The MINI Cooper S: One mean MINI

MANILA, Philippines - As a teenager, I came across a magazine article that told of a compelling story about a project that squeezed a Porsche engine into a trusty old Volkswagen Beetle’s frame. Except for a widening of the engine bay to accommodate the bigger power plant, the Bug remained untouched and unmodified.

Imagine then, the writer continued, the puzzled looks of drivers in their quixotic sports sedans who would be passed effortlessly by the diminutive Beetle at high speed. That incongruous scene certainly brought a smile to my face.

That same grin was plastered on my face two decades later as I took the wheel of a MINI Cooper S, calmly zooming past 160 km/h on SLEX. But we’ll get to that later.

From the outside, the MINI Cooper S looks like a cramped proposition of a ride, but such is not the case at all. When the test unit was delivered, I found that it is certainly not any less cramped than the cars of its size. I instructed my cousin to take a ride at the back. Legroom was surprisingly better than expected, although you don’t buy the MINI for that, of course, truth to tell.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, I traced my gaze along the supple lines of the car interior. The MINI Cooper is unmistakably European, and strikes a fine balance of tasteful appointment without going overboard. The soft curves and oval shapes in the dashboard and elsewhere speak of elegance, touched off by the snob appeal of the four letters in the center of the steering wheel – winged like an air force logo – spelling MINI. The two-tone seats are comfortable and sporty.

The central instrument cluster (with a reverse-colored analog speedometer) is an eyeful to behold, housed in classy, glassed circle. Inserting the disc-shaped key, I stepped on the brake and pressed the ignition button. The engine started shortly and I shifted to drive.

When stuck in traffic, the MINI Cooper S is a sedate, cooperative customer, although something tells you the little car always wants to stretch its legs. When obliged by an open road, the S will surprise you with a burst of power to the tune of 175 horses coming from its 1.6-liter soul. That’s pretty impressive, of course, given its small size and light weight. When you want a little more explosiveness, the MINI Cooper S will give you exactly that with a push of the “Sport” button – a premium you pay P500,000 to get. In this mode, the engine responds more spontaneously to accelerator pedal movement, the steering is more direct, and the gears shift more quickly.

But be forewarned, though, you have to have a clear road ahead of you, as the vehicle flies from zero to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds – and carries an official top speed of 225! In other words, the car seems inclined to ingest everything north of its hood. When revving up, the MINI Cooper S sustains a robust, sporty exhaust note, and it’s nice to know that’s not all roar. Still, fuel consumption is pretty good at 10 kilometers to the liter for city driving. Oh, and the air-conditioning is pretty impressive as well.

When Joyce and I took the MINI Cooper S for a nighttime trip to Tagaytay, I had to keep myself from speeding. That’s how tempting it is when you’re in a MINI Cooper S. Knowing you could smoke all comers is such a, well, power trip. Incidentally, the MINI Cooper dash is beautifully lit with amber lighting, and has thoughtful overhead reading lights that throw light onto your lap and not into your eyes. You can even change subtle ambient lighting from orange to blue, with intermediate settings.

Outside, safety is not a problem with Xenon lamps that automatically adjust according to the car’s speed and load. Low-beam halogen lamps serve as auxiliary lighting, and can be manually adjusted. Driver-controlled rear lamps are also a thoughtful addition for more difficult situations. Safety is big inside as well, with front and side airbags – along with a host of standard, more familiar acronyms such as ABS (anti-lock braking system), EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution), plus other niceties such as ASC+T (automatic stability control plus traction), and DSC (dynamic stability control).

The curves, the graceful lines, the haughty wheels, the bug-eye headlights, the exquisite winged logo – the entire MINI experience is unforgettable. It’s easy to see why it’s the dream car of many enthusiasts. Said Willy Tee Ten, president of British United Automobiles, Inc. which exclusively distributes the MINI here, even Rolls Royce owners usually own MINIs, as it is the best of its class.

It’s a sentiment that’s easy to believe. You tend to forget you’re driving a small vehicle because of the sheer luxury and excitement that wraps around you. The stats should bear us out: during my affair with the MINI, there were innumerable double takes and craned necks, about 50 forefingers and lips pointed my way, and one SUV stopped in front of me as its lady driver outwardly gawked with a look of confusion and surprise on her face. I kid you not.

To take a page off that commercial some more: One MINI Cooper S A/T: P2.45 million. The look of envy on everyone else’s face: freakin’ priceless.

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MINI Global City is located at the corner of 5th Ave. and 26th Sts. Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Visit www.MINI.com.ph for more details.