Mini Reviews

Dispatched and now matched - Mini and VW build two of Europe's favourite hot hatches.

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Mini Cooper, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Designing a new Mini isn't easy. As with the Porsche 911, Fiat 500 and VW Beetle, a new Mini must not stray too far from the original.

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.

A slightly squarer nose and new headlights and LED taillights are the main exterior styling to the 2014 Mini Cooper, but looking inside the cabin will give trainspotters clues, with the speedo and tacho moving from the massive 8.8-inch circular gauge in the middle of the dash to a more normal position in the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel (with heads-up displays for upper spec variants).The Mini Cooper is powered by a turbo 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine with outputs of 100kW of power between 4500-600rpm and 220Nm of torque at a low 1250rpm, with Mini claiming a 0-100kmh time of 7.56 seconds (auto) and 7.66 (manual) and fuel economy of 4.5L/100km.The Cooper S gets a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder, developing 141kW of power between 4700-6000rpm and 300Nm of torque at 1250rpm, with 0-100kmh times of 6.62 (auto) and 6.73 (manual)  and fuel economy of 5.7L/100km. The diesel Cooper D's 1.6-litre is gone in favour of a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel delivering 84kW and 270Nm, with claimed fuel economy of a frugal 3.5L/100km -- a saving of 0.3L. Transmissions for all variants are a standard six-speed manual transmission or optional six-speed auto. 

It may be Mini by name but there's nothing mini by nature about the Mini any more. In fact, the latest version I've been driving comes with maxi performance and price.

As cute as the new Mini was it wasn't the most practical car you could drive, but that was where the Mini Clubman came in.

If you are a sunshine worshipper, then you will love the Mini Cooper convertible. It may not be particularly cheap, but it's one of the most fun and agile cars on the market.

I keep joking that someone should hold a seance to find out what the original Mini's designer Alec Issigonis thinks about the new one, especially the growing diversity of models.Old Sir Alec died 25 years ago but back in his day there was just the Mini and the Mini wagon/panel van, as well as a ute but that was about it. Fast forward and we have just finished driving the seventh variation of the new Mini  the Paceman.VALUEA two-door, four-seat coupe, based on the off road Countryman, the Paceman is priced from $35,900, or from $44,100 for the more powerful Cooper S model (the subject of our review). Built in Austria standard kit includes 16 inch alloys, sports suspension, sports seats, leather steering wheel, front and rear fog lights, automatic lights and wipers, Chrome line interior and Bluetooth with USB interface. The Cooper S adds Dynamic Traction Control, Sport Button, 17inch alloys, clear indicator lenses and stainless steel trim for the pedals and footrest.TECHNOLOGYIt's powered by the same 1.6-litre engine as other Minis, this one with a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection producing 135kW of power and 240Nm of torque, with an extra 20Nm available briefly via overboost between 1700 and 4500 revs. The engine is paired with a six-speed manual or optional six speed automatic gearbox, with drive to the front wheels.Overseas the car is also offered with all-wheel drive, like the Countryman on which is is based. It's fitted with lowered sports suspension as standard, but still rides about 10mm higher than a regular Cooper S  although the car can also be ordered with regular suspension and ride height as a no-cost option.The Cooper S version also comes with DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) that allows controlled slip through the driven wheels. When the system is deactivated an electronic diff lock brakes whichever drive wheel is spinning to enhance handling. In terms of performance the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes 7.5 seconds and it has a top speed of 217 km/h. Fuel consumption for the manual is 6.6 and for the auto, 7.5 litres/100km (we were getting 7.8 after about 600km of mixed driving).DESIGNWe don't get it, but like a shark the Mini has to keep moving forward or it drown and sink to the bottom. In effect, this is the Mini equivalent of the equally weird looking BMW X6, also described as a sports activity vehicle. It's almost as big and heavy as the Countryman and the only one so far to have a name on the back. BMW of course owns the Mini franchise.SAFETYUnlike the Mini Cooper, which scores a full five stars for safety, Countryman gets only four stars for from the Australian ANCAP organisation and we can only assume Paceman will score the same (it hasn't been rated yet).Comes with a full complement of safety equipment including six airbags, electronic traction and stability control, an electronic differential lock and anti lock brakes with brake assist, corner braking control and electronic brake force distribution.DRIVINGCan't argue with the way it goes. It's a great engine that likes to rev with plenty of torque down low. The manual shift is easy to use and third gear offers a broad range for corner to corner work. But the car has a tendency to move around on choppy, secondary roads when put under pressure, especially the rear wheels which are prone to lift off.Fitted with 205/55 17s, the tyres have plenty of grip but the taller body structure and higher centre of gravity come into play eventually, reducing the limits of its handling. Having said that it was more than a match for a group of motorcycles that we encountered during a searching test drive, although by the looks of them they were still learning how to setup their corners properly.A defining feature of the car, the huge centre speedo is almost impossible to read at a glance, but fortunately the smaller unit atop the steering column offers a digital readout. Although described as a four seater larger passengers may find it a bit cramped back there.VERDICTWe like it. The head says no but the heart says yes  but if we were contemplating the purchase of a Mini any day soon we'd probably opt for the regular one and a Cooper S (the JCW is just too expensive).Mini Paceman Cooper SPrice: from $44,100Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmCapped servicing: noResale: 56% (Glass's)Service interval: 12 months/25,000km (condition based)Safety: 5 stars (Countryman)Engine: 1.6-litre 16-valve direct-injection turbo 4-cyl, 135kW/240NmTransmission: 6-speed auto; FWDThirst: 7.5l/100km, tank 47 litres, on test 10.6, 95RON PULP; 166g/km CO2Dimensions: 4.1m (L); 1.8m (w); 1.5m (h)Weight: 1330kgSpare: run-flats

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