Beyond the spirited mechanicals of the Cooper S, what really stands-out in my mind is its deft agility and instantaneous steering response. Partnering its diminutive size and bulk with massive-for-a-MINI, 17-inch 205/45/R
Dunlop Sport 9000 rubber, enabled the little cart to attack twists and turns with inertia-defying speed. Rapid directional changes occur without front-end plow or significant understeer, both of which often beguile front-wheel-drive formats. Playing with a radio-controlled car gives one a sense of the MINI Cooper's cornering ability.
Should someone "let the dogs out" in the course of a hard turn or when the pavement runs slippery, an available Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) program will intervene, cutting engine output and applying wheel-specific braking in an effort to re-kennel the hounds. My guess is that any activation of the DSC program will almost assuredly be due to slippery road conditions. With pavement as dry as chalk, the road adhesion ability of the MINI Cooper S is outstanding. Purposely pushing the Cooper S hard enough on public roadways to awaken the DSC electronics is plain crazy.
However there are those that live on the edge, and for them and for all MINI drivers, the Cooper S is fitted with incredibly effective 4-wheel antilock disc brakes. My convertible tester weighed-in at just 1,290 kg
(2,838 lbs) and came to such immediate stops I no longer have a receding hairline. Nosedive was minimal during these maneuvers and vehicle control was never placed in doubt.
Overall, the MINI Cooper S is an interesting study in emotions. Its connection to the long gone, but highly revered Austin Mini is as much spiritual as conceptual, even if German auto giant BMW is MINI's parent company. Under BMW's guidance, the MINI has returned as a highly respectable performer. From day one I have been head-over-heals with its retro-design, including the homage its interior architecture pays to the original Brit. The large, centrally mounted speedometer is a work of art and the after-market-looking tachometer mounted on the steering column is an example of pure genius in automotive design - too bad it's somewhat obscured by the rim of the steering wheel.
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| The 17-inch 205/45/R Dunlop Sport 9000 rubber, enabled the little cart to attack twists and turns with inertia-defying speed. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
Should someone "let the dogs out" in the course of a hard turn or when the pavement runs slippery, an available Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) program will intervene, cutting engine output and applying wheel-specific braking in an effort to re-kennel the hounds. My guess is that any activation of the DSC program will almost assuredly be due to slippery road conditions. With pavement as dry as chalk, the road adhesion ability of the MINI Cooper S is outstanding. Purposely pushing the Cooper S hard enough on public roadways to awaken the DSC electronics is plain crazy.
However there are those that live on the edge, and for them and for all MINI drivers, the Cooper S is fitted with incredibly effective 4-wheel antilock disc brakes. My convertible tester weighed-in at just 1,290 kg
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| The large, centrally mounted speedometer is a work of art. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
Overall, the MINI Cooper S is an interesting study in emotions. Its connection to the long gone, but highly revered Austin Mini is as much spiritual as conceptual, even if German auto giant BMW is MINI's parent company. Under BMW's guidance, the MINI has returned as a highly respectable performer. From day one I have been head-over-heals with its retro-design, including the homage its interior architecture pays to the original Brit. The large, centrally mounted speedometer is a work of art and the after-market-looking tachometer mounted on the steering column is an example of pure genius in automotive design - too bad it's somewhat obscured by the rim of the steering wheel.