A unique story of success is entering the next round: The MINI, the world’s best-selling small premium car, is entering its second model generation.
Making its world debut at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, the new MINI is really new in every respect five years after its predecessor entered the market.
As the top performer in its class, the new MINI is making its way to the road with brand-new four-cylinder power units. And despite even better performance and sportiness, the new MINI is even more economical and fuel-efficient than its predecessor.
Outside, the design of the new MINI has gone through a careful process of evolution retaining the characteristic look of the brand. Inside, the new generation has been revolutionised in intelligent and trendy style. New equipment features enhance motoring comfort and driving pleasure in the new MINI to a new standard never seen before.
Entering the market in late 2006, the new MINI Cooper S and the new MINI Cooper will both be making their appearance first. The new MINI Cooper S is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine developing maximum output of 128 kW/175 hp. Acceleration to 100 km/h comes in 7.1 seconds, top speed is 225 km/h or 140 mph. Average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle, in turn, is a mere 6.9 litres/100 kilometres, equal to 40.9 mpg Imp.
The 1.6-litre normal-aspiration power unit in the MINI Cooper develops maximum output of 88 kW/120 hp, accelerating the car from 0–100 km/h in 9.1 seconds and good for a top speed of 203 km/h or 126 mph. Average fuel consumption of the new MINI Cooper is just 5.8 litres/100 kilometres or 48.7 mpg Imp.
The “basic” version, the new MINI One featuring a 1.4-litre 70 kW/95 hp four-cylinder power unit, will be entering the market in the first half of 2007. And, finally, there will also be a new MINI featuring the most advanced and sophisticated turbodiesel technology.
All versions of the new MINI naturally retain that go-kart feeling so typical of the car thanks to its low centre of gravity, wide track and “one-wheel-at-every-corner” concept. Given the wide range of innovations on the engine, transmission, the chassis and suspension, steering and brake system,
the driving experience reaches a level never seen before. And last but not least, the new MINI, through its stable body structure and exemplary safety equipment, meets the greatest demands the world over also in body stiffness and passenger safety.
Elegant and sporting in its looks.
“From the original to the original” – this was the principle applied from the start in developing the exterior design of the new MINI. So while the design of the body is brand-new all round, it is still unmistakable in every respect. The front end of the new MINI, for example, approaches the world with a friendly smile borne out in particular by the new hexagon radiator grille giving this charming two-door an even more open-minded expression through its design as an open but interconnected element. The separation in the middle on the upper edge of the bumper so characteristic of the radiator grille on the first model has been dropped.
The front end of the new MINI extends out a bit further than before, making the MINI Cooper 60 millimetres or 2,36´´ longer than its predecessor, while the new MINI Cooper S 61 millimetres or 2,40´´ longer. The reason for this growth in length lies in the larger engines as well as future safety regulations. And as a result of the improvements and new dimensions, the new MINI already fulfils the prerequisites today for the pedestrian safety standards required tomorrow.
Striking design, discreet growth.
Apart from the radiator grille, particularly the large round headlights give the new MINI a truly unique face. The direction indicators have now also been integrated in the headlights, adding even greater clarity to the stylish look of the car, with only two instead of the former four “beauty spots” catching
the eye.
The positioning lights beneath the headlights also serving to take up the foglamps available as an option enhance this optical function even further in providing a truly unique look. And again from the front, the MINI Cooper S stands out from the MINI Cooper inter alia through its more distinctive powerdome and the characteristic opening in the engine compartment lid.
From the side the new MINI is firm and muscular. The row of windows running all round the car as a particular highlight in design is most characteristic of the new MINI. The so-called “greenhouse”, in turn, that is the glazed section on the passenger compartment cell, now tapers out to the rear in a more pronounced sweep than on the former model, clearly highlighting the very dynamic look and orientation of the car.
At the rear the new MINI has a sporting and powerful look through its even more distinguished “shoulders” skilfully balancing out the increase in size at the front. And since the overall design of the car retains the well-known proportions of the MINI, the new dimensions remain discreet in their visual impact.
