Back in 1956, the Suez Crisis meant there was a shortage of fuel supply, affecting countries like Britain, France, Egypt, Israel, the USSR, and the USA. As a result, bigger cars of that era got more expensive, and the need for small and fuel-efficient vehicles was at a high. To save Britain from this crisis, British Motor Company's Leonard Lord, together with designer Alec Issigonis, created a small, cheap, and economic car for the oil crisis, and thus the Mini was born.
Even though it was a tiny car, it could fit four people comfortably inside thanks to the space-saving solution of making the car front-wheel-drive. The rest, as they say, was history. The Mini became a huge hit not only because it was cheap, but it was also fun to drive because of its go-kart-like handling, prompting sportier versions to come out, like the Mini Cooper S. 60 years later, the Mini remains a popular choice for hot hatch enthusiasts thanks to the driving experience it provides, and here are the reasons why we love the iconic hatchback from the UK.
8 BMW DNA
After an incredible 40 years in production, the classic Mini was discontinued in 2000 in favor of a new successor which still had the old one's styling cues, but now possesses the sporty and luxurious genes of the BMW brand, as the German manufacturer bought the Rover Group which produced the classic Minis.
Because of this, the MINI became an automotive icon and aligned to its new owner's brand image of being an ultimate driving machine.
7 Retro Styling
As we've said earlier, the new model from 2000 retained the boxy design of the classic Mini, as well as its trademark round headlamps and of course, blacked-out pillars that give out the illusion of a floating roof.
The same treatment was done inside the new Mini, as the first generation models had the instrument cluster placed in the middle of the dashboard, a nod to the classic model. Later models were subsequently revised and placed in the more conventional position of being behind the steering wheel.
6 Potent Engine
Being the sportier version of the Mini hatchback, the Cooper S boasted a potent engine from BMW called the TwinPower Turbo, designed to give plenty of punching power while at the same time delivering exceptional fuel efficiency.
The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine produced 189 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque, and was mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
5 Racing Heritage
The Mini Cooper S builds on its predecessor's success in motorsports, particularly in rallying, as the classic Mini Cooper S was a legendary rally car that brought down bigger competition due to its trademark nimble handling.
Between 1960 and 1972, the classic Mini Cooper S won 32 rallies around the world, including three victories at the iconic Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965, and 1967.
4 Exceptional Safety Rating
Not only is the MINI Cooper S a sporty hatchback you could have loads of fun with, it's also designed to protect its occupants in the best possible way, as the car has been a long-time favorite of the IIHS for being one of the safest cars on sale today.
The latest MINI was selected by the IIHS in 2019 as a Top Safety Pick, and scored no lower than four out of five stars in the NHTSA's Overall Front Star Rating.
3 Premium Infotainment System
BMW is known for giving great car infotainment systems, and the Mini Cooper S is no exception. The car's infotainment system was loosely based on BMW's iDrive technology and shares the same circular controller found in the center console.
Bluetooth connectivity is standard, and so is Apple CarPlay in the Mini's infotainment system. Furthermore, there's this thing called the Mini Connected app, where owners could access more of the car's information such as range, fuel consumption, and navigation system through their smartphones.
2 John Cooper Works
The John Cooper Works, or the JCW, is a track-oriented version of the MINI Cooper S. It was designed to compete in the hot hatch segment with the likes of the Honda Civic Type R and the Mercedes A45 AMG as its main rivals.
It shares the same 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo as the MINI Cooper S, but has 39 hp more in the base JCW, while the Clubman model is the most powerful in the lineup with 306 hp. Unlike the Cooper S, the JCW is only offered with a 7-speed DCT transmission.
1 Award-Winning Car
The new Mini Cooper S received recognition for being a great driver's car thanks to its superb handling characteristics and was awarded as North American Car of the Year in 2003.
Furthermore, automotive journalists and websites have held the Mini Cooper S in high regard in terms of its engine and driving characteristics, as it became a top pick for the Best Small Car in 2006 by Fifth Gear.