Mini Reviews

Development took place between 1995 and 2001 under the directorship of the Rover Group.In 1999 BMW took control of the Rover Group in one of the many large takeovers of the period. BMW sold off Rover in 2000 but decided to keep the Mini as a seperate brand. This second period Mini is sometimes called ‘BMW Mini’ or the ‘New Mini’.Mini is 55cm longer, 30cm and 400kg heavier than the original. These figures have prompted many enthusiasts of the original to feel that Mini is not a true successor and some purists disparage Mini as unworthy of the name, however many other enthusiasts have embraced it..First Generation Mini was launched in April 2001 and on 3 April 2007, the one millionth Mini was produced after six years of production, one month longer than it took the classic Mini to reach the same total in March 1965.Since 2001 many variants have been produced as well as numerous show and concept versions. The Mini is now in what is known as the Second Generation and currently there are three body types: hatchback, convertible and Clubman. as well as many power variants from electric, diesel through to the 155kW John Cooper Garage versionFirst generationMk I Mini HatchbackFirst generation Mk I Mini Cooper SProduction2001-2006 (Mk I hatchback)2005-2008 (Mk I convertible)Body style(s)3-door hatchback2-door convertibleEngine* 1.4L Tritec I4 (One)* 1.4L Toyota 1ND-TV diesel (D)* 1.6L Tritec I4 (Cooper)* 1.6L Tritec supercharged I4 (S)Transmission* CVT* 5-speed manual* 6-speed automatic and manualSecond generation – 2007 - continuingMini introduced a brand new, thoroughly re-worked second generation car in 2007. The Gen 2 Mini (or R56), utilises a re-engineered platform with numerous engineering and styling changes. The drivetrain is shared with Peugeot and Citroen and is designed to be more cost effective to manufacture and fuel efficient to run. Generation Two was engineered in the UK by BMW.Body* 3-door hatchback* 2-door convertible* 5-door estateEngine* 1.4L Prince I4 (One)* 1.6L Prince I4 (Cooper)* 1.6L Peugeot DV6 diesel I4 (Cooper D)* 1.6L Prince turbocharged I4 (Cooper S)Transmission* 6-speed automatic* 6-speed manualRelated articles:Mini: Car of the Week (part 1)Mini diesel price announcedFirst drive: 2009 Mini Cooper CabrioIn the garage: Mini Cooper ChilliBathurst 1000 - past winnersFind your very own Mini

The smile-inducing droptop version of the upgraded Mini will go on sale later this month boasting lower fuel use, better outputs and lower emissions.The Mini icon — celebrating 50 years this year — is offering the new Cabrio as a Cooper and Cooper S straight off the bat, with the Chilli option pack available in both variants.Starting price for the new droptop is $39,800 for the Cooper, an increase of $2300 over the outgoing model.The top end Cooper S model rises by $1500 to be priced from $48,000; an automatic transmission adds $2350 to the bottom line and the Chilli pack another $3600.Tick a few option boxes and the pricetag quickly rises to more than $60,000 — a lot of money for a little sporty.The Bluetooth/USB connection will add $750, or $1470 if you want it integrated into the armrest.Leather trim, depending on the original model, adds between $1460 and $2950.Mini national manager Justin Hocevar says the new Mini Cabrio is the only premium cabrio in its segment will continue to deliver typical Mini driving pleasure, borrowing a trademark phrase from its BMW parent.“Compared with their predecessors both the new Cooper Cabrio and the new Cooper S Cabrio offer better performance on substantially less fuel and with much lower emissions,” he says.The new Cabrio has attempted to address some of the criticisms levelled at its predecessor, with the rear passengers protected in a rollover by a pop-up roll-hoop system that deploys in 150 milliseconds.The previous model's fixed rollhoops impeded rear vision for the driver, something that has been remedied to some extent by the new set-up, but the large blind spots at the rear corners remain, making car park manoeuvres still something of a mystery.The pop-up roll-hoop system also allows the new Cabrio an extra five litres of boot space, with better access thanks to an Easy-Load expandable aperture for the boot. With the roof down the boot space is 125 litres (up five), rising to 170 litres when the roof is up and 660 litres with the rear seat folded down.Even with the top — which is available in black, brown or a denim colour, depending on paint colour — down, there are still some rearward vision restrictions, as the folded roof can obscure the view of traffic behind, no mean feat given the low ride of the Cabrio.Mini is also claiming an increase in body stiffness — thanks predominantly to reinforced side-sills — of 10 per cent, with a weight reduction of 10kg.Fuel consumption has also been cut — by 16 per cent in the Cooper to 6.1l/100km and 18 per cent in the Cooper S, down to 7.2l/100km, coincidentally the number achieved on the launch drive program south-west of Melbourne.One the sillier gauges — right up there with the economy gauge in an old Commodore or the "accurate" boost pressure gauges on some turbos — is the "Always Open Timer" tacked on to the left-hand side of the tachometer.Supposedly a fun feature and a non-negotiable part of the Chilli pack, it displays how much time you've spent driving with the roof down, but all it really does with any degree of function is block one of the air vents.The roof mechanism takes 15 seconds and can be operated up to 30km/h, with the additional flexibility of lifting the forward section of the roof, offering targa-top style driving without exposing the back seats, but aerodynamics make sure there's plenty of wind in the hair regardless of t-top or fully-dropped roof mode.The company expects the Cooper S to represent around 55 per cent of the new Cabrio's sales, with the Cooper more likely to be bought with a six-speed