Photo: Auto Express
The 2014 MINI Cooper is here and the first test drive, organized by the company in Puerto Rico, already took place, the guys from Auto Express being the first ones to publish their thoughts on the new car.
The Mk3 Cooper bring a completely new platform to the market alongside brand new engines of 1.5- and 2-liter displacements. It’s true, the 1.5-units use only 3-cylinders but apparently that doesn’t cause any extra vibrations or noise or any of the discomfort usually attributed to 3-pot units. Furthermore, the engine ‘sounds terrific, too’ according to AE and that’s only music to our ears.
The performance was also drastically improved through some miraculous work done by the engineers that managed to make it faster by 1.2 seconds of 2.6 seconds (depending on the transmission) compared to its predecessor, despite the weight adding 10 kg to the mix.
The suspension was also revised alongside the new UKL platform this car is using, having a completely reworked setup on the rear axle to allow for more luggage space and more grip down the road. This is yet another chapter where the new MINI excels.
It rides better and has an impressive level of grip, being capable of carrying big speeds through corners. Thanks to the smaller engine, the nose doesn’t fell heavy and the rear is planted all the way, allowing you to have fun at all times.
Inside there’s a lot of new stuff too. From the revised dash that now has the speedometer planted in front of you to the general ambiance and quieter ride, everything feels like a certain upgrade. As a downside, the infotainment menu could be a bit less crowded and a couple of additional storage spaces wouldn’t hurt.
Overall, the new MINI really feels like a step up. Sure, the exterior design might not be to everyone’s taste but, everything else is definitely better than before.
Via Auto Express
The performance was also drastically improved through some miraculous work done by the engineers that managed to make it faster by 1.2 seconds of 2.6 seconds (depending on the transmission) compared to its predecessor, despite the weight adding 10 kg to the mix.
The suspension was also revised alongside the new UKL platform this car is using, having a completely reworked setup on the rear axle to allow for more luggage space and more grip down the road. This is yet another chapter where the new MINI excels.
It rides better and has an impressive level of grip, being capable of carrying big speeds through corners. Thanks to the smaller engine, the nose doesn’t fell heavy and the rear is planted all the way, allowing you to have fun at all times.
Inside there’s a lot of new stuff too. From the revised dash that now has the speedometer planted in front of you to the general ambiance and quieter ride, everything feels like a certain upgrade. As a downside, the infotainment menu could be a bit less crowded and a couple of additional storage spaces wouldn’t hurt.
Overall, the new MINI really feels like a step up. Sure, the exterior design might not be to everyone’s taste but, everything else is definitely better than before.
Via Auto Express
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