Like MINIs, the British flag - or Union Jack - is timeless and represents a long and rich history. A modern reimagining of a classic look, the impressive LED lights are made in the form of two halves of the British flag with chrome trim.
NOT JUST A LOGO.
Winged logo MINI embodies our worthy heritage and rich history. However, we've tweaked his classic look a bit. We slightly reduced the size of the logo, making it more modern. In addition, the body color of your MINI can now be seen through the wings, creating a striking and eye-catching contrast. Getting into your MINI will now also give you a special feeling - the MINI emblem projection function from the inside of the car door will greet you before every journey.
WORTHY HEIR.
The excitement begins long before you receive your car. For example, the design of his salon will give you especially vivid emotions. In addition to the classic Carbon Black, the armrests and decorative bolsters are also available in three exclusive colors: Malt Brown, Glowing Red and Satellite Grey. IN best traditions MINI, you can also further enhance the attractiveness of the interior by personalizing the dashboard with passenger side. Trim strip in Piano Black can be equipped with background illumination in the style of the British flag.
LET THERE BE LED.
These LED headlights complement the refined MINI design with the most modern technologies matrix lighting. The LED cornering light adapts the light beam to the direction in which the steering wheel is turned and helps you navigate dimly lit junctions. As a result, traffic safety is increased - after all, you can see even those details of the road that you might have missed before. The unique design of the headlights is complemented by stylish white LED turn indicators.
MAKE YOUR DAY EVEN BRIGHTER.
We have upgraded the LED headlights to be even more elegant and modern. The daytime running lights include LED turn indicators which, when switched on, flash in an impressive full ring thanks to the unique headlamp design - with black interior decoration highlighting the iconic MINI style. Powerful LED low and high beam headlights provide improved visibility and even more high level security. Light the fires - it's time to go.
7-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH STEPTRONIC TWO CLUTCHES.
Models MINI Cooper S are equipped with a 7-speed Steptronic sports automatic transmission. It consists of two mutually interlocking mechanical elements and provides gear changes without interrupting the power flow, which further improves acceleration dynamics. The selector lever allows you, if necessary, to transfer the box to the mode manual switching gear, or switch back to automatic mode.
8-SPEED STEPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Setting new standards in performance and economy, John Cooper Works models are equipped with an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission for even smoother, sportier driving. Additional transfers allow the engine speed to be reduced by high speed and optimize the power curve. Steptronic lets you choose between the convenience of automatic shifting and the adrenaline of manual shifting.
It's not just the driving experience that's unique. We offer you the widest range of options to personalize your MINI to suit your individual style, designed specifically for your vehicle model. Whether it's Roulette or Propeller Spoke alloy wheels or the newly designed Rail Spoke brushed wheels in Jet Black, MINI has colors and styles to suit every taste. How about checking how they will look on your car? Take a look at our configurator right now.
YOUR MOTION MODE.
Be calm. Be bold. Be all at once. If you want peace and relaxation on the road, select the economical driving mode GREEN. It optimizes fuel delivery and disengages the engine from the transmission when you take your foot off the accelerator pedal. If you want more, switch to SPORT mode for extra sharp steering and accelerator pedal response. Even the sound of the exhaust adds to the solidity. And if you're not in the mood for extremes, stay in MID mode and enjoy the nice balance of motion.
COMFORTABLE LIGHT.
For the MINI 3 doors, the MINI Excitement package is fully available. It includes a comfort backlight that allows you to change the interior lighting. While the bright lights of the big city will float outside the window, the perfect atmosphere will reign inside your car, fully matching your mood.
LED RING AROUND MINI INDICATOR DISPLAY.
Take a look around the LED ring that surrounds the readout display. It is always ready to keep you company. Like a faithful companion, it is able to empathize with you. He has his own moods. It changes its color in response to ongoing events. For example, when switching the driving mode, increasing the engine speed, receiving an incoming call, or raising the volume. And if you want to ride in a more relaxed environment, just select the monotone mode.
COLORFUL EMOTIONS.
Depending on the angle, our new additions to the rich body paint palette can appear energetic, exclusive or expressive. So meet, in no particular order: Solaris Orange, Starlight Blue and Emerald Grey, able to add even more personality, style and character to your MINI. The full range of standard, optional and special MINI colors can be found here.
