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TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
The MINI Cooper S fights for its identity in a changing world
It has been more than two decades since the Hollywood remake of The Italian Job hit screens. Revenge-based storyline and Charlize Theron aside, most car fans will agree the real star of the show was the reinvented MINI. The leading role did a great deal for the cool factor of the British hatchback, shortly after it had been re-birthed by German custodians, BMW. Though the millennium MINI looked like a copy of the original, albeit modernised, it shed the humble economy car essence of its progenitor and was instead a bona fide premium offering: a junior, front-wheel drive BMW of sorts. Even at that time critics lamented that the reincarnated MINI was costly and, relatively speaking, not so miniature. Criticisms that could still apply today. Time to give it a break though, because it is unrealistic to expect any modern interpretation of an original to stay completely faithful to the practical aspects — and dimensions — of its ancestor. In real-world terms, even the purists might agree that thick A-pillars, deforming crumple zones, more airbags than one has fingers and intelligent semi-autonomous driving features provide peace of mind for driver and occupants. Driving a classic Mini in the contemporary world, you would not want to be on the receiving end of a Datsun Go that did not pull up in time. Since that first BMW-made MINI came about in 2000, the portfolio has expanded to include variants of nearly all shapes and sizes. You now have SUV options such as the Countryman and in-between, crossover shapes such as the Aceman. There was also a Mini Roadster. The traditional three-door hatchback format continues to form part of the range in 2025. What a nifty thing it was to see in our basement parking. Parked next to my Countryman SE long-termer, the three-door MINI looked diminutive. But when parked next to a genuine A-segment budget car, the MINI's girth and generous footprint is significant. Opening one of its heavy front doors, you find entry is akin to slinking behind a low-slung sports car's wheel. The access height might reveal the weaker parts of your back structure, especially in the frigid air of winter, as I learnt. This exercise seemed much easier the previous time I tested a three-door Cooper several years ago. Chalk it down to age. In a world of Chinese crossovers with aggressive lines and angry gazes, the doe-eyed, rounded look of the MINI three-door is friendly and endearing. Design-wise, the Mini is mentioned in the same company as icons such as the Porsche 911, Volkswagen Transporter or Ford Mustang — with distinctive aesthetic personalities that cannot be replicated. The new Cooper is modelled on futuristic executions shown in concept cars from yesteryear, such as the 2011 Rocketman. It is minimalistic and digital. There is an expansive dashboard surface. The slim front pews are positioned inches above the ground — no SUV-like 'commanding view' here. Right in the middle of the fascia is an oversized central touchscreen display. There are a few remaining elements of physical switchgear, including a toggle for driving modes. That element will see infrequent use as you are likely to want to keep the Cooper S in its sportiest Go-Kart setting. This also changes the ambient mood lighting to an appropriately racy hue of crimson. Blasting through Los Angeles tunnels and empty waterways like Charlie Croker's gang was a much nicer fantasy than the reality of dodging Egoli's potholes, splashing through flowing sewage. Our city's road surfaces vary from not-so-bad to bad and it is an environment that hardly flatters the firmly-sprung MINI, on its optional 40-profile, 18 inchers. A set of 215/45/17 wheels are standard fitment. The Cooper S retains the frantic character of a city mouse that slugged spilt energy drink, champing at the bit, goading its driver into seizing gaps and keeping that 2.0 l engine in the peak of its power band. There are no shifter paddles to manually slice through the ratios of its seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic, but there is a setting marked 'L' on the gear selector nib, which engages a more dynamic shifting characteristic, holding the gears for longer. Acoustically, the turbocharged, four-cylinder unit is as characterful as can be expected — within the constraints of emissions regulations. It has a buzzy, eager note from within the cabin, delivering enough shove to launch the three-door from standstill to 100km/h in a claimed 6.6 seconds. It is remarkable how tidily the MINI handles. Even mid-corner, the driven (front) wheels are never flummoxed by the foot-flat summoning of the entire 150kW/300Nm output — almost no 'torque-steer' to speak of. The Cooper S is an entertaining, fun compact that likes to be grabbed by the scruff of its neck. Though I could not help but think about how the SE model (that is the electric one) delivers the same level of agility and swiftness but with a more effortless, silent nature typical of responsive electric powertrains. Never thought I would have found myself more partial to the latter sensations — could be that living with the quiet, zero emissions Countryman SE has altered my worldview. Still, there is a price advantage, having the standard three-door Cooper S over its electric SE counterpart. The petrol engine model costs R646,395 compared with the battery-powered model, which is R802,000. These prices are before options. As a newer generation of drivers embrace electric technologies, the hallmarks of what defines a performance car are changing — with less emphasis on sounds, vibrations and other aspects that offer a visceral connection between driver and machine. It is good that MINI wants to pander to both camps (for now, anyway) with a traditional Cooper S and the progressive Cooper SE, rather than forcing its fans to pick a side.
