Can the Mini Cooper Survive in 2012?

Jan 1 2012

It probably has to be acknowledged that, like Marmite, you either love them or hate them: the revamped Mini Cooper from BMW has polarised opinions since its debut in 2001.  Recently, some commentators are proclaiming that the relaunch of the Mini back then was always doomed.  How long could an über-compact, front-drive, two-box design survive, after all?

But joining the curiously proliferating versions of an allegedly finished and outmoded model in 2012 will be the Coupe, with a roadster version promised in the pipeline.  This seems oddly, even rudely, healthy for an allegedly doomed product.

OK, the Coupe may not appeal to all Mini devotees.  It is not exactly functional; you will not find any back seats and the boot space is barely sufficient to take the Christmas turkey home in.  However, that dangerously-poised lower roof is a stunner, even if it shaves off a mere inch from the earlier model.

Some will balk at it, but the speedometer dashingly re-invokes the saucer-sized version of the 1960s, only this time think large pizza.  Bold, brash and curiously beautiful.  Just a glance at this will have Mini-fans phoning Creditplus for car finance options.

But that’s not all.  At higher speeds, there is just no discernible body roll and the power steering would impress Jenson Button.  According to Mini, the Coupe is “the fastest accelerating two-seater Mini ever.”  It delivers sports-car level stops at high speeds – slam the brakes on at 70mph and you will grind to a halt in just 159 feet.

Stylish but cute, sexy but sweet, gutsy but puppy-like: these paradoxes make the Mini an enduring success.  Start sorting your car loan out now if you want one!
 

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