n 1959 , Sir Alec Issigonis
was tasked to design a
people’s car because of
the Suez Canal Crisis
three years before. The
objective was simple: The vehicle should
be small, fuel-efficient, somewhat boxy
to maximize space, and with minimal
moving parts to keep costs down. The
result was the Mini.
Despite being a two-door hatch,
its front-wheel-drive layout and
transversely mounted engine meant
around 80 % of floor space could be
utilized. And with the wheels mounted
practically on the corners, the car han-
dled like a go-kart—a characteristic that
has defined the brand since. Different
versions followed, such as the Mini Van,
the Mini Clubman, the Mini Pickup, and
the Mini Moke.
BMW acquired Mini in 2000 , and
given the German company’s might,
it was expected that the model range
would expand beyond the three-door
hatch. After all, the primary goal was to
capture a wider market. The Clubman
was soon reintroduced, followed by the
Countryman SUV, the two-seater Coupe
and Roadster, and the Paceman. With
all these models on offer, surely there
would be a five-door hatch, right? It’s
only natural.
Well, here it is, in potent Cooper S
form. It’s 155 mm longer than the three-
door, and boasts a 72 mm wheelbase
increase. The front overhang remains at
757 mm, while the rear has an additional
Of course they would
It was only a matter of time before Mini gave the hatchback two extra doors Words by jason dela cruz
PhotograPhy by VINCENt C
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SC
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SHAKEDOWN
IN DETAIL
MINI CoopEr S 5-Door
83 mm. Impressive.
There really is a uniqueness to a
Mini; it’s instantly recognizable, and
the British Racing Green paint job,
the hood stripes and the white roof
highlight its trademark identity. This
model still looks properly proportioned
despite the extra doors. You get the
same goodies that accentuate the S’s
athletic character: honeycomb grille and
rear bumper inserts, an artificial hood
scoop, center twin exhausts, and 17 -inch
tentacle-spoke alloys.
The cabin is essentially a conver-
sation piece. It never fails to amaze
occupants, with circular bits all around
and mood lighting that glows blue,
yellow, orange, pink, green or red.
The giant mood ring on the dash also
changes color depending on the selected
driving mode. You’re bound to hear a
‘whoa’ from someone stepping in for the
first time.
This unit comes with an argyle-
pattern brown fabric and off-white
leather seat combo that’s quite
refreshing. Not all interior combos are
the same; of all the Minis I’ve sampled,
this one easily stands out. Exclusive
Philippine distributor British United
Automobiles brings in a variety of
combos, but some interiors are custom-
tailored by buyers. Interestingly, this
ALL-SEEINg EyE
This dash cam will be
great to have, but it’s a
P50,000 option.DrIvINg MoDE
A clever, simple design.
Flick to the left for Sport,
flick to right for Green.SprIghTLy
2.0-liter turbocharged mill
churns out 192hp
and 280Nm of torque.subcompact sports hatchback
I
The subtle rear spoiler
and its extensions taper
nicely with the C-pillars50 TOP GEAR PHILIPPINES WWW.toPgEar.Com.Ph