Auto Express
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New MINI JCW Electric 2025 review: fast, frantic and playful
John Cooper Works' first stab at an electric hot hatch has its flaws, but it's hard to deny that it's a huge giggle to drive. Fast, frantic and playful, there's an awful lot to make you smile, which is a huge hurdle that very few electric cars have managed to overcome. Still, once many prospective buyers put on their sensible hats, the cons can become too much to overlook. The small rear-seat space, the potentially limited range and particularly the relentlessly firm ride make this MINI a little harder to justify. Advertisement - Article continues below Torque steer is a sensation that will be fairly unfamiliar to new car drivers. But those who have owned an earlier turbocharged hot hatchback from the noughties, or any of the more punchy Saabs from the same era, will know all about the wriggling sensation from the steering wheel as a big whack of torque is trying to make its way through the front wheels and onto the asphalt. Depending on your point of view, it was something that felt either quite exciting or a little uncouth. We have a sneaking suspension that MINI engineers fall into the former camp, because it's a sensation that's well and truly back with this: the John Cooper Works Electric. We're sure that some clever electronic trickery could have ironed it out of what is the fastest-accelerating Mini you can buy today. But when the engineers were trying to develop some personality for an EV designed to appeal to keen drivers, they took the JCW down a slightly unconventional route. One which wiggles from side to side a bit. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View CX-30 View CX-5 Keep that front end pointing vaguely in a straight line, and the MINI's not short on performance either. Power comes from a 227bhp motor driving the front wheels, but flicking the paddle labeled 'Boost' behind the left-hand spoke of the steering wheel means another 27bhp chips in – and the JCW can sprint from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds; that figure undercuts the rival Alpine A290 by half a second, and blows the similarly priced Abarth 500e clean out of the water with its seven-second time. It also undercuts the petrol-powered Mini John Cooper Works by 0.2 seconds. Advertisement - Article continues below And while that car needs to be in the right gear at the right time to extract its full performance, the Electric model is always on it. The throttle response is well judged - lively but not too lively. MINI is regularly at pains to remind us all of the 'go-kart' feeling that runs through each one of its new cars. At times that claim feels like a bit of a stretch, but the John Cooper Works Electric hits the mark better than pretty much anything else in the brand's current range. Helping on its way to achieve this are some JCW-specific features; these include a little extra camber on the front axle and some-high performance Hankook Ion Evo tyres. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below With no engine up front, the Electric version feels even keener to turn into corners than its petrol counterpart, and once loaded up through the turns, it's more responsive to throttle adjustment mid-corner. Unlike some of the less sporty rubber fitted to lesser Minis, its tyres have impressively high grip levels, and everything remains fairly predictable once their limits arrive. But for all of the areas where the John Cooper Works Electric impresses, there's one crucial way in which it doesn't feel like a go-kart – and another where it does, but we'd much prefer that it didn't. Advertisement - Article continues below In the first camp is the steering. Yes, it's incredibly responsive – so much so that we found ourselves initially applying too much lock into a corner until we'd fully dialled into its sensitivity – but that level of sensitivity needs some feedback to be fully trusted, and the JCW offers very little at all. Feel and feedback can make any car more fun, but it's even more important in a hot hatch, so it's a shame there's not much to rely on here. Then there's the ride comfort - an area where we'd happily sacrifice some kart-like behaviour for a little more compliance. The JCW is very firm over bumps; it picks up ripples in the road surface that barely register in most other cars. In some ways, this makes the mix of strong acceleration and that torque steer even more exciting and even more of a giggle, but when you're just in the mood to settle down and take it easy, the MINI still feels like it's up for another round. The set-up isn't unduly crashy or brittle, so it's clear that there's sophistication to the chassis, but the constant jiggling over any road surface does become rather wearing on a longer journey. According to WLTP data, the longest journey that the JCW can stretch to is 251 miles before its 54.2kWh battery runs out of juice. Our time behind the wheel was spent driving enthusiastically, so we'll reserve our full judgement until we drive the car in more mixed environments, and take our figure of 3.2 miles/kWh with a slight pinch of salt. That's a real-world range of 157 miles, recorded on a mild day – a high of 15 degrees centigrade – so there's space for that to improve in warmer temperatures and drop lower still in winter. