2006 MINI Cooper Baltimore

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The 2006 MINI Cooper is a well-executed vehicle by every measure. It's the total package that makes it an excellent value: appealing appearance inside and out, excellent performance, notable engineering, numerous safety devices and the simple delight of being in and around it. Engineered by BMW, the MINI Cooper is a high-quality piece of equipment, as solid as any German sedan. And it boasts a multitude of passive and active safety systems. For 2006, a new Checkmate trim package with exclusive interior and exterior modifications is now being offered for sedan models. And the John Cooper Works performance package can now be ordered as a factory-installed option or as a dealer-installed option. The convertible, which became available the previous year, is a great way to enjoy open air driving. A part-way mode on the convertible top leaves a section open at the front of the cockpit like a sunroof, granting front-seat occupants a view of skyscrapers, majestic peaks or the indulgent stares of truck drivers. This unique sunroof can be operated while tooling along at highway speeds.

Handling of the '06 MINI Cooper

The standard 115-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder overhead-cam engine never feels deficient. It delivers plenty of power for most of us. Its acceleration performance may not plaster you to the back of the seat, but it has plenty of power for charging around on-ramps and can rocket onto the freeway. Shifting feels good and smooth. The Cooper comes standard with a Getrag five-speed manual transmission (new for 2005) designed for quick acceleration. The MINI Cooper S uses a supercharged version of the same engine that produces 168 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. The S doesn't feel like a rocket off the line, but really comes into its own once it's rolling. The supercharger doesn't deliver the explosive thrust associated with turbocharged engines, but it accelerates hard, with thrilling performance when you nail it in the 30-60 mph range. The supercharged engine uses the same block, but features more cooling measures (an engine oil cooler and piston-cooling jets), lower-compression pistons (to reduce detonation), a special crank, special valves, and, of course, the roots-type blower.

2006 MINI Cooper Design

The bulldog stance of the MINI Cooper remains distinctive and appealing. The MINI is low, wide, and short, with short overhangs. The wheels are set as far out to the four corners as possible, enhancing stability in turns and on bumpy straights. The current MINI Cooper shares some of its basic design tenets with the original, but with one-third greater width, length and height. The rear is trimmed with an elegant fascia, while the front fascia has body-colored bumpers. The MINI Cooper has one exhaust tip exiting below the sleek rear bumper on the right side. BMW's attention to detail is everywhere. A small reflector on door jam alerts other drivers when you open the door at the side of a busy street. Big oval mirrors afford a good view behind, where all those slower cars can be seen. The Cooper S is distinguished by its hood scoop, sport bumpers, lower intake grille, aggressive side sills, wider wheel arches, and twin exhaust tips that exit from the middle. A rear spoiler trails off the roof, chrome brightens the fuel-filler flap, and an S logo shaped like a curvy road spices up the rear badge. Numerous other styling cues, including big eight-spoke wheels reminiscent of the classic MINI lights, ensure that everyone who's anyone knows you sprung for the hot one.

MINI Cooper Cabin

The 2006 MINI Cooper's interior is stylish and modern, and exudes quality. Prominent circles set the interior design statement. That large circle in the center of the dash, visible to anyone in the car, is the speedometer. A racy round tachometer is perched like an aftermarket muscle car unit immediately before the driver's eyes and tilts with the adjustable steering column. Toggle switches with little guards are arranged in a row near the bottom of the center stack. They operate power windows, power locks, front and rear fog lamps, and the electronic stability control system. A pair of cup holders immediately in front of the shifter will hold a pair of grande cappuccinos if you squeeze them gently past the bottom edge of the dash. New interior options include English Leather upholstery, a MINI Seven high-gloss black dash panel, and a MINI Park Lane dash. Exterior options include roof, mirror caps and bonnet stripes now available in silver, new paint colors including Solar Red and Royal Grey, and two new no-cost 15-inch wheel packages for the MINI Cooper. You can choose a roof that's either body-colored, black, or white, and you can add a roof decal, a checkered flag, a Union Jack, a Star Spangled Banner.

2006 MINI Lineup

The MINI Cooper comes in two model designations: the 115-horsepower MINI Cooper and 168-horsepower MINI Cooper S. Either is available as a convertible. The hardtop MINIs are four-seat, three-door hatchbacks. The MINI is front-wheel drive with a transversely mounted 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine.

The MINI Cooper comes with air conditioning, CD stereo with six speakers, power windows with auto-down, power locks, remote keyless entry, and a rear wiper all standard. A five-speed gearbox and 15-inch alloy wheels are standard. A Continuously Variable Transmission, or CVT automatic, is optional.

The MINI Cooper S features a supercharged version of the four-cylinder engine, a six-speed manual gearbox, stiffer front and rear anti-roll bars for flatter handling and 16-inch wheels. The Cooper S has exterior trim that distinguishes it from the base model. Inside, the S adds sport seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. A six-speed automatic is optional.

Conclusions

The 2006 MINI Cooper continues with a few minor update. Some significant changes were added the previous year, including the availability of convertibles MINI Coopers. At the same time, all models were enhanced with new interior lighting, storage space and trim options, plus revised headlamps and tail lamps and a new grille. New manual gearboxes with revised gearing delivered improved acceleration for both the Cooper and Cooper S, and the S received a slight bump in horsepower. For more on this automaker, visit the official MINI Cooper site.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com