New MINIs unveiled

BMW's baby brand, MINI, has unveiled its new Cooper hardtops. The all-new cars are strongly reminiscent of the outgoing model and share its base structure, however, only a handful of components are shared.

Revealed ahead of their Paris Motor Show debut next month, the new Cooper and Cooper S models will arrive Down Under in the first half of 2007.

The new generation gets an all-new powertrain with the Cooper S featuring turbocharging for the first time. Developed in conjunction with Peugeot and Citroen, the new engine displaces 1.6-litres and features variable valve timing on both the forced induction and naturally-aspirated versions.

While full local specifications and pricing will not be announced until well into the new year, MINI has released a considerable amount of detail on the new vehicles.

According to the carmaker, the new generation car features a safer, lighter and longer body that is: "refined, more masculine and more aerodynamically efficient".

Look hard and you may be able to pick the new larger headlamps and a host of detailed changes including new grille and tailamp/rear spoiler treatments. What hasn’t changed is the overall feel of the car -- retained are the car's wheel-at-each-corner stance and "floating roof" look.

MINI says the interior has been upgraded though the outgoing car's ambience has been retained. Materials and build quality have been improved say insiders.

The new cockpit features a large central speedo that also houses audio/entertainment and navigation controls and displays. Other detail changes include revised trim and seat options and more space, says the company.

The heart of the new car is the revised mechanicals.

The base Cooper gets a Valvetronic-equipped DOHC four-cylinder fuel-injected engine rated at 88kW (former model 85) at 6000rpm. Max torque is 160Nm (150) at 4250rpm (4500).

Mated to a new (and standard equipment) six-speed gearbox, standing start acceleration to 100km/h is unchanged at 9.1sec (manual). MINI says in-gear acceleration is improved. From 80-120km/h in fourth, fifth and sixth it claims intervals of 9.4, 12.1 and 14.3sec respectively. The outgoing five-speed took 10.5 and 13.5sec in its top two gears.

At the same time fuel economy is claimed to have improved from 6.9lt/100km to 5.8 on the combined EU cycle.

The Cooper S's turbocharged engine also features variable valve timing and boasts petrol direct-injection like its distant BMW cousin, the new 335i twin-turbo 3 Series Coupe.

Power is up to 128kW at 5500rpm (from 125 at 6000) with peak torque of 240Nm available from 1600-5000rpm (the current S quotes 220Nm at 4000rpm). The new engine features an overboost function which can deliver a total of 260Nm between 1700-4500rpm.

The s’s fuel economy is improved from 8.6 to 6.9lt/100km and its 0-100km/h sprint is claimed to be a scant 0.1sec faster at 7.1sec.

However, in-gear acceleration is considerable improved says MINI. In the 80-120km/h open road increment, the new car (old S in brackets) boasts times of 5.5sec (6.1), 7.0 (7.7) and 8.0 (10.5) for fourth, fifth and sixth gears respectively.

Bigger brakes are fitted to both models – the Cooper’s ventilated front rotors are now 4mm larger at 280mm while the Cooper S’s 294mm front stoppers are 18mm bigger. Rear discs are unchanged (259mm) on both models.

According to MINI Australia, the company will continue to feature six airbags as standard equipment Down Under on both new Cooper models. In addition, ASC+T Automatic Stability Control and Traction will be standard on all Australian delivered MINI Cooper and Cooper S models. DSC Dynamic Stability Control will continue as an option.

Like their BMW siblings, the MINIs' brake systems will feature Brake Assists and Hill Start Assist for the first time.

At this stage the new mechanicals are restricted to hardtop MINIs. The existing Cabrio will continue with its current generation naturally-aspirated and supercharged engines.