Despite the fact that the appearance of the Mini Cooper was highlighted in the summer, but only at the end of 2013, the car company officially showed everyone its third generation. Why so long? The answer is simple - the company wanted to time the release of the last Mini family to the birthday of the founder of the first generation, Alexander Arnold Konstantin Issigonis, who was born in 1908. A little later, it was he who became the author of the idea and design of Cooper. The entire model range is Mini.
Exterior
WITH outside, the brand new Mini Cooper received a different front end with a modified grille, different bumpers and hood and a new head optics light-amplifying system, in which LED sections are already present. At the stern of the English car, the lights and rear bumper were changed. This is just a short introduction to what is presented appearance Mini Cooper 3rd generation. Next, we will consider in more detail its design and body. Rush in search of distinctive changes in appearance new generation premium English car Mini Cooper 3, just does not make sense. The design staff managed to preserve the already known lines and proportions of past models as much as possible, while at the same time producing a more urgent silhouette of a sports compact car that is solid and courageous.
On the nose of the car, the appearance of a solid false radiator grille is noticeable, the shape of which resembles a hexagon with a massive chrome frame, a small front bumper with massive fog lamps, swollen wheel arches and new head optics. The basic version of the Mini Cooper 3rd family has headlights with standard lamps, which are complemented by an LED daytime running light system. However, optionally, you can buy completely LED headlights, with rings, where most of the ring is daytime running lights, and a small segment below is turn indicators. The new British hatchback became the debut compact machine, which has applied full-fledged Full Led LED technology for the use of daytime running lights, low and high beams, direction indicators and fog lamps. Located at the rear, the marker headlights received a new design and also LED content.
The side part of the latest Mini family shows the already well-known and remarkably flat roof line, on which there are stylish black pillars that are powerful, as if crossover protection of the edges of the wheel arch and body sills made of plastic that is not painted, the line of side glazing, which turned out to be quite high and a full-fledged body composure. Wheels are installed from a modest 16-inch to impressive, given the size of the car body, 18 inches. Rear end of the English hatchback has acquired larger ceiling lights with unique chrome frames. Also, changes have befallen the shape of the tailgate and rear bumper. New option Cooper now looks more solid, imposing and expensive.
The choice of colors for painting has increased by 5 new shades, but the contrasting white or black roof will be kept in the model list. However, the question is whether this is really new car, it seems quite relevant, because in terms of style, a brand new car almost completely copies the releases of previous generations. This can be attributed to the optical light-amplifying system behind and in front, the shape of the radiator grille, rear-view side mirrors, and body panels. However, in reality, everything is not quite so - the Briton is now a little larger, as a result of which the body proportions have changed.
Interior
The interior of the new Mini Cooper also retains recognizable features and unique styling solutions from previous versions, but it has become better in terms of ergonomics and convenience. Has been installed correct panel devices with a rather large speed sensor dial, which is complemented by a color display of the on-board computer, as well as a crescent of the engine speed sensor. As an additional option, you can buy a projection screen that will appear right in front of the driver's eyes from a panel installed in front. The steering wheel has received the location of many buttons, which are responsible for setting up a wide variety of systems. For more early models, the power unit was started using a trivial key, but now there is a special checkbox for this.
I was very pleased that in the middle of the center console, engineers and designers installed an 8.8-inch display that supports touch input (however, it is only optional). In the basic version, there is a simple TF screen with 4 lines. You will love the changing lighting of the rim of the world-famous "saucer". The panel installed in front has changed and received more modern design. Pleasantly pleased with the improved quality of the front panel. If earlier designers used cheap plastic, now the interior of the Mini Cooper looks like a car executive class. New door cards and front seats were also installed.
The driver's seat and the front passenger sitting next to it have clearly defined bolsters for lateral dorsal support and hips, as well as an excellent back profile, which has been increased by 23 mm in the length of the pillow and a considerable margin of longitudinal adjustment. There is simply nothing to please two people sitting on the back sofa, the free space, if it has increased there, is imperceptible. The back of the rear seat can change the angle of inclination and is adjusted in a ratio of 40:60, which increases the free space of the luggage compartment from 211 liters to an already acceptable 730. If we compare it with the previous generation, then there was a luggage compartment of 160-180 liters, so the increase came out, albeit not limiting, but tangible. As an additional option, you can choose variations of seat upholstery in fabric or leather, as well as choose different decorative trims for interior trim. There is a variety of trim Color Line.