automatic.The Chilli pack ups the wheel size for either model (16in on the Cooper and 17 on the S), as well as adding cloth/leather trim, upgrading the sound system and adding Xenon headlights on Cooper S — the sales boffins say the take up of Chilli is around 60 per cent. DrivingThe only model driven on the launch was the Cooper S Chilli manual and immediately the turbo powerplant made its presence felt with braps, rumbles, snuffles and pops on the down-change, with an almost immediate surge from just about anywhere in the rev range.Rear seat room behind a 190cm-plus driver and passenger is minimal but tall occupants can accommodate limbs easily for a decent driving position.Rear vision is still an issue but otherwise the fun drive experience of previous BMW-built Minis remains — flat, grippy handling with plenty of driver smiles.The turbocharged powerplant does its best to make the front wheels squirm and will succeed under hard acceleration from slow corners, prompting the (standard range-wide) stability control into action.The gearchange is slick and reasonably sharp, although it's not difficult to push too far across into the realm of reverse — but most of the time the gearbox and well-placed pedals made for an entertaining drive.The pricetag looks impressive but the segment has a few droptops that offer more space and metal for the money, but putting a price on the go-kart handling and the fun drive experience is difficult ... that's what the company will count on.Price: from $39,800.Engine: 1.6-litre 16-valve four-cylinder; S — 1.6-litre 16-valve direct-injection twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder.Transmission: six-speed manual or automatic, front-wheel drive.Power: 88kW @ 6000rpm; 128kW @ 5500rpm.Torque: 160Nm @ 4250rpm; 240Nm (260Nm on overboost) from 1600 to 5000rpm.Performance: 0-100km/h 9.8 seconds (S 7.4). Top speed 198km/h (S- 222km/h).Fuel consumption: 6.1litres/100km (S — 7.2), tank 40litres (S — 50).Emissions: 145g/km (S — 171).In its class:Holden Astra Twin Top, from $45,790.Ford Focus Cabriolet, from $45,490.Peugeot 207CC, from $34,990.Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet, from $44,990.

But the Chilli variant adds even a little more heat to the recipe, for which the cost starts at around $43,500. Of course, you can add all sort of goodies from the bursting Mini option wardrobe to bump that price tag up at will.EngineMated to a six speed manual transmission, or optional six speed auto, the Mini Cooper S Chilli is powered by a 1.6 litre, four cylinder turbocharged engine that squeezes out 128kW at 5500 rpm and 240Nm at 1600-5000 rpm.On its way to a top speed of 225km/h, it will pass the 100km/h mark in 7.1 seconds.In the city, the Chilli burns 7.9 litres of fuel every 100 kilometres but on country roads and freeways that figure can drop considerably to around 5.2 litres, while CO2 emissions are also relatively low, at around 149 g/km.ExteriorThe ‘compact on the outside, roomy on the inside’ promise continues with the Cooper S Chilli.Seventeen inch alloy wheels jammed hard into each corner provide the car with minimal overhangs and promote a stocky, bulldog appearance.A wrap-around style glass window band increases peripheral vision and the upright windscreen improves interior space.The wide-mouth, hexagonal grille and bi-xenon elliptical headlights, plus chrome highlights and Cooper S badging accentuate the sporty look of the Chilli, whilst side sills, flared wheel arches, twin exhausts, twin racing stripes and a wing-shaped roof spoiler compliment its muscular, purposeful stance.InteriorThere is a feeling of precision and quality inside the Mini Cooper S Chilli.Supportive leather seats and multifunction steering wheel provide a superior level of comfort, whilst the unique dash layout – emphasised by the huge speedo in the middle - is fresh, neat and well made.There is plenty of storage space in the roomy, chrome-finished cabin, including two cup holders, and enough leg room in the back seats for two average sized males to sit in comfort on short trips.SafetyAs well as six standard airbags, the Chilli comes with anit-skid brakes with cornering control, brakeforce distribution and stability and traction control systems.DrivingIt’s always refreshing to see a unique approach to interior design. Mini has certainly achieved difference with the switch laden dash and big retro dials finished with chrome and lots of glass and colour. Whether it’s necessarily to our taste is another story but big-ups in any case for the effort.One negative was the position of the speedometer. It might look striking and novel if you’re not driving but it’s a hassle to look left all the time to see how fast you’re going – and perhaps a little dangerous too. Another sore point was the footrest that seemed a bit too large for our Aussie feet, and got in the way a lot when changing gears.But the seats were firm and supportive, the cabin was light and roomy and the fat leather wheel felt substantial in the hand. Most of the controls were easy to find and simple to use, although we did take a bit of time fumbling our way a round the audio system.All the talk about the Cooper S range handling like a go-kart is on the money. The bigger wheels at each corner give it plenty of grip. Diving in and out of corners, the car was always direct and true.The turbo charger gives the Chilli all the nip it needed. We did find giving it too much squirt took enough weight off the front wheels to liken it to an untethered hose on full whack, which was a little unsettling.The suspension could have been slightly more forgiving which would have ironed out a few rattles and knocks over rough bitumen, but there was little to no body roll given its extremely low centre of gravity and ideal weight distribution.But overall, this is a fun and feisty car – with all the pocket performance you could want, and great looks to boot.

