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Mini
: Cooper
by Sue Cooke
  
It’s said that the ‘good old days’ are only so because our memories are selective and we only remember the good times. However there are things from the past that I know for a fact were much better than the present. One is how simple life used to be and the other is one of my favourite cars, the Mini.
And even though this small car has changed over the years, unlike many other things, it has changed for the better.
The new Mini Cooper which went on sale at the end of 2006 features a completely new body design, a striking modern interior and modern high performance engines.
In five years over 200,000 Minis have been sold in the UK but because each owner can personalise their own car, no two ever look the same. And now there is an even wider range of colours (seven of which are brand new) new interior specifications and options.
Every body panel has been redesigned but Mini’s successful form has been retained and this second generation new Mini remains immediately recognisable. The new Mini has grown slightly in size and is 60mm longer than its predecessor.
The round clear glass headlights are now fixed to the body and the indicators are now housed within the main headlight units. The revised radiator grille has a design which is reminiscent of the air intake scoop on the classic Mini.
I’ve always liked the interior of the Mini, sort of contemporary but with traditional hints but always of premium quality. The centre speedo now includes entertainment information and, as an option, navigation functions. There is now more space in the foot wells because the centre console is slimmer. As an option the new owner can change the colour of the interior lights from warm orange to sporting blue in five stages. Toggle switches, a hint of the past, are now larger. There is more space in the rear too, with recessed knee cut outs in the front seats.
Safety features include six airbags as standard and braking and cornering safety standards include ABS, EBD and CBC as standard.
A slightly raised bonnet has been designed for better pedestrian safety, but it will also contribute to lower bills in the workshop if you have a brush with a bollard. Items like a clip-on front spoiler make parts easier and quicker to replace, and technicians can also move the front of the car forward by 10cms to gain easier access to the engine.
The new Mini has brand new performance power plants with lower fuel consumption and significantly reduced emissions. The 1.6 litre engine reduces fuel consumption by up to 20% and the combined mpg figure is 48.7. CO2 emissions are now 139g/km, a reduction of 43g/km and a saving of £50 on car tax. 0-62mph is achieved in 9.1 seconds.
The Mini is famed for its excellent handling capabilities and grip on fast cornering and is still superb. New electric power assisted steering makes a significant contribution to the pin point behaviour making it easy to manoeuvre whilst parking.
Plant Oxford where the new Mini is being built has geared up to increase its capacity to 240,000 by 2008, more than double the planned production capacity prior to the first car coming off the line in Spring 2001. And it’s not surprising that the supermini is so popular when it offers all the good things from the past but combines it with modern technology.
8.01.07
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