Specifications
The technical component of the new Mini Cooper family implies the presence of the latest technology in the hodovka, a decrease in the total weight of the car while increasing body torsional rigidity, the use of new power units, improved gearboxes and a whole list of electronic services for safety. The front-mounted suspension is single-pivot using McPherson strut mounts, aluminum swivel mounts, installed carrier beams and wishbones from high strength steel. At the rear, the suspension is multi-link. As standard, the company installs Servotronic power steering, ABS, EBD, Cornering Brake Control and DSC with EDLC.
In British-made cars, a service is used that can distribute torque - Performance Control. The debut option for the new Mini was also applied - Dynamic Damper Control - a service responsible for adjusting the stiffness of shock absorbers. The third generation of Mini from the start of implementation will be supplied with 3 power units that operate on Mini technology TwinPower Turbo with start/stop function. They will be synchronized with three types of transmission: 6-speed manual transmission, 6-speed automatic transmission and sports version automatic box.
- 1.5 liter diesel engine with 116 horses, it provides a top speed of up to 205 km / h, and fuel consumption will be about 3.5-3.6 liters per 100 kilometers with a manual gearbox and 3.7-3.8 liters with an automatic one.
- 1.5 liter Gas engine with 136 horsepower already provides a top speed of 210 km / h. Appetite in combined cycle equals for a manual transmission - 4.5-4.6 liters and 4.7-4.8 with an automatic transmission.
- The 2.0-liter, already four-cylinder petrol power unit has 192 horsepower. It reaches the first hundred in 6.8 seconds, and with automatic transmission in 6.7. Top speed set at 235 km/h. With a manual gearbox, the Mini Cooper S consumes 5.7-5.8 liters per 100 km, and with an automatic one even less - 5.2-5.4 liters.
| Engine | engine's type |
Engine capacity |
Power | Transmission |
Acceleration to 100 km / h, s. | Max speed km/h |
| MINI Cooper 1.5MT | Petrol | 1499 cm³ | 136 HP | Mechanical 6st. | 7.9 | 210 |
| MINI Cooper 1.5AT | Petrol | 1499 cm³ | 136 HP | Automatic 6 st. | 7.8 | 210 |
| MINI Cooper D 1.5MT | Diesel | 1496 cm³ | 116 HP | Mechanical 6st. | 9.2 | 205 |
| MINI Cooper D 1.5AT | Diesel | 1496 cm³ | 116 HP | Automatic 6 st. | 9.2 | 204 |
| MINI Cooper S 2.0MT | Petrol | 1998 cm³ | 192 HP | Mechanical 6st. | 6.8 | 235 |
| MINI Cooper S 2.0AT | Petrol | 1998 cm³ | 192 HP | Automatic 6 st. | 6.7 | 233 |
Security Mini Cooper 3
As a safety measure, the new generation Mini is equipped with the most imaginable security technologies available today - from active services to services passive safety. The new Cooper is equipped with a range of driver assistance services that will come to the rescue before the driver has time to realize that he needs it. The service, which is designed to warn of a collision when driving in urban areas, will help to avoid collisions on speed mode 60 km/h The principle of its operation is to monitor the situation on the road section with the help of an integrated camera and gives a warning sound and engages the braking system if the moment gets out of control. If the speed is higher than 60 km/h, then the forward collision warning service is activated. She knows how to bring the brake system into full readiness, which will significantly reduce braking distances. Moreover, the service monitors the signs installed on the road section and is able to inform the driver when he exceeds the speed limit.
As a parking assistant - Cooper also has his own assistant. The system is able to estimate the size of the parking space itself, and if there is enough space, the car will park itself, without the participation of the driver. The only thing that is required from the driver is to apply the brakes when the Mini parks itself. However, security systems are responsible not only for the driver and passengers sitting next to him. The active pedestrian safety service can lift the hood and move it back a little if the hatchback accidentally hits someone. This allows you to significantly reduce the force of the collision. Sensors, consisting of fiber optics and located in the bumper, will record the fact of the impact, and then a complex system various drives hood, in a fraction of a second will take the required action.
