MINI Cooper

Introduced in 2002 as a completely new design, the BMW MINI Cooper is a throwback to its ancestor of the same name, mimicking its appearance and performance. Whilst the car has been criticized for its poor space-efficiency compared with the original Mini (despite its significantly larger size), its faithfulness to the original's razor sharp handling characteristics and its unique styling has seen the BMW MINI become a sales success in Europe and (since its introduction in 2002) in the U.S.

BMW has received a significant backlog of orders throughout the life of the car and the Cowley factory is working at its full capacity of around 100,000 cars per year; all of this with little conventional advertising.

See Wikicars' comprehensive BMW MINI Cooper Review.

Recent Changes

 * For 2011, The Cooper S, Cooper JCW and Cooper Convertible are getting a mid-cycle facelift to bring it into line with the design language of the newly released Mini Countryman.

Cooper S

Cosmetically, there is little that has changed about this new BMW MINI Cooper since it was introduced in 2002. Certain features and optional stylings have been offered, however, and this is true for 2006 as well. This year, the BMW Cooper is available in a special edition John Cooper Works GP version, boosting the engine output to 214hp and adding such items as a limited slip differential and electronic stability control.

The 2007 model is three inches longer than the 2006 model. However, according to CarsDirect.com, the 2007 has 2 inches less rear leg room (29 vs 31 in) and one square foot less luggage space when the rear seats are folded down (24 vs 25 sq ft).

According to Automotive.com, the 2007 "S" model with the turbocharger has 4 more horsepower and 15 more foot pounds of torque than the 2006 "S" model with a supercharger. The 2007 "S" model gets 16% better city gas mileage (29 vs 25 MPG). Those factoids appear to support the contention that switching from supercharger to turbocharger was done to improve engine efficiency. However, MINI "maniacs" will miss the delightful scream of the supercharger and have to endure the hesitation provided by turbo lag.

Styles and Major Options
The BMW MINI Cooper is available in either a 2-door hatchback or a convertible. While both are available in Base and S versions, only the hatchback is available in the new John Cooper Works GP edition, which incorporates more features, a stronger engine, and a sportier ride. There are numerous styling and badging differences between the other two models. Perhaps the most obvious is that the Cooper S has a distinctive hood scoop cut into the bonnet (which improves airflow over the top mounted intercooler), and it also has twin exhausts. The base BMW Cooper has more chrome parts than the BMW MINI One, which isn't sold in the US, and has a single exhaust. Here are some of the differences in the trims:

BMW MINI Cooper
 * Sport suspension
 * 15" silver alloy wheels
 * Leatherette bucket seats
 * Front air conditioning
 * 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system
 * Power locks, windows, mirrors

BMW MINI Cooper S Adds to or replaces base features with:
 * 16" silver alloy wheels
 * Leatherette sports seats
 * Rear wing spoiler
 * Body colored grille with chrome accents

John Cooper Works GP Edition
 * Limited slip differential
 * Electronic stability control
 * 18" painted alloy wheels
 * Driver/front passenger heated seats
 * Cruise control
 * Trip computer
 * Rocker panel extensions

Pricing
Today's actual prices for the BMW MINI Cooper can be found at CarsDirect.

Gas Mileage
As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Reliability
Automotive Information Systems reports that the BMW MINI Cooper models have experienced minimal problems over time. The most recent model for which reliability data is available, the 2004 Cooper, received an overall green rating from the organization.


 * RECALL ALERT: On October 7, 2008, MINI issued a recall alert affecting 560 MY2009 MINI and MINI Clubman John Cooper Works models fitted with 16 inch diameter front brake discs due to an abnormally quick fade lifespan under conditions of intense brake usage. MINI dealers will inspect the front brake discs and pads and, if necessary, replace them free of charge. BMW has also set up a hotline for owners at 1-866-275-6464.


 * RECALL ALERT: MINI Recalling MY'07-'08 Cooper S for... Protruding Tailpipes

Safety
In safety tests carried out by the NHTSA, the BMW MINI Cooper and BMW MINI Cooper S both performed well. For front-impact, rollover, and front side-impact tests, the Cooper received 4-Star ratings. ABS and driveline traction control are standard on S models, and the special John Cooper Works GP model also comes with a limited slip differential and electronic stability control.

Some of the standard safety features found on the BMW Cooper include:
 * Front and rear anti-roll bars
 * Four wheel anti-lock brakes
 * Driver/passenger airbags
 * Driver/passenger side-impact airbags
 * 1st/2nd row side-impact airbags
 * Side impact bars

Photos
See CarsDirect.com for more pictures.

