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2007 Mini Cooper S Road Test

Call me a sucker for cute, googly eyes and a bright yellow paint job, but theMini Cooper is just impossible to resist. It doesn't hurt that it's also one of the best-driving vehicles on the market, but I was smitten with the Cooper S that arrived on my doorstep last week the minute Justin showed me the roof-mounted toggle switches that control the sunroof and lights, instantly inviting WWII-era pilot fantasies. Don't get me wrong, though, because this car went from cute plaything to badass road rally car in one instant of recognition as I identified the little red S's on the tail and fenders. The minute I strapped in and launched it, in Sport mode of course (although I'm not certain how much of a difference it made on my stomping grounds), I recognized that this was a car that may have buckets of schoolgirl charm, but it is also a weapon of choice for the urban commuter on a tight schedule. I can't think of any car that can squirm and squeeze

Try as you might, but with a face as cute as this there's no way most people can resist it. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

into minute gaps in traffic so well, then pick up and take off when the road clears. Mad Fun.

Of course, that's not much of a leap from the previous Cooper S, which also thrilled and tickled the fancy of manic motoring aficionados. The Cooper S,like the Cooper, is completely new for 2007, except that it looks almost exactly the same. Sure the headlights aren't built into the hood, the grille is shaped a bit differently, and the top and bottom of the side windows taper rather than run parallel, but really, who cares? It's still the same adorable, bug-eyed smiley

Toggle switches now control lamps, sunroof and ambient lighting overhead. Cabin crew, cross-check in preparation for take off. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

face and its target audience will still find it charming, retro and highly functional within its clearly defined size limits. It can manage four short people or two tall ones comfortably and has room for a couple of bags in its mini-trunk, but it's not going to get people out of their SUVs, wagons or even some other compact five-doors like the Versa or Fit if they're looking to carry a ladder around regularly or move a lot of furniture. Then again, it is called a Mini, so if you haven't figured that out on your own yet, well, good luck.

For my purposes, which included my girlfriend, my man-purse (courier bag) and

Interior is a lovely medley of colors, textures, patterns and intriguing designs. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

my lunch bag, the Cooper S was highly functional becauseit had a comfortable set of seats and just enough amenities to keep me from complaining about its similarly exuberant price tag. Just like the exterior, the décor in the cabin is alien cruiser meets '60s night club. Matching yellow leather mixes with ellipsoids in the door, and the dash is so full of dinner plate proportioned speedo that it's almost impossible to focus on anything else. However, on closer inspection you'll find audio controls neatly integrated into the lower portion of the speedometer interface and a knob and buttons mimicking the shape of the Mini logo bracketed by a pair of thumb-scroll wheels for HVAC controls. Below that is a row of toggle switches for the power

To some, this dinner plate-sized speedo is as odd as Dali's Persistence of Memory. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

windows, locks and fog lights. It's all super cool, and yet very goofy at the same time. Or perhaps I'm just that goofy that I think it's cool, when I'm really simply living in my own little fantasy world... Justin? Trevor? A little help here... Is it just me?

Anyhow, before I get sidetracked trying to tell you what's cool in myparallel reality, I'll change tracks and move on to my driving impressions. If you could bottle fun, this is what the bottle would look like. From the nifty little steering wheel that invites the perfect hand positions at 3 and 9 o'clock to the big chunky shift knob and solid, firm pedals, you are surrounded by stimuli that will convey a sense of driving excitement that very few cars on the road can match, and most of those cars are either much more expensive or even less practical. It's

Some like it hard, some don't: Sport tuned suspension was a bit on the firm side for much of our staff. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

nearly indescribably fun to be attached to that steering wheel, flicking your wrists for a lane change, finding that apex on a long highway ramp, gradually turning into it and clipping it on the way to hammering down the gas and feeling the little 1.6 buzz into a frenzy as the turbo whooshes into action to send this lightweight, pint-sized racer merging into freeway traffic, already eclipsing the fastest cars before third gear even runs out. Every inch of pavement seems to giggle in glee and cheer the Mini on, with the Cooper S passing on these happy little messages every step of the way.

Of course, it can't all be sunshine and smooth asphalt at every turn. The taut suspension that transmits every detail of the road also bucks and hops over severe bumps and dips, shaking its can-can and yours. It's a great setup for track or cone work, and would be great if you wanted to do a few rally

You'll never forget you're driving a Mini; HVAC controls even take on the winged insignia. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

stages every summer, but if getting to work every morning involves any rough roads, streetcar tracks, broken concrete or other road-surface disturbances, it will soon become a chore and possibly even a headache. Yeah, I love it, but it requires commitment and a most forgiving nature, not to mention a good chiropractor.

