MINI

The wait has been worth it. The all-new MINI isn’t a massive advance over the current car – but then, it didn’t really need to be. Its looks are updated, the interior is more spacious and better built, and there are two new engines. If the finished article is as good as the pre-production car we drove in Issue 921, MINI has another surefire winner on its hands.

It’s the all-new MINI adventure – and Auto Express has the very first pictures! After months of spy­shots and stolen glimpses, plus one very important scoop test in Issue 921, the day has finally come – we can reveal the all-new, second-generation MINI for the first time.

It’s clear that parent firm BMW has stuck to a winning formula. And as you can see from these exclusive shots of the flagship Cooper S, the styling cues that make the current car so popular haven’t been radically altered.

But that doesn’t mean the MINI has played it safe, either. Two exciting new 1.6-litre engines offer more power and better fuel economy, while a significantly updated cabin and a host of fresh options have been introduced.

While the new MINI has a familiar look, every panel has been changed. To fulfil safety requirements, around 60mm has been added to the length of the car, and the indicators have been repositioned inside the headlights. The headlamps themselves are now fixed to the wings, rather than being housed within the bonnet. In addition, the grille has been restyled and the rear lights are larger.

Inside, there’s more space for rear passengers, thanks to sculpted cut-outs in the front seats, and the standard of build quality has been raised with better switches and controls. An engine starter button replaces the conventional ignition key.

The suspension set-up has been improved, too. Cooper and Cooper S models get a new rear axle and aluminium components to reduce weight. A Sports kit option comprising harder springs, dampers and anti-roll bars is offered with both variants. With these changes, drivers can expect even more grip and responsiveness than before.

Another key difference is the introduction of an electric power-steering system, the sharpness of which can be increased by pressing a Sport button on the dashboard – which also adjusts the response of the accelerator. As for engines, the Cooper will offer a 120bhp 1.6-litre with variable valve timing. It takes the car from 0-62mph in a claimed 9.1 seconds and on to a 125mph top speed. Fuel economy of 48.7mpg on the combined cycle is nearly 8mpg better.

The more powerful 175bhp Cooper S, meanwhile, is now turbocharged rather than supercharged. As a result, 0-62mph is covered in a claimed 7.1 seconds, and top speed is 140mph. It achieves similar improvements in fuel economy to the Cooper, returning 40.9mpg combined. Both cars will come with six-speed manual or auto gearboxes.

The range will be completed in 2007 with the arrival of the MINI One – powered by a 95bhp 1.4-litre unit – along with a new diesel variant.

MINI has enhanced the options list with Hill Assist, which prevents the car from rolling back on an incline. And with Colour Line, buyers can personalise their interior from a choice of new trim surfaces and colours. All these upgrades come at a price, though. The MINI One and Cooper rise £600 to £11,595 and £12,995 respectively, while the Cooper S goes up £475 to £15,995.

After its first official public unveiling at next month’s Paris Motor Show, the car goes on sale at the end of the year.