Some would say it's a brave move to launch a new car which makes an extroverted statement about success and a carefree lifestyle as the world reels from the numbing chill of recession.New car sales worldwide are plummeting but BMW's Mini moment in the sun has arrived.It already had its second generation, oh-so-cool convertible locked into production well before the economic crisis loomed and now it seems there could be a ray of sunshine for Mini amongst the gloom and doom.Its seemingly less than perfect timing could work in its favour with the new cabrio likely to appeal to buyers downsizing from more expensive or less efficient models.An upbeat head of Mini's marketing communications Andreas Hofmann says the Mini's enviable appeal as a fun car and its reputation for fuel efficiency were strong selling points."Our timing (in launching the new Mini convertible) will work in our favour. Buyers are downsizing and that will be a bonus for us, especially in the United Sates and even in Australia,” Hofmann said at the launch of the Mini cabrio in Austria."Even in this climate if a product is right, it will sell," he said.Australia gets the new soft top in Cooper and more potent Cooper S guise in April. It picks up all the styling and mechanical changes introduced in the hatch two years ago, including the 1.6-litre petrol four cylinder motor. In the Cooper S there's been a switch to a twin-scroll turbocharged engine instead of the old supercharged motor. Diesel, too, is under consideration and will probably come later in the year.So it is largely a good news story for the new Mini: it's greener, more frugal, and the cabriolet addresses most of the styling negatives associated with the old version.That puts Mini in a good position to take the fight for sales up to rivals like the Audi A3, Peugeot 207, VW Eos, Mazda MX5 and Holden's Astra. You can also add Fiat's 500 convertible which will be launched in Europe in May.ON THE ROADWho said the Germans don't have a sense of humour?Who else would launch a convertible in Austria as Europe struggles through one of its bleakest winters in living memory. While Australia struggled with heat waves, in the foothills of the Austrian Alps the temperature struggling to get to zero, snow sat a metre deep on the roadside and houses were half hidden under white blankets.There were plenty of puzzled looks from the Austrians, swathed in layers of winter coats, pondering why these strange tourists were driving with the roof down. But Mini reckons there's no reason why you can't drive a cabrio in all seasons and they are right.Certainly the provided thermal jackets, combined with the Mini's new automatic airconditioning system, did the job at keeping frostbite at bay.You certainly don't buy a cabrio to be practical, but this one packs plenty of appeal and some gimmicks.Mini, a brand which likes to be off centre, has blessed the motoring world with a new term, the Always Open Timer, which was quickly dubbed the openonameter.This supposedly clever little dashboard display keeps track of how many hours you have driven topless. Why? Beats me, but it's a great conversation opener.Mini says it "encourages open air motoring." I thought that's the very reason you buy a cabrio in the first place. So now you can have a dashboard display to make you feel good.The neatly designed powered roof opens in 15 seconds flat. It's not the fastest in the business but it can be done at speeds up to 30km/h so you can impress your passengers or fellow road users with Mini's card folding trick on the run.You can also slide the leading edge back to create a sunroof. The top folds down onto the boot lid. It looks neater than before but there's no room for it to disappear completely.The pair of rollover hoops in the old model, which blocked the rear view, have been replaced with a single pop up bar which is far neater affair. The rear window doesn't have wiper so on wet days or in snow you have to rely on your door mirrors. This Mini suffers the same fate as most convertibles in that rear quarter visibility is still minimal thanks to the chunky design of the soft top.The back seat looks purpose built for kids, not adults, but Mini has done a good job in maximising luggage space, albeit you can only get a couple of small suitcases in there, but you can access the rear seat which splits and folds.Under the bonnet, the 1.6-litre four cylinder in the base Cooper model is good for 88kW and 160 Nm of torque. It's no rocket, but the Mini has impressive fuel consumption on its side.The Cooper S is a delightfully different beast and you can pick it from a distance because of the power bulge on the bonnet. It offers added spice with 128kW and 240Nm but uses more fuel. Acceleration off the line takes a claimed 7.4 seconds to get to 100km/h; the base Cooper does it in a leisurely 9.8 seconds.Fuel consumption is rated at 6.1l/100km in the Cooper and 7.2l/100km for the Cooper S but the best we could do was 9l.100km on icy roads.We only drove the Cooper S version which showed little evidence that the extra 100kg the electric soft top adds hampered performance. It may be a different story in the non-turbo version. Nor did we see any evidence of scuttle shake which the previous model suffered from.The Cooper S's ride remains firm to the point of being uncomfortable, especially on broken surfaces, thanks to its larger wheels, run-flat rubber and