One of the biggest changes for this year's Mini Cooper and Cooper S were the engines and the manner of forced aspiration in the S. Gone are the Chrysler-sourced Tritec four cylinders in favor of powerplants developed by BMW in conjunction with French car making conglomerate PSA Peugeot-Citroen. As opposed to being masterfully reworked engines originally designed for South American city cars, these mills are designed from the ground up to bemasterful from block to headers and intake to exhaust. At 1.6 liters of displacement, the engine's purpose in a premium small car was part of the plan every step of the way, although considering where the tach needle spent

If you're having more fun than the Mini and using less gas, it's either not street legal or doesn't have four wheels. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

most of its time while under the rule of my right foot, I couldn't really tell.

Getting off the line and lurching around in stop-and-go traffic may be a little smoother without the constant whine of the previous S model's supercharger, but the hissing and blatting of the turbocharger and waste gate were a welcome soundtrack to my urban adventuring. Despite some measure of refinement it still makes quite a racket at your typical highway cruising speeds, at least compared to other premium hatchbacks like the Volvo C30 or Audi A3. As for its technical credentials, it generates 172 horsepower at 5,500 rpm, but it is not necessary to wring its neck for everybit of power since the 177 lb-ft of max torque comes on as early as 1,600 rpm and sticks around until the needle passes 5,000.

And if the broad spread of power isn't enough to generate butterflies in your stomach, the fact that the Cooper S can create even more torque for temporary bursts really ought to. During times when you need every last pound-foot, the Cooper S can increase its turbocharger's

Tiny SPORT button makes a difference, the most noticeable of which is the weight of the steering. Our man Jon didn't seem to notice it, but others did. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

pressure via something called "overboost" to generate 192 lb-ft of torque. If the thought doesn't make you grin, try stepping on the throttle; the g-forces most certainly will.

But besides adding power, the new Cooper S engine is more efficient than the one it replaces. Without a supercharger to add engine drag, and with the addition of variable valve timing and direct injection, the Cooper S offers some truly thrifty thrills. Its remarkable fuel consumption rating of29 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway is up from last year's already good 25 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.

Along with the compliant, torquey engine, the shifter has helped make the S quite a bit friendlier as well. It's still a little gritty, but not nearly as stiff from gear to gear, and the clutch was light and even, never once engendering a sore foot for keeping it poised through stop-and-go traffic. However, the stick itself may have been my least favorite aspect of interacting with the Mini. During spirited driving, the throws felt long and the gear lever showed an excessive amount of flex. And while it was easy to manipulate,

New key docks in a little bay and features a push-button starter. Smartly, you can order a proximity sensing locking and ignition system dubbed Comfort Access as a standalone option or as part of the Convenience Package. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

the shifter knob came flying off in the hands of one of our other contributors, no doubt a problem engendered by week after week of journalists pounding through each gear like a blacksmith shaping horseshoes. Another element that is noticeably lighter is the steering, which responds to whispers and sometimes even subconscious thoughts, leading to occasions oflane wandering and darting lane changes during those moments when I forgot that I was not in my own steering-retarded vehicle.

It can be scary how quickly the Mini reacts sometimes, but it is accompanied by a clear sense of how every wheel is interacting with the pavement, more so through the stiff chassis than the electric steering, but the overall effect is that you are in complete control, and all the consequences inherent in such a proposition. If you prefer to casually grasp a steering wheel and turn around to talk to rear seat occupants about which hair gel works best in your Chihuahua's fur, maybe you should stick with some sort of domestic or Japanese luxury model, like a Buick or Lexus, because you absolutely have to maintain control over the Mini at all times. Just as you must respect your steering inputs, it's wise to watch your speed and braking, because

Cooper S is more than just thrifty thrills, though that's its primary specialty. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

a quick stab at the binders at high speeds can quickly unsettle this flyweight fighter, reducing grip at the rear to unnerving levels. As a premium product, the brakes are ventilated discs all around,equipped with ABS, brakeforce distribution and BMW's DTC traction control, all of which add up to provide complete composure under typical driving conditions no matter the weather.

And truly, the weather won't matter to you with the Cooper S at your disposal. The paint job alone can brighten your day, but it is the entire experience that will lift your spirits. Despite a few quirks born of its sporting credentials (a firm ride, indeed), and materials that no one will mistake for luxurious even if the brand is considered premium (with a price tag to back it up), the Mini is a car with character, a trait sorely lacking in so many ponderous vehicles these days. It does not try to be all things to all people, but rather is a ray of sunshine for those seeking efficient and engaging transportation, such people who realize that driving adventures can be had every day between home and work or on ordinarily mundane errands. The Cooper is its own sunny day, but forget your shades and bring welding goggles along instead because the S brings enough excitement to the roads to heat the blacktop to tar-melting temperatures.

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