The word "mini" is an adjective, a comparative
word and not a unit of measure. My colleagues in compare cars auto journalism always
squeal in delight at any opportunity to point out that the Mini Cooper
has grown substantially since its launch in 1959. Jokes of the Maxi
Cooper and Not-So-Mini have dribbled off reviewers' fingers onto
keyboards since the relaunch of the brand under BMW ownership in 2001.
The latest 2014 Mini Cooper S Hardtop is the largest yet, at nearly 152
inches long. That sounds pretty substantial compared to the original
car's 120-inch length. Or maybe not, when you consider it's 30 inches
shorter than a current BMW 3-series. It's even 16 inches shorter than a
VW GTI. Among its contemporaries, the Mini is, in fact, still decidedly
mini.
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| 2014 Mini Cooper S Review - Tested
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| 2014 Mini Cooper S
With my rant out of the way, let's get down to
why we're here. Mini sent over a Cooper S Hardtop for us to test and see
how this entirely new package performs. About the only carryover from
the R56 to the F56 model is the ability to make you giggle in a way that
nothing else on the road can. The bigger platform is stiffer and more
refined. The 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder has given way to the
2.0-liter unit found under the hoods of several BMW models, just turned
90 degrees east/west in the Mini. The six-speed manual transmission is
still from Getrag, but reworked to handle the extra torque.
Our tester is equipped modestly and carries a
sticker price of $27,595—just $3,200 more than the base price. It
includes the panoramic sunroof (probably the one option we would avoid)
but not Mini's new Dynamic Damping Control System. Although the standard
setup is pretty good, we would recommend spending the extra $500 if you
don't have plans for suspension modifications.
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| 2014 Mini Cooper S Review - Tested
The 17-inch wheel option for $750 is another
good buy. Even if you plan on replacing them, you can sell them later
and probably make money on the deal. Sadly, the Cooper S doesn't come
with a spare, which means run-flat tires, and all-seasons at that. Past
experience has shown that there is almost always a big performance gain
from switching to a good stuck-flat summer tire.
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| 2014 Mini Cooper S
Although the Mini's engine has gained 25 percent
more displacement over the older car, it only picks up 17 hp for a
total of 189 ponies. The 207 lb-ft of torque, however, is a bump of 30
lb-ft over the 1.6 liter. It seems like Mini has gone rather
conservative with the boost. Low-down torque is fat and easy underfoot.
At higher revs, it feels as though the boost disappears and the power
curve flattens out. We're anxious to see what a software change will do
to the horsepower peak. The sound is the familiar Mini growl and will
make you want to stay on the throttle more often than the EPA would
like.
In a straight line, the new F56 shows a modest
improvement over the previous car, with 0 to 60 mph coming up in 6.3
seconds, compared with 6.4 seconds. The quarter-mile shows off the F56's
legs a little better, with a time of 14.7 seconds at 95.8 mph, as
opposed to the R56's 15.0 at 91.4 mph. The new car can brag about
braking as well, stopping from 60 mph in 111 feet, which is a full 6
feet shorter than the older car managed.
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| 2014 Mini Cooper S 01 Front Three Quarter
Minis have never been about stoplight
performance, though. You buy a Mini because the straight and narrow is
boring. In figure-8 testing, this Cooper S manages a respectable 0.86 g
around the skidpad sections. Previous versions of the R56 Cooper S we
tested were able to manage 0.83 g. But for comparison's sake, the latest
GTI was able to manage an impressive 0.96 g, proving there really is
something to be said for a good summer tire. The new Mini betters the
older car again in total figure-8 time, putting in a 26.6-second lap,
compared with the R56's 27.2. If you're wondering what it might do with
some strategically chosen modifications, the 2013 John Cooper Works GP
was able to fly through a lap in just 25.1 seconds, putting it into some
rarefied company.
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| 2014 Mini Cooper S Review - Tested
With quantitative lap data out of the way, let's
get to what really matters. The new Mini still feels much like a
traditional Mini. Turn-in is as quick as anything on the road; the
longer wheelbase hasn't dulled reactions at all. The slightest twist of
the steering wheel results in an immediate reaction from the front end.
And that front end does run the show. The rear
axle follows quickly, but without any rapid yaw rotation. This is where
the Mini really shows its magic. There may not be another car for sale
right now that will snap into a corner like a Mini. If lane changing
were an Olympic sport, the little bulldog would be on a cereal box. It
will dart around like an athlete on tiptoe and shoot from direction to
direction with a pinball's ferocity. However, unlike most cars that move
with this urgency, once you commit to a corner the tires sink into the
pavement and the Mini hunkers down. You can still dance the car around
with a modulated throttle and a flick of the wheel, but stay in it and
keep it smooth, and it feels like the wheelbase suddenly stretched a
foot. This split personality means the Mini is just as enjoyable as a
parking lot performer as it is for autocrossing, tearing up canyons or
even track days.
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| 2014 Mini Cooper S Review - Tested
With all that said about performance and how it
still feels like a Mini, some things have changed significantly. We can
argue whether that's for better or worse. The central speedometer is
gone and the window switches have migrated to the door panels. The
dashboard is a big step up in terms of quality and design. The rest of
the interior, while immediately recognizable as a Mini, now feels more
BMW-ish. You can read that as either classier or more expensive. And
complain about the bigger size all you want, but my 2-year-old, my wife
and myself certainly didn't have a bad thing to say when we all fit
comfortably on a weekend road trip with bags and associated child
accessories.
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| 2014 Mini Cooper S
The Mini has always felt a bit more premium
than its Japanese rivals—the gap is now greater. In terms of driving,
the Mini still delivers everything you expect in terms of great turn-in,
good power and driver confidence. As for the rest of the package, you
now get a nicer environment for enjoying those traditional dynamics.
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| 2014 Mini Cooper S Wheel 02
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| 2014 Mini Cooper S Review - Tested
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| 2014 Mini Cooper S 07 Rear Taillight
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| 2014 Mini Cooper S 11 Engine Bay
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| 2014 Mini Cooper S
source:http://www.superstreetonline.com
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