Mini Cooper S Chilli - 6 month test

UNIQUE CARS Magazine
March, 2005

	Update No. 4: Mini with the works
	Armed with a John Cooper Works kit, our Mini Cooper S Chilli is Jalapeno hot
	Update No. 3: 10,000 Clicks
	After 10,000 clicks Chilli Mini gets a final workout before Works upgrade
	Update No. 2: Classic Adelaide
	The UC crew had far too much fun doing the Classic Adelaide in our long-term Mini Cooper S
	Update No. 1: Mini Motoring
	There's no doubting the Mini Cooper S' wow factor
	Special Feature:
	What goes on behind the walls of your nearest Mini Garage?

Yep, Unique Cars has its own Mini -- to be specific, a brand-new Mini Cooper S Chilli. One with the lot… In Chilli Red with a white roof -- of course!

The BMW designed and built new Mini has been a sell-out success in markets right across the globe. Australia's no exception -- indeed, more than 3800 local enthusiasts have already voted with their hard-earned cash. For the record we boast the highest percentage of new Cooper S ownership in the world and some local owners are on their third car -- such is the passion for the brand.

Passion in spades is a true mark of a unique car. In fact, the new Mini can already tick three boxes in the Unique Cars' key performance indicator (KPI) checklist -- prestige, performance and classic. Only one quadrant of our KPIs remains blank, collectable. Time will tell on that one.

Rather than market the new Mini as a recreation of the original Issigonis front-wheel-drive icon, Mini and it's BMW Group masters have very much played up the modern performance hatch aspect of the new car. They're not ignoring the marque's past, but nor are they dwelling on it.

First impressions on UC's Chilli Cooper S are good -- this is a muscular performer with a solid midrange thanks to its 125kW supercharged four-cylinder powerplant. The latest model, our Cooper's in-gear performance also benefits from lower ratios across the six-speed box.

The gearbox is still a little on the notchy side, but as this is written the car had barely covered 1200km. Owners reckon the engine and gearbox don't give their best until there's 5000km under the wheels.

Handling is as advertised but we'll hold counsel on the final verdict until we've had a chance to give it the berries at an appropriate venue. As delivered -- the Cooper S Chilli is well tied down on 17-inch wheels and low profile Pirelli rubber. The modern driver aids don't interfere with fun too early on the road and once the ASC+T (stability and traction control) is turned off it'll handbrake turn just like my old man's Clubman GT. Fun with a capital F.

Indeed, there's still plenty of original Mini in the new cars character. The trademark gearbox/final drive whine and raspy exhaust note of the original Cooper S has been recreated. Only this time it's the supercharger that’s dishing up the familiar timbre -- vocal but not grating.

Over the next six months we intend to check out the Cooper's sporting credentials. Expect to see the car at a number of touring style events as well as the odd track day. A performance upgrade is in the wings too. The enthusiast-laden staff of Mini Oz HQ have pulled a few strings and secured Unique Cars one of the very first new 155kW John Cooper Works kits.

We've also been given free rein to attack the JCW and Mini accessory catalogues. At this stage race-style seats and 18-inch wheels are likely candidates for transplanting, but we all reckon the new range of carbon-fibre dress up bits might just make their way onboard too.

This is gonna be fun… Let's Mini!