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below At 95kW, the charging speeds are roughly on the money with the MINI's closest rivals, 15kW faster than the Abarth, and just 5kW short of the Alpine. Officially, a 10-80 per cent charge takes 30 minutes. Setting aside the MINI's on-road manners, potentially limited range and some very tight rear seats, the main thing that has kept buyers coming back is the car's unmistakable style, and performance car fans are in for a treat with the JCW. A deep front bumper, an extended rear spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels and lots of gloss black trim can be enhanced with the likes of bonnet stripes, multitone roof finishes and a choice of six exterior colours. Inside, there's a clear black and red theme, with supportive sports seats and the knitted-effect material on the dashboard. Prices for the JCW start from £34,905, with a couple of packs upgrading the car from its standard spec. The £1,300 Level 2 pack adds adaptive LED lights, keyless entry, heated front seats, a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, tinted windows and a panoramic sunroof. On top of these features, the Level 3 pack adds electric front seats, adaptive cruise control with lane-keep assist, augmented-reality navigation and a 360-degree parking camera, among other features. This pack costs £3,800, taking the total cost up to £38,705. Those numbers tally up fairly nicely with the A290, with its base model starting from £33,500 and the Premiere Edition rising to £38,500. Model: MINI John Cooper Works Electric Price from: £34,905 Powertrain: 1x e-motor, 54.2kWh battery Power/torque: 254bhp/340Nm Transmission: Single-speed, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 5.9 seconds Top speed: 124mph Range: 251 miles Charging: 95kW (10-80% in 30 minutes) Size (L/W/H): 3,858/1,756/1,460mm On sale: Now Share this on Twitter Share this on Facebook Email It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA Mike Rutherford thinks Jaguar's 'Reimagine' strategy will result in the company exploring further opportunities in the USA Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales Is pressure from retailers and car makers finally cutting through with ministers? Car Deal of the Day: Ford Explorer gives you practicality, style and EV power for £228 a month Car Deal of the Day: Ford Explorer gives you practicality, style and EV power for £228 a month Family-friendly SUV is arguably Ford's best electric car, and great value, too. It's our Deal of the Day for 24 May
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Taming the 'Beasts of Britain'
THE iconic MINI we see on our roads today are more expansive and stylised than the original 'tiny' car originally owned by British Motor Corp. British Motor later merged with Leyland Motor Corp in 1968 to become British Leyland. The latter subsequently became the Rover Group, which owned Rover, MINi, Land Rover and MG. BMW took control of the Rover Group and MINI in 1994. By the turn of the millennium, Rover was still suffering huge losses, so BMW decided to get rid of most of the companies - MG and Rover went to Phoenix and Land Rover was sold to Ford. But BMW kept the MINI and since the past 20 years, the vehicle has been produced in a variety of versions. They include the hatch, cabrio, Clubman, Paceman, coupe and roadster, as well as a limited edition all-electric model. Enough about some history lesson and let's move to the present day in Malaysia. On Friday, MINI Malaysia brought the legacy of heritage and bold expression to life with the MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) Track Day 2025 at Gamuda Cove. Designed for MINIacs and driving enthusiasts alike, the track day offered a showcase of the latest additions to the new MINI family, delivering adrenaline-fuelled driving experiences that embody MINI's hallmark racing DNA. At the core of the track day was a tribute to the spirit of John Cooper – the visionary who transformed a humble compact car into a motorsport icon. The track day featured the latest performance-driven models, including the new MINI JCW, first-ever all-electric MINI John Cooper Works, first-ever all-electric MINI John Cooper Works Aceman and MINI John Cooper Works Countryman. These latest additions to the new MINI family combine bold innovation with MINI's racing DNA, offering purist design, electrifying performance and go-kart-like handling that reimagine the brand's legacy for a new generation. Across two dedicated zones, participants had the opportunity to test the limits of MINI's most thrilling models. The 3.4-kilometre JCW Drive Zone was built for high-speed sprints and cornering. The JCW Track Zone, meanwhile, was inspired by the legendary Kartdromo Parma circuit in Italy. The circuit is known for its tight corners