MINI

There is no doubt the manual Cooper S Works is one of the best drivers' cars around. It has stunning performance, sharp responses and a slick gearchange. But while the auto retains brilliant handling, the dull-witted box robs the car of its immediacy. It would be acceptable in lesser MINIs, yet it feels out of place in such a hot hatch.

It's popular with you, too. Despite the package costing £3,600, one in nine Cooper S buyers specify the upgrade. Keen to build on this success, MINI has now made the kit available with a six-speed auto gearbox.

Adding £1,050 to the cost of a conventional six-speed manual Cooper S Works, it takes the price to nearly £20,000 - which is a serious amount of money for such a small car.

But with the current fashion for self-shifting hot hatches - such as VW's twin-clutch DSG-equipped Golf GTI - will the newcomer tap into a new vein of MINI enthusiasts? Or does an auto sit uneasily in such a driver-focused mach-ine? We got behind the wheel to find out. Both automatic and manual cars are fitted with the same Cooper S bodykit - complete with Works bad-ging and twin central exhausts - so the only visual differences are on the inside. As well as the gear selector, the auto also sports two Steptronic buttons to control shifts from the steering wheel.

Under the bonnet is the manual car's 1.6-litre engine. Although it features an uprated supercharger, performance air filter and modified head, the auto's torque converter drops output by 7bhp to 203bhp. And unlike VW's DSG, the MINI's conventional six-speed auto not only drains power, but is slow to change gear, too.

So while the 0-62mph sprint takes 7.3 seconds (against the manual's 6.6), the lethargic box masks the beefy engine's considerable verve. Despite having Adaptive Transmission Control, which adjusts to your driver style over time, response never feels sharp.

Sport mode doesn't help matters. It simply raises the change-up points and hangs on to gears, ruining the refinement. Things don't get any better when you change ratios yourself. Swapping cogs feels ponderous, and things become jerky when you press on. Factor in Steptronic paddles that are small and awkwardly positioned, and it all adds up to a less-than-satisfying experience. Even worse, the self-shifter can't be fitted with the limited-slip differential and upgraded brakes that make the manual car such fun to drive.

While the Cooper S Works' cornering ability is still brilliant, the auto box seems to take away a vital feeling of connection. If you can only drive a self-shifter and desperately want the ultimate factory-approved MINI, then it may well fit the bill. But everyone else - particularly serious enthusiasts - will be better off with the regular manual.