Yes, A Marvel
by Jim Currie (26 May 01)

BMW has gone back to its roots with the launch of the MINI One and MINI Cooper. The German company once vied with Fiat for top place in the micro car department before wisely deciding that there was much more money to be made by turning out fast saloons, coupés and estates for a more discerning clientele.

But if the MINI was forced on BMW through its short ownership of Rover, there was nothing about the Italian launch of the new car to suggest an "Oh well, I suppose we'd better get on with it" shrug.

BMW is genuinely proud of the MINI, and rightly so. It is built to the same exacting standard as the more familiar Bavarian motorway cruisers, but with a whole lot of features built in which suggest the designers had much more fun creating it than anything else that has come off their drawing boards in recent years.

As an exercise in space creation it is a marvel. Wrapped up in an exterior only marginally bigger than that of the VW Lupo the MINI really is a Tardis on wheels. Inside there is ample room for any type of driver or passenger. Six-footers will get at least three inches of space between haircut and roof, and those who tend to be a little on the wide side will appreciate the cunningly concave finish to the doors which adds almost two inches of "spread out" room to each seating position.

In fact, this actually feels like a much larger car when you get behind the (large) steering wheel. It features the biggest speedometer this side of a 44-tonne truck offset to the driver's left. Immediately behind the steering wheel - and visible through its spokes - is the biggest tachometer you will come across, while, perhaps to balance things out, all the minor switches are lined up in military fashion, in a straight line below the radio, beautifully finished as chromed stalks.

The Gold Standard

Standard equipment is hugely impressive. As well as front and side airbags for both driver and front seat passenger, there are useful little gadgets such as a flat tyre indicator and (listed as an optional extra) something called AHPS 2. That translates as Advanced Head Protection System, giving both front and rear seat passengers maximum protection against head injuries in the event of the car being hit from the side.

There are disc brakes all round, together with ABS and CBC (cornering brake control), which should be enough for most drivers, but those of a nervous disposition can add traction and dynamic stability control to the shopping list.

Although a genuine four-seater, luggage space isn't much more generous than the Mini of 1959, but that and a slightly woolly gearshift were just about the only criticisms we could come up with.

On the road the suspension is firm, but without any of the crashing and jarring that was so much a part of the original. Steering is precise, ride comfort as good as in most of the larger BMWs, and the Brazilian-built engine produces enough muscle to satisfy those drivers who insist on leaving some of their tyres on the road at each set of traffic lights. Although specifically designed for the MINI, the engine can be expected to pop up in other cars, notably Chryslers.

BMW engineers point out, however, that the car's platform is unique and will NOT do the rounds of the industry.

I tried a manual version, but there is a CVT available, even in Cooper trim. Performance figures weren't measured on the test drive, nor was fuel consumption, but expect 0-60 mph times comfortably in single figures and a top speed well in excess of 100mph, together with around 40 mpg overall.

Prices are much cheaper than originally rumoured at £10,300 for MINI One and another £1,300 if you go for the Cooper.

No press launch would be complete without some scribbler asking if and when we can expect a diesel version. Apparently there are none envisaged as part of the MINI's worldwide marketing strategy, but at least one senior BMW engineer seemed strangely excited by the concept.

MINI One and MINI Cooper may have some little variants to play with quite soon!

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