sporty suspension set up.But it makes up for the hard ride with its reassuring grip and balanced handling, especially in tight twisty roads where there are constant changes of direction.Our six-speed manual test car came equipped with Mini's new stop start system which switches the engine off automatically when stopped to save fuel. Depressing the clutch fires up the engine again. It's a feature we will soon see in Australia on the Mini diesel hatch, but Mini is expected to introduce it on the petrol cabrio next year.Cabrio pricing is expected to rise between 3 and 5 per cent over the outgoing model, which would position the Cooper at just under $39,000 and the Cooper S at under $48,000. You do get some extra equipment like automatic air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity and USB port for MP3 players to offset the price rise.The cabrio has all the traditional Mini DNA: sharp steering, poise and from the turbo, plenty of punch. Our drive in Austria proved this week, there's nothing chilling or numbing about the Mini's appeal.Price: Not finalised but expect the Cooper to sell for just under $39,000 and the Cooper S for about $48,000. SnapshotBMW Mini convertibleOn sale: AprilEngines: Cooper: Four cylinder, 1.6 litre naturally aspirated, 88kW at 6000rpm; 160Nm at 4250. CO2: 145g/km; Cooper S 171g/kmCooper S: 1.6-litre twin scroll turbocharged, 128kW at 5500rpm; 240Nm at 1600rpm (can be briefly boosted to 260Nm under full throttle).Performance: Cooper, 0-100km/h 9.8 seconds (manual) 11.1s (auto). Cooper S 7.4s (manual) 7.7s (automatic)Transmission: Six-speed manual or automatic optionalEconomy: Cooper, 6.1/l100km; Cooper S, 7.2l/100km. As tested (Cooper S): 9l/100km to 11l/100km depending on road conditions.

But for how long will it hang on to the title.BMW'S two—door Mini will soon snatch away from rival Smart the bragging rights of having Australia's greenest new car — but it looks like its reign is going to be short lived.The diesel version of the Mini arrives in June, promising an average a budget friendly fuel consumption of 3.9 litres per 100km — or a remarkable 3.5 litres on the highway — giving it a range of just over 1000km on a tank from an engine which produces just 104g of CO2 per kilometre.That will make the Mini D cleaner than the much vaunted Toyota Prius hybrid and the current green car king, the Fourtwo from Mercedes—Benz subsidiary Smart which has a mild hybrid system.But Smart isn't lying down and will fight back with an even cleaner two—seat FourTwo, which may go on sale as early as August. It will lower the green bar even further to 3.3l/100km and promising an astonishing clean exhaust for a conventional combustion engine of just 88g/km of CO2.And waiting in the wings will be an equally smart 1.2—litre Fiat 500 cabriolet, due to be launched at the Geneva Motor Show next month which will use the same fuel saving stop—start engine technology as the Mini. It's due in Australia next year to take its share of the frugal limelight.Meanwhile, all eyes are on the new diesel version of the cute—as Mini, and the big advantage it has over the Smart is that it at least has a back seat, of sorts.The stylish Mini's maxi appeal is you can have fun and at the same time feel good about being environmentally responsible. It promises class leading fuel economy from its direct injection turbo engine, jointly developed with Peugeot and Citroen, without the need for expensive and hefty batteries which are the millstone of existing electric/petrol hybrid systems.Pricing is yet to be fixed but the Mini D is expected to come into the market for about $34,000 for the base Cooper version and just under $38,000 for the better equipped sporty Chilli.But the diesel Mini nearly didn't make it to our market. A year ago it would not have been possible for BMW to sell it here.The Mini D's remarkable fuel economy is largely achieved by automatically shutting down its engine when at idle, such as stopped at traffic lights. Depressing the clutch instantly fires up the engine again. It also switches off ancillaries, such as the alternator and water pump until needed to reduce engine load to save fuel while energy traditionally lost when braking is recaptured and fed back to the battery.As well, there's even a gauge to tell the driver when to change gears for maximum efficiency.But most of this technology, developed by Bosch, works best with a lean burn diesel engine and until last month Australia's diesel was too high in sulphur to make it work. The sulphur level was reduced in December, opening a flood gate to companies like BMW to bring in high tech engine technology.The green friendly message will be a big marketing draw card for Mini as buyers look to downsize and look at fuel efficient alternatives.BMW Australia last year successfully convinced Germany there was a sound business case for adding the diesel to the Australian Mini range. It was, in hindsight, a brave move considering the majority of Mini owners scoffed at such an idea of having a diesel under the bonnet. But times have changed and being seen to being green is now OK. So how does the diesel Mini drive? The quick answer is a lot better than many critics thought.DrivingGood grief, a Mini with a diesel. What next? But hang on, there's some sound reasoning for going down the diesel path, not the least is the feel good factor.And by the way, you can spot the