Colors
Colors will vary by trim, and a complete list is viewable at CarsDirect.com. Some of the available choices include:

Exterior
 * Astro Black Metallic
 * Chili Red
 * Hyper Blue Metallic
 * Pepper White
 * Purple Haze Metallic
 * Royal Gray Metallic
 * Thunder Blue Metallic

Interior
 * Black
 * Cordoba Beige
 * Lapis Blue
 * Tartan Red/Black

Main Competitors

 * Mazda Mazda3
 * Toyota Prius
 * Honda Civic
 * Volkswagen Jetta
 * Ford Focus
 * Volkswagen Golf
 * Hyundai Getz

European Competitors
 * Citroën C3
 * Peugeot 206
 * Renault Clio
 * Volkswagen Polo GTi

Hybrid Models
There are currently no hybrid models of the BMW MINI Cooper in production.

Unique Attributes
The MINI has a similar wheelbase and track width to the Porsche Cayman, yet it's 30 inches shorter and weighs 200 lbs less. It may look like a grocery getter but it drives like a sports car. It's often described as having "go kart like" handling. Road and Track wrote, "Its compact, curve-hugging chassis and supercharged engine conspire to deliver one of the most entertaining driving experiences around. Opt for the now factory-installed John Cooper Works (JCW) option package... and the Mini's fun factor goes through the roof. "

Resale Values
According to Kelley Blue Book, "the BMW MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S are holding their values well, with an estimated residual value of 67 percent at 24 months and 57 percent at 48 months."

Criticisms

 * "When it comes to bumpy roads, though, the BMW Mini and the road surface must agree to disagree, and often it's not a polite conversation." - The Car Connection
 * "Drivers taller than six feet can fit comfortably into the BMW MINI, but it is still a bit cramped inside and the back seat is, really, a briefcase shelf." - Kelley Blue Book
 * "The rear seats are simply too cramped if the driver and front passenger are much taller than 5 1/2 feet." - Cars.com
 * "If you don't live near a MINI dealer, servicing the car may pose a problem, and in areas where demand is still high, dealer markup is thriving." - Kelley Blue Book
 * "Every panel changed, but who would know?" - Wheels Magazine

Dr. Alex Moulton, designer of the suspension system for the original classic Mini, is reported to have said of the new BMW MINI, in an interview with MiniWorld magazine ―"It’s enormous — the original Mini was the best packaged car of all time — this is an example of how not to do it… it’s huge on the outside and weighs the same as an Austin Maxi. The crash protection has been taken too far. I mean, what do you want, an armoured car? It is an irrelevance in so far as it has no part in the BMC Mini story."

Many classic Mini enthusiasts are sharply critical of the new BMW MINI, citing the fact that it is two feet longer, a foot wider and almost twice the weight of the classic car — yet it has less rear leg room and less luggage space. Undoubtedly much of this is to do with modern crash protection requirements and the desire to incorporate features such as air conditioning, a supercharged engine with modern emissions controls and a higher level of front-seat comfort than the classic Mini was capable of. This opinion is far from universal and other classic Mini enthusiasts have embraced the modern BMW MINI as a natural evolution of the original concept with many of them owning both kinds of car.

Some BMW MINI convertible owners criticise the poor rear visibility in the convertible. With the roof up the wide areas of cloth down the sides of the car block visibility to the rear quarters and the lack of washer/wiper on the small rear window — combined with the tendency of all BMW MINIs to accumulate dirt on the back end — effectively eliminates all rear visibility. Even with the roof down, the large roll-protection bars above the back seats and the bunched up cloth of the folded roof tends to block a significant fraction of rearward visibility. In an attempt to counter this problem when reversing the car, the BMW MINI convertible comes with rear-mounted proximity sensors as standard equipment (these are available as an option on the hardtop BMW MINI).

Current Generation: (2002–present)
The last cars to be made with the Tritec engine will be the "BMW MINI Cooper S Works GP", a lightweight, race-prepped John Cooper Works model. It will be produced as a limited-production run of 2000 cars in 2006, around 400 of those ear-marked for the US market. It has racing style front seats and no rear seats, reduced sound-deadening, optional air-conditioning and other refinements that reduce the overall weight by approximately 15%. Additionally, it will have enhanced brakes and suspension as well as 218 horsepower from the John Cooper Works engine modification package. In place of the rear seats will be additional body stiffening and below-floor storage areas.

BMW MINI will introduce a new version of the car for the 2007 model year, on a reengineered platform with many stylistic and engineering changes. This architecture is shared with PSA Peugeot Citroën and will be more flexible. Italdesign Giugiaro is reportedly handling the engineering.

The Tritec engine will be replaced by the so-called Prince engine, developed with Peugeot. An optional turbocharger will replace the supercharger in the Cooper S model.

Also, the bew MINI will have electric power steering replacing the conventional power steering system in the current MINI and it will also have improved rear suspension.

The BMW MINI Traveller concept vehicle will appear on a stretched wheelbase version of the BMW MINI — possibly in 2008 or 2009.

Origins

 * see Mini Classic for more details

The names Cooper and Cooper S echo the names used for the sportier version of the classic Mini which in turn come from the involvement of John Cooper and the Cooper Car Company. The Cooper heritage is further emphasized with the John Cooper Works (JCW) range of tuning options that are available with the MINI.

