The new BMW Mini Cooper S is bigger and better than ever, without sacrificing its definitive proportions and style.
By GIL STERN STERN MELAMEDThe new BMW Mini Cooper S is bigger and better than ever, without sacrificing its definitive proportions and style(photo credit: JERUSALEM POST)
If you really and truly love to drive and you’re looking for a way to spend NIS 227,000, buying a Mini Cooper S is one of the best choices you can make.And if you’re wondering whether the Cooper S is fun to drive, I’d probably answer: What car that costs NIS 227,000 wouldn’t be fun to drive? The Cooper S is BMW’s newest third-generation mini and is based on the historic Austin 7. Although the first two generations were highly successful, the improvements in the newest one put them in proper perspective.The third-generation mini revealed the previous generations’ weaknesses. Firstly, even though the newer model is 10 cm. longer, 4.4 cm wider and the wheelbase is almost 3 cm. wider, BMW was still able to retain its classic proportions and style.Secondly, the latest generation is based on a new, extremely modern platform, in which BMW designers invested a lot of time and money – since it will be used not just in minis, but in BMW front-wheel drives as well. It has a more compact multi-link rear suspension structure, and a total weight of about 100 kg. less than its previous model despite all the additional features, which enables it to handle the road much more smoothly.Thirdly – and most important of all – BMW approached the alterations of the newest generation from a place of confidence and creativity, and was willing to invest the necessary resources to make this model a success. And now, for the first time, we can find under its hood diesel and gasoline engines that were developed exclusively for and by BMW.In the near future, BMW importers will bring to Israel Mini Coopers with 3-cylinder, 1.2-liter and 1.5-liter engines.We took out the Cooper S for a test drive, and its 4-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine, which makes it the strongest and most sporty mini ever, did not disappoint us.Even the electric window switches were moved from their previous odd location to a more natural place on the door, and the interior space surrounding the driver was expanded. There is now a very convenient space to rest your left foot while you’re driving, and your right knee no longer gets stuck under the dashboard. The driver’s seat of the Cooper S supports the driver’s lower back well and is extremely comfortable overall. Minis have never had an excellent field of view, and this has not changed in the latest Cooper S model.With respect to size, the Cooper S can be categorized as a large supermini, but functionally speaking, despite the improvements BMW has made, I found the Cooper S to still be lacking. For starters, there are still only two seats in the back, which do not actually seat two individuals comfortably. The interior is nicer than it used to be, but it’s still pretty spartan. The trunk has been nicely redesigned, but it is still too small to be useful for daily errands.One thing is for sure: The Cooper S has fantastic suspension, and its noise suppression is very high quality. The result is most pleasing – the Cooper S somehow manages to feel like a go-kart, yet it bounces over potholes as if they weren’t even there, which makes the driver grin from ear to ear.The new Cooper S combines all the high-level features that have made minis so popular: determination, tenacity and accuracy. It’s both sturdy and light, which gives it a feeling of extremely high quality.And now, finally, the Cooper S has been fitted with a respectable engine and excellent automatic transmission.Quality in a car can’t be measured just by how long it takes to go from zero to 100 kph or its horsepower, but in how comfortable it is to drive under a variety of road and weather conditions.The engine is so quiet that I suspect BMW engineers somehow managed to magically insert pleasing sounds. SpecificationsBMW Mini Cooper SEngine: 1,998 ccPower: 192 hp @ 4,700 rpmTorque: 2.8/1,250 nm/rpmAcceleration: 0-100 kph in 6.7 secondsTop speed: 233 kphWeight: 1,250 kgWheelbase: 250 cmTire length: 385 cmTax grouping: 4List price: NIS 227,000Translated by Hannah Hochner.
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