MINI's full of surprises

	The hot news is the all-new turbocharged engine for the Cooper S. The 1.6-litre motor replaces the old supercharged unit, promising more power and greater refinement

Our exclusive test allowed us to put the newcomer through its paces before the wraps are taken off officially at the Paris Motor Show next month. And it also revealed that the car is packed with unexpected surprises!

The hot news is the all-new turbocharged engine for the Cooper S. The 1.6-litre motor replaces the old supercharged unit, promising more power and greater refinement. However, the suspension has been completely overhauled, and there's more space inside as well. While MINI still refers to this car as a prototype, the minimal masking tape is fooling no one. It's clear the newcomer is the same width and height as the current car and, according to engineers, it's only 60mm longer overall.

The extra 30mm at the front has led to an improved frontal crash structure, and it provides more cushioning in the event of a ped­estrian impact. At the back, meanwhile, the additional length has boosted boot space by 10 litres, taking it to 160 litres.

But look closely and you start to spot the changes which prove MINI's claim that every body panel is new. The shoulder line is more exaggerated, fatter exhaust pipes sit under the rear bumper and there are subtle blisters on the C-pillar to improve aerodyna­mics - down from 0.36Cd to 0.33Cd.

Despite the body-coloured tape, in the flesh the nose appears more rounded, and while the clamshell bonnet remains, the headlights and black plastic wheelarches aren't integrated, helping to reduce repair costs. But the most notable feature is the bonnet scoop - it's just for show now that the supercharged unit has been replaced. So why the switch to turbo power? Well, advances in technology make it a much more efficient and economical solution, but it also gives better power delivery, according to drivetrain project manager Erich Sonntag.

"With a turbo, we were able to get more consistent performance across the rev range and, with less inertia, better low-down response, too," he explained. As a result, the 1.6-litre four-cylinder unit (which will also appear in Peugeot's 207 by the end of the year) develops 175bhp and 240Nm of torque from only 1,600rpm, compared with the current 170bhp car's 220Nm at 4,000rpm.

The new unit, built at Hams Hall in the Midlands, features direct-injection technology, while the Cooper variant's normally aspirated 1.6 will have BMW's proven Valvetronic system.

But those who loved the whine of the supercharger need not despair. Tested at the famous Zandvoort race track in Holland, the new powerplant sounds superb - hard edged and enthusiastic - while the acceleration suggests the car should beat the existing Cooper S's 7.2-second time for the 0-60mph sprint. There's no word on fuel economy yet, but BMW estimates it will be about 12.5 per cent better.

On first impressions, this is a cracking powerplant - tuneful, eager and linked to a brand new six-speed gearbox that has slicker and more precise shifts than before. If the prototype is anything to go by, keen drivers won't have much to worry about, either.

Yet the MINI has grown up. It's only 10kg heavier, but the car is slightly less responsive and the electric power-steering doesn't provide quite such detailed feedback as the old set-up. That's not to say the MINI has lost its edge, though. It is well balanced, agile and, through challenging corners, extremely stable. A Sport button option sharpens throttle response and removes some of the steering assistance.

The engineers have worked hard to improve ride comfort, which is just as well, as all new MINIs will have run-flat tyres as standard. On this evidence, the Cooper S will travel much more smoothly and be less nervous at speed. While turn-in isn't quite as sharp, we think the trade-off is justified.

We have no complaints about the interior changes, either. Legroom is mod-est, yet adults can now fit more comfortably in the rear seats, and there is more space around the occupants in the front, too. What's more, the chairs provide greater support and the steering has gained reach adjustment.

Foam cladding disguised most of the dash, but we could still see the detailing has changed substantially. An even bigger central speedo sits in a binnacle that incorporates the stereo controls, too. The toggle switches have been modified, and more have been added by the rear view mirror.

Rather than use a conventional key, a disc-shaped fob plugs into the dash next to the start/stop button, and the seat adjustment levers have at last been redesigned. But we're not sure about the adoption of BMW-style one-touch indi­cators, and the build quality on this development car was hard to gauge.

The MINI looks and feels like a thorough makeover, rather than an all-new model. Don't forget, though, that updating such an individual machine is no easy task. Nevertheless, on this evidence, MINI has another winner on its hands. The acid test is going to be when we get our hands on a production version in two months' time.

View the video footage on the link below.