diesel by the slight power bulge — or is that a pot belly — on the bonnet and the D badge on the boot, otherwise it looks like a regular Mini.For those who frown at the thought of a diesel Mini: be prepared for a culture shock. This one comes high on the fun factor scale.There are a couple of minor downsides — at highway speeds there's some wind noise around the A frames, the engine sounds harsh over 3000rpm and there's some old fashioned diesel clatter on start up and engine shudder when it automatically shuts down and goes into idle mode.And the engine shutting down when the car is stopped feels strange but you get used to it and you can switch it off if not needed.But the positives here far outweigh the negatives. This is no sprint car but underway this oil burner is remarkably quiet and refined.Punting it along dead smooth German autobahns and average quality rural roads proved the Mini, despite the extra weight of the diesel motor, sits well on the road with a compliant suspension setup , good dampening and precise gear shifting.It certainly has the potential to shine on Australian roads and the claimed 3.9l/100kmh looks achievable. The ride from the runflat tyres is firm without being uncomfortable. And it retains the Mini magic of crisp point to point steering.It may only have 80kW under its belt, and zero to 100km/h takes a leisurely 9.9 seconds but you don't buy the this Mini for off the line pace. This is a fairly relaxed engine: at 100km/h it is only pulling 1800 revs.Torque is what the Cooper D is all about — 240Nm of it spread between 1750 and 2000rpm which can be briefly boosted to 260Nm under full throttle. To put that another way, the diesel produces the same amount of torque as the existing turbocharged Cooper S, but uses substantially less fuel and will be markedly cheaper to buy. The Cooper D will sell for about $34,000, the petrol Cooper S sells for $42,100.And that's the conundrum facing Mini buyers. Can they live with the D for diesel badge on the boot?If not, hide the badge and still boast to your friends you are doing your bit to save the planet.Let them guess what's under the bonnet. On sale: JunePrice: $34,000 to $38,000Engine: 1.6—litre turbo diesel, 80kW at 4000rpm, 240Nm torque from 1750rpm; peak torque 260Nm under full boost.Transmission: Six—speed manual or six—speed automatic optionalEconomy: 3.9l/100km combined, 104g/km CO2Make One Degree of difference today by calculating your carbon footprint and finding out what you can do to reduce it. 

As I jumped into an electric Mini in Los Angeles, as one of the very first journalists anywhere in the world to drive the Mini E, I was surprised as it drove so much like a normal petrol- powered car.The Mini E is spritely, has excellent air conditioning, rides nicely and has the same quality construction and funky looks as the regular petrol-power Mini models in showrooms in Australia. And, as you would expect, it is very, very quiet.Then again, it is charged through a high-voltage cable connected to the electricity grid ...The Mini E also drops from a four-seater to a two-passenger car, as the tail end is loaded with the giant 200-kilogram battery pack which makes it one of the cars at the sharp end of the move from unleaded to volts.There are many other electric cars at the Los Angeles Motor Show this week, and California has become a hotbed of electric action as major carmakers accelerate their plans for zero-emission cars to battle global warming "This is about re-inventing mobility. Change and progress is coming,"the head of the world's fifth-largest carmaker, Carlos Ghosn of Renault-Nissan, said at the opening of the Los Angeles Motor Show.He forecasted global sales of around seven million electric vehicles a year by 2020, although that will still only be around 10 per cent of total worldwide sales.The Mini E is already the poster car for the green movement with significant advantages over other contenders including the Mitsubishi i-MIEV mini-car.For a start, it has 240-kilometre range. It can also zap to 100km/h in just 8.5 seconds, which is better than many petrol cars, and it has a top speed of 155 km/h.It can also be recharged in just 2.5 hours.The bad news, for now, is that Mini is only building 500 Es and they will only be leased to people in the USA for around $1500 a month.There is no plan to bring the car to Australia, except for demonstrations.But the BMW Group, which produced the Mini E, is committed to alternative energy and is working on everything from cleaner petrol engines to hydrogen power and the eventual switch to electric.Mitsubishi will easily beat Mini to showrooms when it introduces its plug-in i-MIEV towards the end of next year and Daimler also has battery-power plans for its Smart ForTwo and Mercedes-Benz A-Class, probably early in 2010.But everyone on the electric bandwagon knows that cars such as the Mini E will only be workable in Australia once there is a significant network of plug-in charging stations like the one already in place in LA.That is one reason why the head of the i-MIEV project, Kenichiro Wada of Mitsubishi, is coming to Australia next month."I am sorry, but without any infrastructure we cannot supply this car to Australia. It is chick-and-egg relationship," Wada said."If possible, I would like to talk to governments and power utility companies. They have to prepare for the arrival of electric cars." 

