-tailpiped turbo S provides much better music.VERDICTNeither sports coupe, nor SUV, the Paceman is more a fun package that separates the individual from the sheep.Mini Paceman/Cooper SPrice: $35,900, $44,100 (Cooper S)Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmService interval: 12 months/25,000kmSafety: 6 airbags, ABS with TC, ESC, EBD and hill assistCrash tested: Not testedEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl, 90kW/160Nm; 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo, 135kW/240Nm (Cooper S)Transmission: 6-speed manual; FWDDimensions: 4.12m (L), 1.79m (W), 1.52m (H)Weight: 1380kgSpare: Tyre inflation kitThirst: 6.5/7.6L/100km, 152/175g/km CO2 (manual/auto); 6.6/7.5L/100km, 154/177g/km CO2 (Cooper S)