The typical signs of the MINI’s premium character, on the other hand, come out even more clearly, with chrome flashing brightly on the door handles, headlights, rear lights and radiator grille surrounds, on the fuel tank filler cap and around the car’s shoulder line. So in its elegantly adorned look and well-proportioned compactness, the new MINI is reminiscent of a sculpture on wheels.
The new MINI has been thoroughly revised and updated inside. Intelligent design reduces the instruments to a minimum, placing them puristically within circular dials. In combination with the taut horizontal geometry of the dashboard, the instruments characterise the design language and overall style of the car’s interior, with the rev counter positioned behind the steering wheel in the driver’s direct line of vision.
The central unit also in the new MINI is the Center Speedo even larger than before and thus highlighted in its particular significance. Comprising far more functions than on the former model, the Center Speedo now also includes the indicators and controls for the entertainment system as well as the display of the optional navigation unit.
Thanks to the more slender design of the centre console, the space available in the footwells on both the driver’s and front passenger’s side is even more generous than before. The horizontally aligned structure of the cockpit, in turn, is reflected by the arrangement of the car’s controls grouped in the Center Stack beneath the Center Speedo.
The vertically arranged rotary knobs of the ventilation system, the two cupholders integrated in the centre console, as well as the toggle switches carried over from motorsport, are also typical and characteristic of MINI. Indeed, these switches serving, inter alia, to activate the electric window lifts, seat heating and central locking are even larger than before on the new model, and for the first time the new MINI also comes with toggle switches in the roof lining.
All instruments offer particular ease of control and are positioned in exactly the right ergonomic arrangement. A round signal unit in typical MINI style now serves as the door and ignition lock, with the engine being started by means of the start/stop button.
Choosing your own light colour.
New ambient illumination included in the optional Lights Package sets a unique highlight. Providing “waterfall” illumination flowing down discreetly from above and serving as indirect illumination in the roof lining, the door storage compartments and grab handle recesses, the interior lights scheme creates a unique atmosphere of sophisticated style inside the car. And as yet another feature typical of MINI, the colour of the lights may be changed in five stages from warm orange to sporting blue.
Individual style – the name of the game.
With its exceptionally versatile and attractive range of equipment variants and optional extras, the new MINI satisfies even the greatest demands made by the most discerning individualist. Featuring materials such as natural wood and hand-sewn piped leather with their unique smell of style and class, the new model definitely appeals to all the customer’s senses. And decorative trim as well as the MINI Colour Line both serve to adjust the interior to the personal preferences of the customer.
No less than 12 body colours come as standard, eight of which are metallic. This wide range of choice is further enhanced by free choice of the roof colour and painting scheme, with the roof being available in both white and black as an alternative to the “regular” colour of the body.
As an option both the MINI Cooper S and the MINI Cooper are both available in Chrome Line comprising chrome surrounds on the lower air intake scoop, the foglamps and rear fog warning light (MINI Cooper), on the air intake in the rear air dam (MINI Cooper S) and on the tailgate grab handle (MINI Cooper S).
New engines: powerful and economical.
The MINI Cooper S boasts a 1.6-litre turbocharged power unit developing maximum output of 128 kW/175 hp. The engine is charged by a twin- scroll turbocharger driven by the separate flow of exhaust gases coming in each case from two cylinders. Benefiting from this particular configuration, the turbocharger builds up its power-boosting effect from low engine speeds, offering substantial advantages in practice: The 1.6-litre four-cylinder in the MINI Cooper S develops its superior power with muscle and momentum quite unusual for an engine of its size. Maximum torque of 240 Nm or 177 lb-ft is maintained consistently in the range between 1,600 and 5,000 rpm, and when accelerating all out torque is increased briefly to an even more significant 260 Nm or 192 lb-ft by a short increase in turbocharger pressure (overboost).