While it is harsh to dismiss the first R53 version of the JCW as not being a success, it wasn't all it could so Mini owner's BMW have improved the breed for the new R56.The last JCW was more of an retro-fitted parts kit, supplied through the John Cooper Works tuning arm, than a proper Mini model. The new car is the real deal with Mini taking control of the JCW brand and developing the road car - both hatch and Clubman - alongside its Mini Challenge racer.That means the JCW earns its place at the top of the Mini heap, as the brand’s halo car, above the Cooper and Chilli models.It is a natural extension to the brand given the strong racing heritage of the original Mini and John Cooper; the man who ran Jack Brabham to two Formula One world titles.Mini is pushing the links to the Challenge racers hard, and with good reason. The engine is the same one found in the track cars.The 1.6-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder powerplant produces 155kW and 260Nm; with a further 20Nm available on Overboost. It boasts new pistons, valves, turbochargers, intake and exhaust systems on top of the standard Cooper S engine.But for all the power, Mini hasn't forgot that the world craves environmentally friendly cars. Fuel economy is an impressive 6.9l/100km for the hatch and 7.0l for the Clubman on the EU cycle and the engine already meets the EU 5 emission standards, that have still to be introduced.The company has also gone to work on the car's handling and other performance measures. There are upgraded brakes, suspension, gearbox and a recalibrated Dynamic Stability Control system and traction control.There is also a unique Electronic Diff Lock Control that works when the DSC is switched off.While the car's has been toughened up, Mini is also offering a range of performance parts to let customers go even further.Cross-drilled brake discs, an aerodynamic kit that includes a wing and rear diffuser, a strut bar and suspension upgrades are all on the options list.Also available are interior upgrades that include racing seats, sports steering wheel, carbon fibre gear lever and handbrake and bigger, 18-inch wheels.The JCW is based on the Chilli S model so the base package for the car is solid.Prices start at $48,800 for the hatch and $51,300 for the Clubman.The Cabrio version of the JCW won't hit the roads until the updated soft-top emerges next year. With the basic models due by the second quarter the JCW probably won't land on our shores until the middle of 2009.Despite starting late in the year Mini Australia is expecting to sell 60 JCWs by the end of 2008 and is targeting 150 in 2009.  ON THE ROADWhat the Mini JCW lacks in style, it makes up in substance.The biggest criticism of the car is the styling is under-whelming. Sitting inside the car there is almost nothing to really distinguish it from a regular Mini.Granted the steering wheel is leather, there are sports seats, anthracite roof lining and a 260km/h speedo but they are very subtle touches and don't suggest a premium model. You don't even get special badging unless you pay extra.But having said that, it is typically comfortable and stylish as we've come to expect from the Mini.Things are improved on the exterior with 17-inch alloy wheels, bonnet stripes and JCW badges. But again you are left with the feeling that Mini could have taken things further. The optional 18-inch black wheels and aerodynamic kit give the car real presence but come at a price.For a brand so heavily aware of style it is a surprising element to the JCW.But while the styling is under done you can make no such criticism of the engine. It is brilliant; capable of pumping out 97kw per litre.It's small size belies the fact that it is a powerful unit that is capable of taking the car to 238km/h and from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds.It's not just the raw power too. It is smooth across the rev range and sounds great when you put your foot down.The gearbox is also impressive. Despite being beefed up to cope with the extra grunt it retains the same sharp feel of the standard Mini six-speed manual unit.As you'd expect for a sports model with upgraded suspension the ride is firm. The handling is direct and the JCW provides good feedback to the driver; especially when the Sports mode is engaged. While it can feel harsh on the rougher, open roads it work well on smoother tarmac.To demonstrate this the launch program for the JCW included a stop-over at the Broadford State Motorcycle Complex for some racetrack laps.On the track the JCW is impressive. For such a small car it provides big entertainment. The engine comes into its own when there are no speed limits to worry about and the brakes held up well to the punishment the track dished out.The extra weight made the Clubman less predictable and stable in the rear in the high-speed corners. The hatch had no such problems and lived up to Mini's claims of go-kart like handling. INSIDE VIEWPrice: Hardtop $48,800, Clubman $51,300Engine: 1.6-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder, 155kW and 260NmTransmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel driveFuel economy: Hardtop 6.9l/100km, Clubman 7.0l/100km both on combined EU cycle 

There were motor shows coming, Mini's retro look-at-me originality was becoming a little ho-hum and there was a niche or two still to fill. The answer for BMW was to track the path of the original Mini ... move from the idea of a small passenger sedan to a small everything van in the style of the quirky little Traveller.Thus was born — or reborn — the Traveller Concept, an ultra-compact two-seat load carrier with the Mini's funky front-end and cabin and a bread van at the rear. A couple of years on the show circuit and the idea was tweaked and refined. A second row of seats added along with a rearward-opening “suicide” door in the style of Mazda's RX-8 — just one, in this case — and the modern rendering of the Clubman was born. What is really interesting about the Clubman is how cleanly it divides opinion.It is a love-it-or-hate-it proposition, even among those enamoured of the little sedan. My 15-year-old daughter, already plotting ways to get her hands on a Cooper S, turned away in disgust. “It's gross ... how could they even do that?” she said. Evidently the opinion only bore depth if one was outside looking on or sitting to the rear of the B-pillar. Everything about the cabin and the front of the car still passes muster. The funky bits ... oversized