A car born out of a fuel crisis has endured, been modernized and has gained an international following on the track and the highway. That fuel crisis wasn’t brought on by 60-cents/gallon gasoline in 1974, the first dollar/gallon fuel in the U.S in 1979 or $3/gallon prices in 2006. It wasn’t even built as a response to U.S. gas rationing. This vehicle was conceived in 1956 in answer to the Suez Crisis that reduced oil supplies to England, as petrol rationing began for the first time since WWII. The ADO15 project (Austin Drawing Office project No. 15) was on the drawing board in 1956 and was introduced to the public in 1959 as the Mini, in Austin and Morris versions. It was created to address fuel economy but was also designed as a fun drive.
When championship Formula One designer John Cooper got involved, he integrated his 1000cc Formula Junior engine with the Mini, and in 1961, the first Mini Cooper was seen on UK roadways. The Cooper’s 55hp engine soon gave way to a 76hp model in the first Cooper S, selling until 1971.
English by birth, the car has had German (BMW) ownership since 2001, when the Mini was replaced by the nostalgic “New Mini.” English roots are maintained, however, as the vehicle is assembled in Cowley, Oxford, United Kingdom, and is made of 40 percent British parts, 20 percent German parts (BMW’s influence), 5 percent U.S./Canadian parts, and is powered by a French engine.
The international Mini Cooper S is still economical (base-priced at $21,200 and EPA rated at 29 mpg in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway), still looks about the same and utilizes the original shape and theme, but it is a modern car with modern power that dwarfs its ancestor’s strength. And it is still a fun drive.
The Mini’s classic shape now blazes down the highway, thanks to its all-aluminum, 1.6-liter, turbo-charged, direct-injected,16-valve, in-line-4-cylinder engine that rumbles out 172hp and thunders out peak torque of 192 lbs.-ft at an extraordinarily low engine speed of 1,700 rpm. That efficient power and the low curb weight of about 2800 lbs. enabled my Laser Blue Metallic and White test Cooper S to average 33.3 mpg during seven days of testing on the Fall-color-endowed highways of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Touring and gliding down winding country roads, Civil War township streets and interstate highways, and easing into tight parking spaces, the Cooper S demonstrated excellent acceleration in high ranges, exceptional turning and handling abilities and adequate interior comfort despite too many plastic-and-tinny aluminum cabin amenities. On a mid-Penn autocross track, my Cooper S exhibited just enough understeer for some track fun. It was noticeable but not insurmountable, allowing me to drift, slide and glide when I needed to. Steering response is excellent thanks to finely tuned corner brake control and electric speed-sensitive power steering.
Harkening back to its history as a three-time Monte Carol Rally winner, the Cooper S can really move. Mini cites a zero-to-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds for the front-wheel drive turbo, and I was able to urge my test ride to a 6.9-second time. The awesome part of its performance is its high-range power. I moved my ride effortlessly on the highway and at the track, moving from 60 to 90 in an eye blink, and covering the quarter-mile in 15.3 seconds.
The engine begins with a push button start. The power set-up is mated to a 6-speed manual Getrag transmission, and handling is defined by a MacPherson front strut suspension and multi-link rear, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (front vented and rear solid), anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution and all-season traction control.
Safety is addressed well with driver and front-passenger airbags, driver and front passenger seat-mounted, side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags, flat tire monitor and front fog lamps.
The interior is … well … interesting. The center-mounted speedometer looks like a circular radio or TV screen from the 1950s. There is a disappointing amount of aluminum and plastic within, but there is some sports and comfort appeal with contrasting roof and mirror caps, 6-way adjustable sport seats with driver and passenger height fine-tuning, the start/stop button and personally regulated lighting and locking.
Comfort and convenience is tackled via standard air conditioning with microfilter and air-recirculation, remote keyless entry, CD audio system with AM/FM radio, six speakers, presets, auxiliary input and pre-wired for 6-disc CD changer, speed-sensitive intermittent windshield wipers, modifiable ambient lighting and telescoping height-adjustable steering wheel.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $21,200, but my test vehicle was priced at $26,170, thanks to about $5,000 in options. Laser Blue Metallic paint costs $450, the convenience package adds $1400 (rain sensor and Bluetooth), the premium package is $1400 (multifunction steering wheel, automatic sunroof and automatic air conditioning). Chrome Line interior adds $200, Color Line Dark Grey is $200, brushed alloy interior surface is $300, heated front seats add $270, rear fog lamps are $100 and there is a destination charge of $650.
The Mini Cooper S was born out of necessity and endures out of personality.
Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.
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