MINI Cooper S Review
Car tested: 2012 MINI Cooper S
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 36,51,210/-
MINI was first introduced by BMC (British Motor Corporation) in 1959 as a small economy car. It was also voted as the second most influential car of the 20th century (the first being the Ford Model T). In 1994, BMW acquired Rover (which owned MINI) and the German automaker split the MINI brand into its own entity in 2000. The MINI Cooper is in its second generation today and was launched in 2007. The Cooper S is the sportier version of the MINI Cooper and the name plate was first seen in the classic MINI way back in 1963. It won the Monte Carlo rally three times, which made it the ultimate performance machine in those days. But does the latest MINI Cooper S offer similar performance levels? We take the MINI Cooper S out on Indian roads to find out what this icon is all about?
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Exteriors – The MkII MINI Cooper looks identical to the MKI model even though it was developed at BMW’s headquarters in Munich. BMW has made the MINI Cooper meet the latest safety norms (helping it get Euro NCAP 5 Star Rating), which involved changing every panel. However the styling was maintained to keep the iconic retro looks alive. The Cooper S gets go-fast bits like large air intakes, side sills, twin exhausts, rear spoiler, S badges and lots of chrome all around.
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If looks could kill, the Cooper S would be convicted.
Our test car came shod with black coloured alloy wheels shod on 205/45/ R17 tyres. The paint job is Rooster Red, with racing strips on the hood. The round headlamps (bordered with chrome) give the MINI a very retro-modern appeal and the Cooper features the typical MINI hexagonal radiator grille which is surrounded by chrome. The front bumper has a honeycomb grille which has two air intakes (again with chrome surrounds) to cool the brakes. The charismatic short overhands and large wheels give the MINI Cooper huge presence.
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The MINI Cooper has a large glass area and the doors are slightly longer than what is seen normally. The flared wheel arches can’t be missed and are finished in black. The use of black and red give the MINI a very rally style appearance. The roof is finished in black and so are all the pillars. The retro tail lights get a dose of chrome, while an additional pair of LED brake lights have been added to the bumper of the Cooper S. These additional brake lights are also surrounded by chrome and are placed on the rear bumper which gets a honeycomb mesh air dam. A chrome strip runs right above the number plate, which houses an electromagnetic tail gate opener.
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The MINI Cooper attracts attention like no other vehicle on the road. The styling is iconic and the vehicle is undoubtedly a style statement. Everyone turns to see the car and as there are very few on the roads, the curiosity of the people around you is amplified several notches higher. If you want to turn heads, then the MINI Cooper is definitely the car to be in.
Head over to the next page to read about the interiors of the MINI Cooper S.
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Interiors – Step inside the MINI Cooper S and you are right in the lap of luxury with a large dose of sportiness thrown in. The doors are fantastic to hold and feature border less glass. Roll down the windows and close the doors, which are longer than you can imagine and similar to those seen in sports cars. When you open the door, the windows roll down a bit and on closing, they roll back up. This is to ensure there is no air leakage. There are the usual puddle lamps but most interesting are the lights on the door pads, mood lightning as its known. They change colors from blue to red and green, giving an amazing effect at night. Blue lights are also present on the door knob, which is made of chrome.
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The leather seats are made of very high quality and hug the passengers in comfort. The MINI Cooper S also gets a panoramic roof as standard, which gives the cabin a very airy feeling. BMW has kept every aspect of the MINI retro but modernized it to the best degree possible. The 3-spoke steering wheel houses the MINI logo and features controls for the audio system and cruise control. There are paddle shifts on the steering wheel and everything feels so solidly put together, including the indicator and wiper stalks.
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Right in the drivers vision is the huge tachometer, which is calibrated to 8000 RPM. It also features a digital speedometer along with a digital display for distance to empty, odometer and trip meters. Harmon Kardon speakers are positioned on the A-pillar with good sound quality. The drivers side door has controls for the adjustment of the rear view mirrors and thus everything else is placed on the center console. The glove box is of decent sized and can be opened by pressing the chrome button right below the left side AC vent.
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The center console houses a huge round display, which consists of the retro speedometer (calibrated up to 260 km/h), LCD screen, hazard lights and fuel meter. This screen is quite similar to BMW’s i-Drive and features a barge of information including vehicle information, MINI service, office, Telephone, Radio, CD/Multimedia and settings. Reverse guidance is also shown on this screen. The small stalk right behind the gear knob is used to control all the above features. This is easy to operate but seems to be configured for a left hand drive markets. As the center console is adorned by the large speedometer cum LCD display, AC vents are placed on either side, thereby being closer to the driver and co-passenger.
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Right below the retro speedometer are various controls, including that of the Audio system, AC and other bits. The MINI Visual Boost is what the company likes to call its audio system, which features a CD player. Right below is the automatic climate control, below which are 5 buttons (from right to left) – driver side power window control, rear fog light, door lock/unlock, front fog light and co-driver power window control. These buttons feel like they are right out of a fighter plane! Below these buttons is a small storage area along with a cup holder, cigarette lighter and an ashtray. Traction control on/off button and Sport button is placed right in front of the gear lever. A physical hand brake is present along with a arm rest at the front, which slides open for small storage.
