That Go-Kart to office just keeps getting better

Though it is one of the most global of all industries, making products that find resonance in people across geographies and cultures, car-makers like to embellish their vehicles with small details that remind buyers of the brand’s origins. Many buyers too like to get their cars customised or specified with some of these features. A red Ferrari with a hint of the Italian flag in the cabin, a Yellow Volkswagen Beetle with that tiny test tube as a flower vase on the dashboard, or a MINI Cooper in British Racing Green with the white stripes running over the bonnet.

Timeless design

These are iconic cars associated with equally famous, historic brand colours and features. While some of these have to be chosen from an options list, MINI has decided to go ahead and bring in a lot more British flavour into its 2019 models. The model year changes represent a substantial upgrade, though it is not a new generation platform for the 2019 MINI.

In fact, the overall design and body style remains the same as the previous year models; and that is a good thing given that the MINI Cooper’s design is one of the most endearing of all small cars.

BMW designers have successfully managed to offer a very retro-modern take on the original Mini’s design, making the current model still instantly relatable to the icon. So, those signature design elements like the round headlamps, low roof line, the compact proportions with the wheels set at the extremities and the squat, go-kart-like stance are all features that continue to be carried over from the classic Mini into the current MINI too. This is a car that hardly needs another big dose of design inputs: its current reinterpreted design is almost as timeless as the original.

So, the company’s designers have focused on embellishing the model range — three-door, five-door and convertible — with more equipment and personalisation options in keeping with the cutesy image of the brand.

Customised kart

In fact, the new, face-lifted MINI will now be offered with one of the most extensive customisation platforms ever in the automotive industry. Not stopping with just offering a choice of colours and interior trim materials, buyers can now literally put their own name stamps on the new MINI.

Wings of change Lost in the midst of all the lit-up newness, is the fresh, flat-design MINI logo

Parts like dashboard trim, side scuttles for indicator inlays, illuminated LED door sills and LED door projectors can be specified by the customer with designs created by them. The ‘MINI Yours Customised’ parts can be ordered online and can either be installed by the customers themselves or be set up at the nearby MINI workshop.

These personalised trim parts, the company says, will be made using an innovative mix of 3D printing and laser lettering.

As a demonstration of the new bespoke options, the folks at MINI had kitted out some of the test drive cars last month with notional names, signatures and even themes such as the Union Jack for the dashboard trim and door projectors.

Company officials say that the online platform is being offered first in Europe and will then be rolled out for customers in other large markets too.

Some of the personalisation options like the contrast roof still continue to be offered, and something like a Union Jack (British flag) on the roof will now quite literally convert the exterior also into a theme. It’s highly unlikely that many Indian buyers will want the British flag to adorn their MINI’s roof.

Brit flavour

However, Indian customers will surely like the new tail-lamp combination in the MINIs. Instead of the circular LED elements, the brake lights within the upright tail-lamp units now appear in a Union Jack design.

The lamp units themselves are similar in design to the outgoing model and they continue to be cased-in and accentuated by the thick chrome band that surrounds them. The headlamps have also been updated with new adaptive LEDs with matrix function for the high-beam.

Together with the floating roof effect offered by the blacked-out roof, and B and C pillar panels, the contrast body side cladding giving it a squat, youthful and yet muscular stance, and the bug-eyed front of the original still intact, the new MINIs recall the glorious heritage of this British brand.

Get into the cabin of the new MINI and the first surprise is always the amount of space that the car offers despite its ultra-compact exterior proportions. Yes, it is a bit of a squeeze to get into the back seats of the three-door MINI; but once you are seated, you can’t help but marvel at the roomy packaging. The 2018 model also gets a Malt brown colour line and Chester Malt leather upholstery, which gives the interior a warm and inviting glow. The ‘frisbee’ sized circular feature integrating the infotainment touchscreen and controls continues to dominate the dashboard. The sport leather steering wheel is now standard fitment and comes with the dial pods attached to the top of the column — another MINI trademark.

The cabin also gets a lot more discreet LED lighting under the dash, in the door panels and in the centre console. Optional additions include a panoramic sunroof, a larger touchscreen, and a wireless charging port among others.

 

Powertrains

The new MINIs are offered with multiple engines in the other markets. For the India-spec, the three-door Cooper S and the convertible are being offered with the two-litre, four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol engine, which delivers 192 hp of peak power and 280 Nm of torque.

This engine, like the others too, is paired with a new seven-speed double clutch steptronic transmission that feels really quick and delivers shifts without any loss in torque between gears.

There is also a sports transmission upgrade option for the two models with this powertrain, which offers shorter gear ratios and a different gear lever.

The five-door and three-door Cooper D variants stay with the already popular 1.5-litre three-cylinder TwinPower Turbo diesel engine generating 114 hp of peak power and 270 Nm of torque.

There are two preset drive modes to choose from — Green and Sport — in addition to an individual mode that can be set up by the driver.

I test drove the new MINI three-door and the convertible on fairly well-laid tarmac. The ride quality can be a bit firm and harsh at times, also due to the low profile tyres that my test mule came shod with.

Big on the inside The cabin surprises you with its roomy proportions

 

Bottomline

The steering is precise, direct and there is a lot of feedback too, convincing you that this car is truly capable of handling much higher speeds than more expensive sedans can handle. Top speeds, by the way, are set at 235 kmph for the petrols and 205 kmph for the diesels.

The experience of driving a MINI is meant to really surprise you with the agility and go-kart-like acceleration that they offer. The new MINIs pack a punch, with more equipment, and very appealing and personalised customisation options thrown in along with their legendary design and handling. Ex-showroom prices range from ₹29.7 lakh to ₹37.1 lakh.

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