The Mini Cooper is one of the most iconic cars that originated in the 20th century.
While it’s exclusively European in nature, the Mini is still idea for Americans. It’s small, but so sporty and peppy.
This particular Mini has a turbo charged engine, so even though it’s small, it can maneuver hilltop areas + rough terrain with ease.
SPECS / FEATURES
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VIRTUAL TOUR
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NewCarTestDrive:
“Though the Mini is still the smallest four-passenger car on the road in North America, the interior is large enough to accommodate all sizes of drivers and front passengers in comfort, and the rear seats are actually functional, if not capacious. With the hatchback and folding rear seats, the car can even haul reasonable amounts of gear.”
FEATURES:
“The Mini Cooper hardtop with conventionally-aspirated engine comes with air conditioning, CD stereo with six speakers, wired for auxiliary input and 6-disc CD changer, power windows with auto-down, power locks, remote keyless entry with electronic signal transmitter in place of the ignition key, and rear wiper standard.”
“The Mini Cooper S is equipped with a turbocharged version of the same engine, stiffer Sport suspension, performance exhaust system, and 16-inch alloy wheels; 17-inch wheels are optional. Exterior design details, including a black grille inset, hood scoop, rear bumper insets…distinguish the S from the Cooper.”
DRIVING SUMMARY:
“Driving this car first on the technically challenging racetrack at Zandvoort in the Netherlands, and then on the streets and highways around Barcelona, we found it sporting to drive and comfortable at the same time.”
“In the turbocharged form with direct fuel injection as used in the Cooper S that we drove, the engine gives the car very sporting performance. The 175 horsepower is more than adequate in the lightweight Mini to produce speeds twice most legal limits, but the 177 pound-feet of torque, which can be overboosted to 190 pound-feet for short intervals, and is available from 1700 rpm to 5000 rpm, is nothing short of marvelous. A sport button control gives quicker response from accelerator and steering.”
“The Cooper S comes standard with a sport-tuned suspension, but its behavior is still much more refined than other cars capable of similar track speeds. Using the MacPherson Strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension adapted from the BMW Z4, the car is flat and stable in corners, and absorbs most bumps without discomforting passengers."
SUMMARY:
“The Mini Cooper has offered since its introduction as a 2002 model a satisfying combination of peppy performance, a distinctive bulldog appearance, and custom ordering of a variety of trim and color options in advance of production at a very reasonable price.”
AOL Autos
MSN Autos
SAFETY
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