In the event of a collision, the 3rd generation Mini Cooper can instantly transform into a soft safety capsule. The British-made car has 6 airbags. High and heavy-duty multi-phase steel is also used, the purpose of which is to provide maximum safety in case of a possible accident. And the new system of adaptive dynamic cruise control will enable the driver to relax and just enjoy the trip. The camera can recognize cars that move in front of the driver at a distance of up to 120 m. In addition, it can recognize stationary objects and pedestrians. The service can easily automatically adapt the speed of your car to the speed of the cars in front, and if there is a need to take control, you just need to press the brake or gas.
Crash test
Options and prices
Realization of a British car in Russian Federation started in the early spring of 2014, however, the acceptance of applications had already begun in the winter of 2013. The cost of a brand new Mini Cooper of the 3rd generation starts at 1,059,900 rubles for a complete set with a 3-cylinder 136-horsepower engine, volume 1.5 liters. Mini Cooper S with 2.0 liter power unit and a power of 192 horsepower will be estimated at 1,329,000 rubles. The top-end John Cooper Works equipment with an engine with a capacity of 231 horsepower costs from 1,395,000 rubles. Among the auxiliary equipment, the Mini Cooper has a rather large list.
Among it, we can distinguish the presence of a Head-Up Display, a system driving assistant, which consists of active cruise control, a warning system for a possible collision, or a collision with a pedestrian with the option of self-braking, adaptive high-beam lighting and a system designed to recognize signs on the road, a rear-view camera with parking sensors, a parallel parking assistant, a rain sensor , Park Distance Control, keyless entry into the interior and start the operation of the motor with a button.
The modification also has the presence panoramic roof With electric drive, external rear-view mirrors with electric drive, the option of folding and heating, heated seats installed in front, 2-zone climate control, acoustic system Harman Kardon and navigation systems. For the 3rd generation Mini, a large number of colors are available for painting the roof and mirrors of the car. Moreover, it is possible to paint the hood with stripes.
Pros and Cons of the Mini Cooper 3
The third-generation English hatchback has its pros and cons, as well as every car. I would like to start with the advantages, and they are of the following nature:
- Beautiful appearance of the car;
- Good handling;
- Profitability;
- Sports chairs;
- The steering column is adjustable;
- Improved quality of interior finishing;
- Confident ergonomics;
- Dynamism of the car;
- Small size;
- Maneuverability;
- Good level of equipment;
- Various electronic auxiliary systems;
- High level of security.
The disadvantages are:
- The car is expensive in terms of cost and maintenance;
- Small luggage compartment;
- Not the most reliable suspension;
- Tendency to corrosion;
- Sitting in the back row is quite cramped even for two passengers;
- Not very comfortable rear-view mirrors;
- Small ground clearance.
Summing up
The third edition of the family of the famous English hatchback Mini Cooper opened the world in a different way. Although it is not so easy to find obvious and expressive differences, both in the external appearance of the car and in the interior, they are still present. Of course, the car has been excellent in handling, ergonomics and fuel economy before, but after the update, Cooper will be able to win the respect of even more car enthusiasts. Appearance Mini attracts attention. Many will like the changes that can be found in the Cooper's nose, the use of an LED lighting system, both front and rear. The interior decoration of the Englishman managed to preserve the attractive quality, among which, grace, restraint, and somewhere even a sporty style. All controls are located in their places, everything is intuitive.
The new MINI, which debuted at the beginning of winter, has received a new look, gained size and gained extra weight, but fans can relax: we already drove it around broken roads Puerto Rico and we assure you - "Mini" has not retreated one iota from its own ideology. He's still tough as a Tin Woodman and still drives like a god.
They say the laziest designers in the world work for Porsche, but it seems they have some competition - the guys from MINI. Having rolled out the third generation of the modern hatchback, the British made happy mines and called it "completely new". In principle, they do not lie: the three-door new platform, new motors and not a single old body part.
However, only a seasoned fan can name ten differences between a "new" and a "not new" MINI. We will help everyone else.
So, the new MINI has become larger than its predecessor, having added almost 98 millimeters in length, 44 millimeters in width and seven millimeters in height. However wheelbase grew by only 28 millimeters, so there was almost no increase in rear seat space. But the trunk has become more spacious by almost a third - its volume has grown from 160 to 211 liters.