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Right above the rear view mirror lies buttons for the cabin lights and the sunroof. These buttons are exactly the same as the ones present on the lower end of the center console and feel extremely solid and good to use. This is the first car I have seen that has two sun visors for the driver. One to prevent sun from the front, while the other is to prevent the sun from the driver window. The driver seat has manual adjustment and a button to push the seat forward for passengers to get into the rear seats. The rear seats offer good support but legroom is very poor and the seats are best for small children or keeping luggage.
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The interiors of the MINI Cooper are a work of art and feel very luxurious. Built quality is solid and the attention to detail is simply mind boggling. Even the hazard light button has been carefully designed. There are blue lights (yellow in the day) inside the rear airbag opening. Everything feels so good to touch and use that you simply wouldn’t want to leave the vehicle. Boot space is strictly average though and the MINI will carry a decent sized bag without any issue.
Head over to the next page to read about the driving dynamics of the MINI Cooper S.
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The turbocharged engine in the Cooper S is a total racket of speed and brutal acceleration.
Performance – The MINI Cooper S is powered by a 1598cc, 4-cylinder petrol engine which has twin scroll turbocharging. This engine is unique to the Cooper S and was developed by BMW in collaboration with PSA Peugeot Citroen (it also does duty on the Peugeot 207 GT). Producing a peak power output of 184 PS at 5500 RPM and a peak torque output of 240 Nm between 1600-5000 RPM, the Cooper S also has an overboost function, which gives the vehicle an additional 20 Nm of torque (260 Nm in total). This results in the MINI Cooper S flying to 100 km/h in just 7.2 seconds with a top speed of 223 km/h. Performance is very strong and the Cooper S rushes to the redline with utmost of aggression. The engine never seems to run out of breath and continues to pull strongly even at triple digit speeds. This engine is undoubtedly the best 4-cylinder petrol engine in India today, well suited for both city and highway driving.
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The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The gear knob reads P, R, N, D (with manual/sport mode). However it is the Sport mode which gives the Cooper S significant quicker shifts in each gear whenever needed very quickly, thereby helping the driver extract power at high revvs. The Cooper S sounds very sporty as the revvs climb and the splendid exhaust note is quite audible in the cabin. There are paddles too, which helps you take control of shifts, or you can also manually shift using the tiptronic function on the gear lever.
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Ride, Handling and Braking – BMW claims that the MINI Cooper is born to corner and once you get behind the wheel you simply can’t argue with that fact. The wide track, long wheel base, low weight and low center of gravity ensure that the MINI cuts through corners like a razor sharp knife! BMW says that the MINI Cooper is a go-kart. A go-kart is a rear-wheel driven vehicle, whereas the Cooper in-spite of being front wheel driven does indeed handle like a go-kart, thereby becoming the world’s fastest go-kart. Turn-in is very tight and accurate, with the Cooper moving with laser guided confidence. Push it beyond its limits (which by the way is a big limit), and the Cooper’s tail will step out happily.
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Ride quality is very stiff and the MINI Cooper S really shakes up the occupants on bad roads. The ride is so stiff that on uneven roads the Cooper S bounces badly. The low profile rubber and the run-flat tyres are to blame for the stiff ride. Brakes are splendid though and the MINI Cooper stops dead in its track without any drama. The brakes have massive speed shedding capabilities and along with traction control system helps to keep the Cooper S in its track in all conditions. High speed stability is excellent too and you won’t believe its a hatchback that you are driving, so mature are the MINI Cooper’s high speed manners. Steering wheel gives immense feedback to the driver and weighs up splendidly at high speeds.
Head over to the next page to read our conclusion on the MINI Cooper S.
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Conclusion – After driving the MINI Cooper S, we can confidently say that there is no car that is as attractive. The MINI Cooper does have its drawbacks. Being a strict 2-seater, it is not as practical as other cars its price. The boot is small and there is no diesel engine on offer. However the MINI Cooper has far more positives which out weigh the small practicality issues. Factor in the splendid performance, excellent handling, retro interiors and head-turning looks and the Cooper S immediately captures your heart.
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Whats Cool
* Eye Catchy Looks
* Rail On Wheels Handling
* Attention To Detail
* Turbocharged Engine’s Performance
* Exhaust Note
Whats Not So Cool
* Stiff Ride Quality
* Rear Seats For Children
* Run Flat Tyres
* Price
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MINI Cooper S Specifications
* Engine: 1598 cc, 16V, Twin Scroll Turbocharger (with Overboost)
* Power: 184 BHP @ 5500 RPM
* Torque: 240 Nm @ 1600-5000 RPM (260 Nm with Overboost)
* Transmission: 6-speed automatic
* Top Speed: 223 km/h
* 0-100 km/h: 7.2 seconds
* Fuel Consumption: 7-9 km/l (City), 9-11 km/l (highway)
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Tires: 205/45/17 Tubeless Radials
* Safety: ABS, EBD, Cornerning Brake Control, Dynamic Stability Control, Six Airbags, Immobilizer
MINI Cooper S Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 3729 mm X 1683 mm X 1407 mm
* Wheelbase: 2467 mm
* Front/Rear Track: 1459/1461 mm
* Boot Volume: 160 liters, 680-liters (with rear seats folded)
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 50-liters
* Kerb Weight: 1165 kgs
Further Reading
Fiat 500 Test Drive Review
Volkswagen Beetle Test Drive Review