dials, tactile switchgear and huggy seats still push the right buttons.However, it appears that the rear seats and the admittedly Mini-sized load area are going to win favour from the practical set — those stable, left-brain utilisers of society. That is strange because practical and sensible are not catchwords that go hand-in-hand with Mini. Look under fad in the dictionary and you will find Minis in general and the Clubman in particular. Yet, perversely, to a goodly degree the Mini Clubman is practical — particularly if you pretend it doesn't have rear seats and fold them out of the way. In that case you are going to be able to fit in a bike, a huge weekly shop or lots and lots of nice things to drink. The rear barn doors swing wide on clever hinges to ensure unfettered access to the load area. Coupled to the car's natural low ride height, this makes for very comfortable loading.You just have to be careful when closing the doors that you do so in the correct order — something you would probably get used to as an owner.What you are less likely to brush aside any time soon — particularly if you are using the rear seats for the children — is the self-centred design team that made those seats accessible only from the traffic side of a right-hand drive model. The criticism will carry little weight in Germany and continental Europe but for the Australian owner it's a biggie.All that aside, Clubman buyers will still know they have bought into what the manufacturer will have us believe is the most fun club in the country.And driving the Clubman is fun. Despite its longer body and the 80kg of extra bulk, the go-kart qualities of the original brick-on-wheels still shine through. While it may not be as sharp through the really twisty bits — or even around the cones at a gymkhana — it still has the ability to bring a smile to your face and leave a host of beefier, bulkier rivals wondering which way you went, as we discovered in testing with the Cooper S. The sports suspension tended towards being harsh but it did all that was required of it to maintain connection with the road.That impression of a firm ride is not helped by the use of run-flat tyres — but that is nothing new in the BMW stable. But under the bonnet the Clubman is exactly the same package as the basic Mini. In the Cooper S test car that means a punchy turbo 1.6-litre four-cylinder with 128kW of power and a noticeable 240Nm of torque there for the asking.The engine is a real treat. It provides more than enough punch to explore the well-sorted Mini chassis and brakes that allow you to dive deep into corners without any sense of fade.You will be able to find a touch of torque steer, particularly if overly enthusiastic on the throttle while the steering is loaded.But it is not snappy and merely acts as a reminder to wait through the corner before getting stuck in again.It is, after all, a front-driver.In the test car, drive was through a snicky six-speed manual — which begs the question: why anyone would want to dull the performance by paying a $2200 premium for the automatic.Does anyone really need a Clubman? Probably not, but there are going to be more than a few who will want one ... and the extra space won't hurt when putting forward a business case.

They planned for 100,000 global sales per year. Last year they sold 222,000 and production is being ramped up to 260,000.So thousands of people loved it, and a fair proportion of them were the hip young things the brand markets to.But lots of the hip young things are now hip young-ish parents. And when you have kids, the Mini is not so much fun.It’s a hassle to get a large stroller plus the other truckload of stuff that comes with babies into the cargo part, especially if you have a capsule in the back seat. And getting the bub into the capsule amount to a short course in pilates muscle-wrenching. When they gravitate to the child seat it’s much the same, except the child is heavier.So here’s the Mini Clubman, with a longer wheelbase and body, and a suicide door on the driver’s side to give more access to the back row.That it’s on the driver’s side is a carryover from the left-hand drive markets, and there’s been a bit of grumbling about the door opening into the traffic. But really, unless you’re parallel parking all the time, it’s probably not going to be an issue.The Clubman is identical to the hardtop up to the A-pillar, but is 239mm longer and the wheelbase is stretched 80mm (which translates to 77mm more legroom).Rather than the hardtop’s gentle dome profile, the Clubman roof has an upright line that runs to the spoiler lip above the rear doors, which have a contrasting sill colour that harks back to the wood-framing on the early Minis.The rear door is a split pair - rather than the hatch on the new hardtop - which loses a bit in practicality. But BMW’s Mini has always been about style over stowage, so buyers probably won’t mind, especially since they’re getting 260 litres of cargo capacity, 85 more than the hardtop, plus another 250 if they fold the rear seats. There is an underfloor storage area where the wheel well would have been, as the Clubman is fitted with runflats across the range.Taillights are attached to the body, so they can still be seen from behind when the doors are open.To trumpet its grooviness, the newcomer brings a new colour to the range, Hot Chocolate, which is very much the fashion at the moment but runs the risk of being so five minutes ago in about, say, five minutes.But otherwise there is the same brainfreezing number of paint and interior combinations and options available on the other models.And like them, the Clubman comes as either Cooper or Cooper S with the additional choice of Chilli spec fit-outs for each.There are the same front-wheel drivetrains. The Coopers get an 88kW/160Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder, which gets to 100km/h in 9.8 seconds for the six-speed manual and 10.9 for the $2200 six-speed sequential auto with paddle-shifts, and has a top speed of 210km/h and claimed fuel consumption of 6.0L and 6.8L respectively.The `S’ versions get the 126kW/240Nm turbo 1.6-litre, with acceleration sharpened to 7.6 seconds for the manual and 7.8 for the auto, with a top speed of 224km/h and economy posted at 7.0L and 7.8L.Standard equipment list for the $34,400 Cooper level features 16” alloy wheels, stability and traction control, anti-skid brakes with brake force distribution, six airbags, parking alert and the usual cabin comforts including