Technology
The BMW MINI One, Cooper and Cooper S use a Brazilian-built Tritec engine while the MINI One/D uses a Toyota-built diesel engine. While the modern BMW MINI uses none of the engineering of the BMC original Mini, it does capture some of the spirit of the classic car. Like the original, it uses a transversely-mounted four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels. All four wheels are pushed to the corners of the body which is a 'two-box' or 'hot hatch' design. The styling of the car, like that of the Volkswagen New Beetle, is a retro design that is deliberately reminiscent of the original BMC Mini with contrasting roof colours, optional bonnet stripes, optional rally lights and with black trim around the wheel arches and rocker panels that mimic the wide wheel flares found on many BMC Classic Minis.

The BMW MINI One and BMW MINI Cooper are available with a continuously variable transmission or with a conventional Getrag five-speed manual transmission. The BMW Cooper S comes with a six-speed Getrag manual or (from the 2005 model year onwards) a fully automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

Technical innovations include an electrically driven power steering system that avoids taking power from the engine when accelerating out of corners, and equal length driveshafts to eliminate torque steer. The BMW MINI has a 'drive by wire' electronic throttle, electronic brakeforce distribution, and electronic stability control to improve control and handling in adverse conditions. These innovations give the BMW MINI vastly better handling than any of its competitors.

Adding a supercharger to the BMW Cooper S model required that the battery be relocated into the rear of the car — leaving no room for a spare tyre. Hence this model comes with run flat tires as standard.

Convertible
At the 'Salon International de l'Auto' (Geneva Motor Show) in 2004, BMW MINI introduced a cabriolet (convertible) model which was released in the 2005 model year and available in BMW One, Cooper and Cooper S versions.

The convertible roof is fully automatic — an unusual feature in such a small car — and can be opened partially to act as a sunroof whilst the car is driving at speed. The convertible model forsakes the rear hatch of the hardtop BMW MINI — replacing it with a drop down 'tailgate' design reminiscent of the BMC Classic Mini and incorporating similarly prominent external hinges. The convertible also adds two small power windows for the rear seat passengers which are retracted automatically as the roof opens. The roof is made from a heavy cloth with many layers of insulation; the rear window is of glass and has a heater/defroster but no washer or wiper.

As a joke, (and undoubtedly as a part of BMW MINI's viral marketing approach) purchasers of the BMW MINI convertible were asked to sign a 'contract' promising that they'd drive the car with the roof open at least 90% of the time. BMW MINI also set up a telephone hotline (in the USA: 1-888-DO NOT CLOSE) which one may call to report convertible owners who are driving with the roof up inappropriately. The automated system offers such helpful advice as how to administer a wedgie to the offender.

Cooper D
The MINI Cooper D is the diesel version of the Cooper released in 2007.

The engine comprises of a 1.6L PSA allianced engine with a stop/start function that stops the engine when not in use. It also has Brake Energy Regeneration that captures energy from braking.

The Cooper D is recognisable by the black painted wheels. It has the fuel economy of 3.83 L/100 km (74 mpg). The car also competed in the 2009 Global Green Challenge.

Worldwide
The BMW MINI is available in seven models across the world: the BMW MINI One D, the BMW MINI One, the BMW MINI One Convertible, the BMW MINI Cooper, the BMW MINI Cooper S, the BMW MINI Cooper Convertible and the BMW MINI Cooper S Convertible. In Portugal, the BMW MINI One is powered by a 1.4 l version of the Tritec engine but all other gasoline powered BMW MINIs use the 1.6 l version. Since 2004, a soft-top convertible option has been available across the entire range. The BMW MINI One/D has no visible exhaust pipes at all.

In some markets, such as Australia and the US, only the BMW MINI Cooper and Cooper S are sold because the BMW MINI One's engine was considered to deliver insufficient power to run an air conditioner - a necessary feature in those climates. However, the only difference between the engines in the 'One' and the 'Cooper' models is a software change within the engine control unit which is tuned for optimum fuel economy on the BMW MINI One and for a compromise between power and economy on the Cooper. Almost fifty percent of all BMW MINIs sold in Australia and about seventy percent of those sold in the US are the top-of-the-range BMW Cooper S model.

Design quirks and oddities
The BMC CLASSIC MINI was featured in many movies, The BMW MINI was used in the 2003 remake of The Italian Job.

As with the BMC Classic Mini, the new BMW MINI has a widespread club and enthusiast following and strong after-market support for performance upgrades and styling enhancements. Such community support keeps the brand highly valued and shows BMW's decision to relaunch the BMW MINI as a successful business strategy.

A MINI Cooper Chilli was driven in the music video of The Veronicas song 4ever.

British comedian Jimmy Car downgraded into a MINI. His previous car was a Rover 75.

Awards
The BMW MINI Cooper/Cooper S won the North American Car of the Year award for 2003.