The lighting technology of the new MINI has also grown in size, and the headlights can now be fully LED (however, like the rear ones). The radiator grille has become larger - finally, it again has an old-school trapezoidal shape, as on the classic "Mini"; preserved and branded round foglights in front bumper, and the roof line now seems even more rapid due to the slightly raised side line of the body.
But if the appearance of the new MINI is unlikely to be a revelation for seasoned "mini drivers", then once in the salon of the novelty, they will definitely feel like deceived investors: the difference in quality and interior design compared to its predecessor is simply colossal.
Sections of a separate backrest of the rear sofa can now be fixed in a vertical position, slightly increasing the size of the trunk
This is for the interior of the former hatchback (and all the other "Mini" too) used waste from the interior production of "AvtoVAZ", but new interior It's almost like a BMW. A lot of soft plastic, textural color inserts on the front panel, verified efforts on all buttons and levers. Now the buyer of a subcompact car for a million will know exactly what he is paying for.
The design has also changed: there is no longer a branded huge saucer-speedometer in the middle of the front panel ... More precisely, there is a saucer, but already without a speedometer: all devices are located in the right place, behind the wheel, and in a large central disk now only the display of the multimedia system is inscribed (from four to eight inches, depending on the configuration) and a set of buttons. And a light guide strip is laid along its circumference: it changes its color depending on the selected mode of the mechatronic chassis, pulsates red and blue when the temperature changes, and even imitates the operation of a tachometer in motion.
Yes, yes, now MINI also has mechatronics, like the big ones. The rotating ring around the gear selector in the new hatchback is responsible not only for the operation of the engine, power steering (now it is fully electric) and the responsiveness of the gas pedal, but can also change the stiffness of the suspension. If, of course, the corresponding option is ordered: adaptive dampers will be available for both the MINI Cooper and the charged Cooper S.
As for technology, the new Mini is really new. He has a new platform, but with the same suspension scheme, new line exclusively supercharged engines and new gearboxes.
The family of three-cylinder turbocharged units is now considered the baseline - they are also in petrol version(1.2, 102 hp on MINI One and 1.5, 136 hp on MINI Cooper), and in diesel (1.5 with 95 or 116 hp on One D and Cooper D, respectively). And the top-of-the-line Cooper S now sports a brand-new 2.0-liter turbo engine with 192 horsepower (280-300 Nm), which will later appear on BMW's front-wheel-drive "deuce". Gearboxes are either a new, lighter six-speed manual with carbon-coated synchronizers and a sensor to help align the engine speed when shifting down, or an upgraded six-speed automatic with modified hydraulics for smoother and faster gear changes.
But there will be no more basic MINI Ones in Russia - the demand for such versions is last years counted in units. Therefore, we start the test with the future bestseller - the 136-horsepower MINI Cooper. Bright red hatchback with white stripes and a white roof, on 17-inch wheels - just handsome! Its appearance is not overloaded with details (as on the Cooper S), and at first glance it is almost indistinguishable from the previous Cooper. Until you sit inside.
Cool seats with a combined fabric and leather trim - forget about the skin, the texture of the fabric here is amazing - deep and with pronounced lateral support. And narrow: plump and aged "mini-people" will be cramped. A plump steering wheel, a comfortable pedal assembly with a soft but informative clutch, and a “mechanics” lever that clicks with the clarity of a Zippo lighter. The engine start button on the front panel is no longer there - it has moved to the center console and turned into a red rocker lever.
The three-cylinder engine starts with a bass rumble: no “odd” vibrations or ringing chirp familiar to small-cylinder engines. The voice of the 1.5 is excellent - under traction it sounds much deeper than the previous 1.6-liter aspirated. Yes, and there is so much thrust itself that the former Cooper now seems to be a fat man suffering from shortness of breath against the backdrop of the Russian national cross-country skiing team. The torque of the new turbo engine is one third higher (220 Nm versus 160 Nm), and it is already achieved at 1250 rpm. Therefore, the new "Mini", in principle, does not care what gear is selected - even in third you can crawl at the speed of a lemur, and then accelerate far beyond the "hundred" within one step: the "box" here is very "long". The second ends closer to 100 kilometers per hour, and the third - closer to 150.