and technical complexity, challenges drivers with a layout designed to push traction, control, and braking precision under pressure. Whether it is the classic MINI JCW or the fully electric MINI JCW Aceman, each model was put to the test where they can truly stand out, on the track. MINI Malaysia urged participants to unleash their "Beast Mode"' although we felt the real beasst here were the many MINIs available for test and it was up to us to tame them. At the end of the test, participants were presented with a track bred certificate to signify that our "powerful performance has made its mark on the track". Also on display at the track day were the MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper 5 Door, all-electric MINI Cooper, new MINI convertible, MINI Countryman, all-electric MINI Countryman and all-electric MINI Aceman, which were featured in two distinct editions. The all-electric MINI Aceman Track Edition features exclusive race livery on the hood, sides and rear of the vehicle and a MINI floating hub cap. This all-electric MINI Aceman Slick Edition features silver livery across the hood, sides and rear, and is also adorned with the signature floating hub cap, completing a showcase of sheer driving excitement and design individuality.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
MINI India announces price protection for 3-Door Cooper S
MINI India, a part of BMW Group India, has announced a price protection assurance programme for the MINI 3-Door Cooper S model produced at its Oxford plant in the U.K. in case of a duty cut under the India-U.K. Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Vikram Pawah, President and CEO, BMW Group India said, 'With the price protection assurance programme for MINI 3- Door Cooper S, MINI is staying a step ahead and ensuring that customers can receive the full benefit of any major price reductions resulting from anticipated duty cuts.' 'They can buy their favourite MINI today and do not have to wait longer to make the purchase decision. This bold decision reflects the brand's exceptional focus on customer centricity, trust and best interest of the MINI community,' he said. The price protection programme is valid on the MINI 3-Door Cooper S which is available in India as a Completely Built-up Unit (CBU). The model is produced at MINI Plant Oxford in United Kingdom. 'Under the limited period offer, cars bought from now onwards will be covered till the next 180 days. If price is reduced during this period, the respective dealership will refund the differential amount between the net invoiced price and the new ex-showroom price back to the customer,' BMW Group India said in a statement. 'The current ex-showroom price of the MINI 3-Door Cooper S starts at ₹44,90,000. The offer can be availed at any authorised MINI dealership in India,' it added. The other model of the new MINI family – the all-electric MINI Countryman – is not covered under the offer. It is available in India as a Completely Built-up Unit and is produced at BMW Group Plant Leipzig in Germany.
News18
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- News18
MINI Cooper S Lists Under Price Protection Assurance, Check Benefits Under Offer
Last Updated: The offer is valid only for the MINI 3-Door Cooper S, which is available in India as a Completely Built-up Unit. It will remain the same for a limited period. The German carmaker BMW India has taken a unique initiative, giving a price projection assurance against the latest offering, MINI Cooper S. The company has announced in its official release that the offer has been introduced to give proper assurance to the customers, allowing them to feel less stressed about the price hike of the model in the future. What's The Benefit? What is the offer all about? Well, under the latest initiative, the three-door Cooper S can be purchased, and will be covered till the next 180 days against the price hike. It means the customers will be able to stay at peace, and will have the opportunity to get a refund of the differential amount if the price goes up during the above-mentioned period. Limited Period Offer The offer is valid only for the MINI 3-Door Cooper S, which is available in India as a Completely Built-up Unit. It will remain the same for a limited period. The benefit can not be avail for the electric version, MINI Countryman, which has been produced at MINI Plant Oxford in the United Kingdom. Here's What Top Official Says Reacting to the offer, Vikram Pawah, President and CEO, BMW Group India, said, 'MINI has always stood for innovation and a bold character. With the price protection assurance program for MINI 3-Door Cooper S, MINI is staying a step ahead and ensuring that customers can receive the full benefit of any major price reductions resulting from anticipated duty cuts." 'They can buy their favourite MINI today and do not have to wait longer to make the purchase decision. This bold decision reflects the brand's exceptional focus on customer centricity, trust and best interest of the MINI community," Pawah added. First Published: May 23, 2025, 15:28 IST
