Mini Cooper S (2006) CAR review

Err... New Mini? Are you sure?

Yes, it’s the new Mini. But you’ll have to be a real geek to spot the differences. If you really want to know it’s a bit longer, and the bonnet is a bit higher for crash and pedestrian protection regulations. Oh, and there’s a new engine nestling under the hood. Throw in a revised interior, some chassis tweaks and a few other details and it’s a ‘new’ car.

So you’re basically saying it looks the same…

You can’t really blame Mini for keeping the styling so similar. After all demand has been so high the production line has been playing catch up since sales started in 2001. What has always been mildly embarrassing about the outgoing car though is its engine. Built in conjunction with Chrysler, in a deal that the ink dried on before arch rival Mercedes-Benz jumped into bed with the American firm, the 1.6 unit was never the Mini’s strong point. The new 1.6, naturally aspirated in the Cooper, and turbocharged, rather than supercharged, in the Cooper S is another shared effort - this time with the French PSA group.