And this is a minus. Because stretched gear ratios deprive the "Mini" of the spectacular turbo boost that you involuntarily expect from an assertive turbo engine. Yes, and the turbine itself here, it seems, is rather big - its inertia in response to the release-pressing of the gas is too noticeable.
But how cool is the pedal assembly! The distance between the pedals, the effort on them is almost ideal. Now you can practice heel-toe shifting on the new MINI Cooper with mechanics endlessly, especially if you come across suitable roads. And on the island of Puerto Rico there are heaps of such.
Narrow, ivy-curved secondary highways with uneven, broken asphalt are the perfect place to get a feel for how the new "Mini" will ride in Russia. How? Yes, as before. Tough, but very exciting. Despite the slightly grown mass and reconfigured suspension, only the driver of the tunnel drill will call the new three-door comfortable: on bad road the shaking is still unbearable. But the energy intensity of the suspension is impressive - having collected intervertebral discs, you can rush along any bumps without fear of breakdowns.
On bumps in corners, "Mini", of course, bounces, sometimes expanding the trajectory, but even on uneven asphalt it clings very tenaciously. And if the road suddenly smoothes out ...
A well-tuned electric power steering - a little overweight in "Sport", but almost ideal in terms of effort in "Comfort", it has exemplary information content in any of the modes of the mechatronic chassis. Fast, nimble chassis (on the optional low-profile 17-inch Pirelli P Zero tires, at least), great brakes, snappy responses and neutral steering balance. If you want to enjoy driving even in traffic jams, then the new "Mini" is the perfect purchase.
And if you're looking for something hot, welcome to the MINI Cooper S club. It has a 192-horsepower engine, retuned suspension, big brakes and a cheeky exterior, especially in the new mustard yellow with black accents. From zero to one hundred kilometers per hour, the mechanical “eska” accelerates in 6.8 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than its predecessor with a 1.6-turbo, and the version with the “automatic” is even faster – 6.7 seconds to “hundreds”.
That's because the new six-speed box really got better. It is slightly inferior in terms of gear change speed to robots with two clutches, and in terms of intelligence - to the eight-speed ZF automatic, which is installed on BMW models. But in the context of MINI is quite good. Runs smoothly in "Drive" and changes gears in time in "Sport". There are also paddle shifters, but you will only have to use them out of boredom or on the track. Although in the second case it is better, of course, to choose the version with "mechanics" - it is more honest.
But the "automatic" MINI Cooper S is able to make the hairs in the most unexpected places of your body stir with pleasure - because it steers just fantastic. Short wheelbase, agile tail and relatively low weight, coupled with grippy tires and a tireless turbo engine, turn this hatch into a fearless conqueror of narrow and twisted serpentines. And the narrower and more difficult the road under the wheels of the Cooper S, the more often and more actively the hairs on your body will move.
After several kilometers of Puerto Rican mountain roads, it seems that the turns into which the nimble "esca" would not be able to screw in do not exist in nature.
The stabilization system on the MINI is switched off completely. But there is also sports mode who will insure if something goes wrong
And do not be afraid to turn off the stabilization system (if you experienced driver, of course). With the electronics deactivated, the MINI becomes even more alive and liberated, and does not turn into an evil shorty hatching plans to smash you on the nearest rock. A little overdone with the speed or the turn turned out to be more twisted than it seemed initially - it's okay. Releasing the gas or lightly touching the brake, loading the front wheels, and the "eska" will obediently screw inward in response to a slight turn of the steering wheel. Opened too early at the exit - it doesn’t matter either: a coolly tuned imitation of an interwheel differential lock will help to tighten the muzzle inward, and not drag it towards a Toyota pickup truck loaded with coconuts, living out its fourth decade.
Loud, agile, shaky, but very tenacious in turns - these words, in principle, could describe the former "Mini". But to the epithets worthy of the new hatchback, now you can confidently add "comfortable". True, this comfort will not be driving, but general - so to speak, background. Pleasant interior, improved noise isolation: the new MINI seems much more expensive than before.
But it actually went up in price.
The most affordable Cooper with "mechanics" in Russia will cost from 899 thousand rubles against 800 thousand, which was asked for its predecessor. True, they promise to make the basic package richer: xenon headlights and air conditioning will be included in the standard equipment. A 192-horsepower MINI Cooper S will cost from 1.12 million rubles - about 50 thousand more than the previous generation car. And that's without options.
