MINI Group Test

In case you hadn't already noticed, hot hatchbacks are pretty thick on the ground right now. As well as past masters such as Volkswagen, Ford, Peugeot and Renault, we have recently witnessed manufacturers from markets as diverse as Malaysia and the Czech Republic taking first steps into the world of performance car design. Perhaps the biggest stir of all, though, was caused by the arrival of BMW's first-ever supermini - the MINI.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Euan Sey

March 2003

In case you hadn't already noticed, hot hatchbacks are pretty thick on the ground right now. As well as past masters such as Volkswagen, Ford, Peugeot and Renault, we have recently witnessed manufacturers from markets as diverse as Malaysia and the Czech Republic taking first steps into the world of performance car design. Perhaps the biggest stir of all, though, was caused by the arrival of BMW's first-ever supermini - the MINI.

Sceptics dismissed the car as yet another cynical retro-marketing ploy, considering it as little more than a small front-wheel-drive BMW in drag. Others complained the newcomer was poorly packaged and betrayed the spirit of Alec Issigonis' 1959 original design.

But as the controversy continued, the car was busy picking up orders - as well as more awards and trophies than F1 champion Michael Schu-macher. Within a few months of going on sale in July 2001, it had already collected our coveted Car of the Year title, and the waiting list had grown so long that nearly-new examples were changing hands for several thousand pounds above list price.

So exactly what is it that's made the evocatively styled hatchback such a worldwide success? Well, for starters there's its sheer diversity. As well as the One and Cooper cars, there's a sizzlingly hot supercharged Cooper S model on sale and a diesel-powered One D version is scheduled to arrive later this spring. As with the BMC-built original, however, the real interest lies in the performance end of the range - which is where the legendary Cooper name becomes part of the story.

Ever since the late John Cooper lavished much of his engineering expertise on a new performance Mini in 1961, his name has been synonymous with highly tuned, giantkilling small cars. And today that tradition lives on with not one, but two factory approved, high-power models - the John Cooper Works Cooper and JCW Cooper S.

It's the S tuning pack which has caused greatest excitement among motoring enthusiasts. The kit goes on sale next month, priced at ΂£3,100 unfitted, while a limited-edition, hand-built all-new model can be bought for ΂£18,100. Either way, the Cooper S Works sits at the top of the five-strong line-up as the most powerful production MINI ever created. The burning question is, though, is it the best?

To find out, we drove the complete line-up to Goodwood motor racing circuit in West Sussex. After all, what better place could there be to assess the newcomer's abilities than the track on which all genuine Cooper-badged models have been tested and developed over the past 42 years? It is, of course, the hottest, newest version we are most anxious to try. Will the extra power have corrupted the excellent driving dynamics offered by the standard S? And can a car as small as a MINI really handle 200bhp?

We soon discovered that the Works Cooper S achieves everything that the standard S does - but better. Hand over the cash and your local MINI dealer will fit a more powerful compressor that, together with a performance exhaust system, boosts power up to 200bhp at 6,950rpm and torque to 240Nm at 4,000rpm. The resulting increase in outright speed and acceleration - the car will sprint from 0-60mph in 6.7 seconds and reach 141mph - makes the MINI about as fast as anyone could seriously wish a front-wheel-drive hatchback to be.

Yet even such tantalising vital statistics don't do justice to just how exciting the supercharged supermini is to drive. While rivals such as the Honda Civic Type R rely on revs to produce their explosive performance, or suffer from turbo lag like the SEAT Leon Cupra R, the blown MINI simply surges forwards regardless of gear or engine speed. Better still, it's as smooth and quiet as its naturally aspirated stablemates at tickover, and much more charismatic whenever you floor the accelerator. At high revs, the whine of the supercharger makes it sound a lot like the 1961 original - or a conventional car being driven in reverse!

Together with the sparkling chassis and brakes, the power is enough to give the stability control system a serious workout and teach even the legendary Subaru Impreza WRX a thing or two about point-to-point pace.

Unsurprisingly, the handling is similar to that of the standard Cooper S, because no suspension modifications are included as part of the Works package. Upgrades are available if the customer requires them, though, and these range from tyres and dampers to ridiculously large 18-inch wheels. But even without them, few cars can hold a candle to the Cooper S, thanks to its excellent front-wheel-drive chassis.

The steering is wonderfully direct, at only 2.5 turns lock-to-lock, and the car's suspension makes for entertainingly old-school handling characteristics. Go into a corner too fast, and a sharp lift of the throttle soon brings the MINI back on line as the rear wheels lose grip. What's more, an adjustable chassis means the car can be made to 'dance' between bends. The brakes are astonishingly effective and, as with those fitted to all the cars here, proved impressively resistant to fade even after numerous laps of the Goodwood circuit. Only a slight squirming from the chassis under heavy braking - a legacy of the short wheelbase - dents driver confidence, but any such antics are quickly taken in hand by the optional DSC stability control system.

Customers with an extra ΂£1,200 to spend can also opt for the more muscular bodykit fitted to both the Works models seen here. With a black front grille, wider side skirts and a deeper rear bumper - complete with silver-effect mesh - the Works-badged cars lend an extra element of aggression to the MINI package that will appeal to people who want to make a stronger statement about their car's potential. And unlike rival Cooper S tuning and styling kits, the Works is still covered by BMW's five-year 'tlc' warranty and servicing package, just like any other model in the MINI line-up.

Although the supercharged cars inevitably hog the limelight, the rest of the range certainly couldn't be called dull. Even at the bottom of the line-up, there's plenty of scope for individuality - and fun - with the ΂£10,400 One. Our Salt-spec long-term test car rides on optional 17-inch alloy wheels, but the standard model gets smaller steel items and a suspension set-up that's biased towards comfort rather than outright grip and body control.

More to the point, the car's 1.6-litre Chrysler-built engine develops a modest 90bhp - 25bhp less than the standard Cooper - which takes the car from 0-60mph in a comparatively leisurely 10.9 seconds. This might be slow by hot hatchback standards, but don't be fooled into thinking that the base model is dull to drive. The four-cylinder unit feels a touch breathless and underpowered on a track as fast as Goodwood, but it's a smooth performer and is blessed with one of the best five-speed manual gearboxes on sale today. Together, they provide just enough get up and go to unlock the talent of the MINI's chassis. The structure is said to be three times stiffer than those fitted to most of its rivals, and this rigidity pays dividends through corners. Body roll becomes a factor at the limits of adhesion, but the car's trademark Z-axle rear suspension system allows a measure of adjustability that's missing from many supposedly more sporting hatchbacks.

In this market, however, speed sells - a fact highlighted by the 60 per cent share of total sales that the ΂£11,700 Cooper enjoyed when it was launched together with the One in Britain. Visual enhancements are limited to a white or black-painted roof and mirrors option, chrome strips on the bumpers and a discreet roof spoiler. Inside, the Cooper also features a rev counter - which is an essential accessory for extracting the maximum from the 16-valve powerplant's 115bhp and 149Nm of torque.

The engine feels stronger at the bottom end and far more eager to rev, bouncing the needle right round to the 7,000rpm red line with an increased degree of urgency. As well as this, the chassis is much sharper, too, being

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