the changeable ambient lighting colours that have been a hit in the hardtop.The $43,200 Cooper S gets 17” alloys, bonnet scoop, sport button to boost steering feel and throttle and shorten shift times, larger front brakes, twin chrome exhaust tips and front foglights,Shelling out the extra $3800 for the Chillli spec adds things like a front armrest, flat load cargo floor, wheel upgrade and Bluetooth with USB/audio interface to the Cooper, and xenon headlights, sports suspension, better wheels and climate control to the Cooper S.A number of option choices and packages upgrade to leather, sunroof, TV/nav and more storage options, so you can ensure your Mini is different to the neighbour’s.But with any spec, the Clubman remains a niche within a niche. BMW sold just under 2300 Minis last year in Australia, and expects to top that plus sell about 300 of the Clubman this year.BMW spokesman Alexander Corne admits that initially the new arrival is expected to be snapped up by existing owners. Which basically means that 300 households won’t be moving to another brand just because they no longer fit in their current Mini. Which is probably the whole idea.The suicide door makes it easier to throw a bag or a passenger into the back seat, but only just. The opening is fairly narrow, but at least on that side there’s no longer the hated squeeze past the tipped front seat.The cabin is a chic as ever: groovy toggle switches spaced among their tiny `roll bars’, funky shaping to dash and trim, and a speedo the size of an entrée plate. We felt several degrees cooler from the instant we slid in there.As with the other body styles, the Clubman’s drivetrains are great for the job, with the Cooper’s flattish torque curve and the S’s early turbo thrust giving them plenty of push.But with the longer wheelbase and 80kg heavier weight the equivalent of adding another adult in the Clubman they’ve got a bit of extra work to do.It shows most in the combination of Cooper engine and automatic transmission, where you discover that fully auto mode is best left for urban traffic or relaxed highway cruising.The sport and simulated manual modes wrung the required zip out of the engine although the paddles with their pull-up/press-down action are more awkward than the ones where one paddle is up and the other down.But the manual transmission is such a sweet-shifting little thing that even with the Cooper engine it offers a lot of fun, while added to the turbo version it’s an absolute joy.But if the longer Mini is not quite as nimble around the tight corners, it’s also less twitchy in the faster ones and seems calmer over the rougher stretches.It still feels like a hot hatch, but the heat is less hellish. It’s not yet a family car, but it’s as close as you’ll get in a Mini.

A first Australian drive of the beefed-up CooperS showed just what a few thousand dollars and some relatively minor enhancements can do for what was already an impressive fun machine.The engine kit; larger airbox, free-flow twin exhaust and enhanced ECU programming; will set you back $3800 plus fitting by a Mini Garage specialist but brings a 10 per cent boost in power, lifting output from the twin-scroll 1.6-litre engine to 141kW as well as adding an additional 10Nm of urge.Unlike the previous generation of supercharged engines the JCW kit does not include a cylinder head swap.A sports suspension package which firms the damper rate and lowers the Mini by 10mm adds $1460; while the aero body kit ($2696), performance brakes ($2015) and 18-inch wheels with 205/40 run-flat rubber ($5100) all but complete the external enhancements.If you really want to stand out there is a carbon-fibre roof-mounted rear wing yet to be priced.Inside the Cooper S, the usual main opportunity is a set of extremely comfortable and supportive Recaro sport seats at $7000 a set.Unlike some sports seats the Mini buckets retain their side airbag protection through a not particularly attractive mounting on the outside of the seat; with the activator tucked away between the seat and the transmission tunnel.While the full enhancement kit on the JCW model built up by BMW runs to something more than $22,000 over and above the cost of the Cooper S, the company doesn't expect it to hinder sales.“I expect that we will sell a lot more of the engine kits by themselves than the engine and body kits together,” Mini's Alexander Corne says.“From the experience of the first generation of John Cooper Works sales where about 10 per cent of Cooper S buyers added the engine enhancements it is likely to be around the same this time.“These are people who want the extra performance to go with the show.”Corne says Mini buyers, on average, will add about $4000 worth of custom options to their new car.“These are not people agonising over a $19,990 car,” Corne says.“These are people who want individuality in their cars. They are saying, how can I make this car mine?.”On the road the JCW-enhanced Cooper S is all about expanding the envelope for the Mini's go-kart-like performance.The twin-scroll turbocharger unit, which replaced the previous supercharged model is only improved by the ECU tweaks in the JCW tuning.There is no breathtaking improvement but the same table-flat torque characteristic from just a tick over 1600rpm right through to 5000rpm is present and accounted for; with just that little extra.The 250Nm in the JCW-enhanced vehicle may only be an increase of just over 3 per cent but it improves not only the 0-100km/h sprint time but the all-important 80-120km/h times in fourth, fifth and sixth gears.The elastic nature of the little turbo makes the Mini a delight to punch along, enhanced even further by the slick six-speed manual box. With the suspension wound off to improve the ride quality in the basic Cooper S, the JCW suspension pack effectively replaces what had been lost.In spite of the lower ride height, sharper damper rates and low profile run-flat tyres the ride is anything but harsh.Traditionally, the Mini has never met a corner it doesn't like.As far back as Alec Issigonis's original “brick on wheels” the core of a Mini has been its uncanny ability to suck up the road and slide around corners.The enhancements simply work to make it even more defiant of physics. SnapshotMini Cooper S JCWFrom: $43,790Engine: 1.6L/4-cylinder twin-scroll turbochargedPower: 141kWTorque: 250Nm (270Nm on overboost)Transmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic; front-wheel drivePerformacne: 0-100km/h 6.8sec (manual)