Mini Cooper: Brilliant three-cylinder petrol engine heads the list of the new Minis charms

摘要

THIS IS THE moment we've been waiting for, ever since the wraps came off the third incarnation of the modern Mini last November. It is the first time that anyone outside the company has experienced the new three-door hatchback on public roads. Predictably, Mini suggests the new Cooper, the largest and most powerful ever, is well prepared to continue the huge success of predecessor. Certainly, from the snug confines of the optional sport seats, it is hard to argue that die new Cooper is anything but a huge step forward. From behind its classy multi-function steering wheel - itself part of a significant rethink of the interior - the driving experience is welcomingly familiar. But there is also a new-found maturity and sense of quality that make the car even more pleasant to be in and a good deal more rewarding to drive.