Tell me what you can get for this money Renault Megane RS or Opel Astra OPC? You're right. But MINI buyers don't really care about your opinion. Because the whole world is divided into two parts - one likes MINI to goosebumps, and the other does not. And there is no scientific explanation for this yet.
MINI Cooper and Cooper S
Like
Great chassis and decent interior, finally justifying the high price
I do not like
Still bumpy and hard and still expensive
Fans will be delighted
The name of the machine-building German concern BMW has a truly invaluable and sometimes inexplicable influence on fans of its technical genius. The MINI brand, among other things, owes much of its current popularity to its eminent manufacturer, or rather, to its marketing division.
Everything that the light of the glory of the magic three Bavarian letters falls on simply cannot leave indifferent a certain kind of buyers who choose a car from BMW heart. True, MINI looks a little like the cars of the main line. But the internal characteristics, no matter how paradoxical it sounds, are very similar in places. This is especially true for maintenance. But let's go in order.
At one time, the Austin Mini car (produced since 1959) became a real breakthrough in the European market, occupying the sought-after niche of a compact available car and being so popular that its sales until 1984 were comparable to the top sellers modern automotive industry and at that time amounted to a cosmic figure - up to 0.25 million cars a year. In 1994 BMW company in the general package acquired the name Mini, and since 2001 began the production of cars with old, so successful forms, but under a slightly updated name - MINI. Since that time, MINI has been constantly being upgraded, which, unlike most modern cars, is not aimed at external facelift, but at the completion of the interior and minor changes engine characteristics.
The car is produced in three versions: MINI One, MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper S, which differ mainly in engine power (all gasoline 4-cylinder, 1.6 liters, respectively 98, 122 and 184 Horse power in 2010 vehicles) and minor design differences.
It is customary to describe the appearance of this three-door hatchback in one word - toy, to some it resembles a cute "shoe", someone's eye is pleased with the absolute absence of aggression in its forms. Unusual, bright at all times, fresh, relevant, always distinguishable in the general flow, but at the same time a classic design. Mini Cooper differs from One in a white or black roof and side mirrors, Cooper S has a length increased by 15 mm, alloy wheels (5 star Blaster) by 16 inches (against steel and alloy wheels (5 star Spooler) by 15 inches in the first two models) and a hood decorated with two white stripes, with a hint of proximity to racing car. Inside, the “toylike” theme continues through the design features. dashboard(a huge speedometer saucer in the center, an unusual shape of the seats, the original door card trim).
Numerous buttons, levers, toggle switches are made in the air style (it's not for nothing that the MINI emblem is enclosed in wings). The interior space of the MINI is not spacious, but the front passengers can get comfortable enough (which provides a fairly large range of longitudinal movement of the seats), in addition, the driver has the ability to adjust the steering column (both reach and height). The trunk has a modest volume of 160 liters, convertible to 680 liters by folding the rear seats. The dimensions of the entire line are almost the same and are 1683 mm wide, 1407 mm high and 3699 mm long (with the exception of 3714 mm for the MINI Cooper S).
Next, let's move on to running, technical and performance characteristics, By family heirlooms And weak points which can identify the MINI brand with BMW. The base on the MINI is a 6-speed mechanical box gears (installation of an automatic continuously variable transmission with Steptronic mode is possible as an option). The car is distinguished by decent driving performance and proprietary handling provided by independent suspension(McPherson strut front, multi-link strut rear). At the same time, the Cooper S is capable of quite serious 228 km / h top speed and acceleration to 100 km / h in 7.0 seconds. However, maintaining these MINI figures requires constant care. So, every 30,000 km, the replacement of the struts and bushings of the front stabilizer, a set of ball bearings and front brake discs. Replacing the rear brake discs, front and rear shock absorbers required by 50,000 km. As you know, similar regular and very expensive chores, to the delight of the manufacturer, accompany the owners of cars of the main line of BMW models. "Please" MINI owners and fuel consumption, which in practice differs significantly (in the direction of increase) from that declared by the manufacturer.
Prices for new MINIs in the showrooms of Russian dealers range from 710 thousand rubles per basic version One models, up to 775 thousand rubles and 980 thousand rubles for the "base" MINI Cooper and Cooper S. For a rather big fee, it is possible to add additional options from a large list.
