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Charming good looks, a distinguished European upbringing, also a great personality - sounds additional like the traits of a well-rounded foreign exchange student, but this is what the upcoming 2002 MINI will be bringing with it. In fact, the roles will be reversed also the MINI is expected to teach a lesson or two to it's competition. With compact machine dimensions also supercarlike head turning style, the MINI is expected to create an in
stant love affair with a following that will transcend age groups also income brackets. The New Beetle did this several years ago when it was too reintroduced as a modern interpretation of a classic. However, the MINI's charm will be heightened by it's historical rareness in the U.S also unlikely sporting performance. While 5 million of these the original MINI's have been produced over the years [and still are), only 12,000 are registered in the U.S.
The MINI Cooper S will be the hot ticket in the Mini lineup. With a supercharged four-cylinder autos that produces 163 horsepower also a six-speed gearbox, the S comes speaking the language sport compact performance fluently. The recently introduced European version has a 0-62 Mph time of just 7.4 seconds, [the U.S. version is expected to produce above every better figures). The engine's broad torque delivery, peaking at 155 lb-ft @
4000 rpm provides a powerful "kick" throughout the entire speed range.
The name 'Cooper S' has a true sporting pedigree: The Classic Mini Cooper S [developed by John Cooper Racing] dominated European rallying in the mid-sixties. The machine won the '64, '65 also '67 Monte Carlo rally. [also being controversially disqualified in '66 after finishing first, second also third). The 'S' too scored multiple wins in European Touring Car also Saloon Car competitions throughout the '60s also '70s. [The true meaning of
the ' S' designation, as used on the famous Mini Cooper 'S' of the '60s, is lost in time. It is believed that designer Sir Alec Issigonis also John Cooper disagreed over 'Sport' or 'Special' - so 'S' simply came to mean 'S'.)
Agility also direct handling is one of the great strengths shared by every models within the MINI line-up yet the MINI Cooper S takes agility, power, also performance to an above every higher level. With basic Sports Plus suspension in the U.S. also a smooth-shifting, very precise six-speed gearbox, the MINI Cooper S is directly tailored to the needs of the true enthusiast driver. The machine offers superior performance also cruising chara
cteristics on both twisting roads as well as long, fast highways. And because the Mini was developed with the aid of it's parent company, BMW- who knows a thing or two about developing exciting automobiles, the MINI Cooper S features the very latest BMW Group technology. With it's exclusive design, top-quality engineering, also wide range of equipment, the machine has every the attributes of other, much larger, high-quality products.
From the outside, the Cooper S model is clearly differentiated from the MINI Cooper through: a functional bonnet air scoop, body-color front also rear bumpers with lowered valance, rear spoiler, twin center-mounted chrome-plated tailpipes, side grilles with integrated "S" logo, chrome-plated 'quick release' oil tank filler flap, 16-inch light-alloy wheels finished either in white or silver. [17" available as an option). Inside, the MINI Co
oper S interior features top-quality materials such as leather trim also Alloy Patina door also fascia trim. The sports seats, leather steering tire also gearshift, also a stainless steel footrest round off the exclusive look of the car.
Standard features on the MINI Cooper S include the six-speed manual Getrag gearbox, all-round disc brakes with ABS, traction control, runflat tires together with a flat-tire monitor, electrohydraulic power assisted steering, central locking with remote control, electric windows also exterior mirrors, also six airbags. DSC [Dynamic Stability Control] is available as an option.
The source of motivation is a 1.6 L four cylinder with drive-by-wire throttle technology in every MINI's. In the MINI Cooper S, this 16-valve unit's performance is further enhanced by a mechanically driven supercharger [set to deliver pressure to 0.8 bar] also intercooler. Compression, in turn, has been reduced from 10.6:1 on the MINI Cooper to 8.3:1 also internals have been beefed up in the S to handle the extra pressure. The car's Gertra
g six-speed manual gearbox efficiently converts the superior power also performance of the supercharged four-cylinder autos into cruising exhilaration. Featuring ultra-precise dual cone gearshift control developed specifically for this car. Benefiting from Sports Plus suspension, the MINI Cooper S is tailored above every additional directly to the requirements of the dedicated motorist. The Sports Plus suspension comes with reinforced anti-roll bars also firmer springs than the sports suspension basic on the MINI Cooper.
The interior of the leading model in the MINI range sets a modern benchmark for small autos with the unique MINI design language being born out by high-quality textiles, surfaces, also leather. The instrument panel also doorframes are finished in Alloy Patina to complement the White Silver door trim, with black carpets also matching upholstery. The MINI Cooper S sport seats offer excellent lateral support also are basic on the modern model
. As an option, the seats are available in leather or in leatherette. The leather steering tire also gearshift lever knob also stainless steel footrest round out S exclusive features.
The MINI Cooper S is able to carry a maximum load of 948 lb. Luggage compartment capacity is 5.6 cu feet to a highly practical 25 cu feet with the rear seat bench folded down. The MINI Cooper S comes in no less than eight exterior colors, two of that are exclusive to this flagship model. The basic equipment of the MINI Cooper S includes six airbags, 4 tire disc brakes with ABS, Sports Plus suspension, electrohydraulic power steering, in-da
sh CD player, lightalloy wheels, central locking with remote control, power windows, also exterior mirrors as well as the flat-tire monitor. A wide choice of options also special equipment is of course available to the connoisseur seeking to customize his or her car. The list extends from the Harman/Kardon HiFi audio system also a GPS navigation unit via the extra-large power dual-pane panorama sunroof every the way to Park Distance Control PDC also xenon headlights.
