The MINI Cooper provides a satisfying combination of fun-to-drive performance, a distinctive bulldog appearance, and custom ordering of a variety of trim and color options at a very reasonable price. The front-wheel drive Cooper is available in either a two-door hatchback or a two-door soft-top convertible bodystyle. For the 2008 model year, the iconic Cooper lineup welcomes a new member, holds on to a young one, and keeps an old version around for at least another year. The new Clubman is an extended version of the hardtop Cooper. The regular Cooper hardtop was redesigned for 2007, but the convertible has returned for 2008 still unchanged. When the hatchback was redesigned for the 2007 model year it got an updated 1.6-liter 16-valve inline four-cylinder engine capable of 118-hp and mated to a six-speed manual transmission or optional six-speed automatic. The convertible soldiers on unchanged since its release in 2005 with a 115-hp 1.6-liter engine bolted to either a five-speed manual or CVT automatic transmission. Standard safety features include six airbags on the hatchback, four on the convertible, ABS, and Electronic Brake Distribution. Features such as Xenon headlights, Park Distance Control, stability control, rain sensing wipers and front and rear fog lights are optional. Personalization is a big part of the MINI marketing program, and the list of available options is far too long to repeat here, from electronics and amenities to aero kits, stripes, and chrome accents. An extensive array of alternative trim features is available to customize the interior to personal tastes, in terms of colors, textures and materials.
2008 MINI Cooper Power
The 2008 MINI Cooper hardtop is powered by a normally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine rated 118 horsepower. The MINI Cooper S hardtop is equipped with a 172-horsepower turbocharged version of the same engine, stiffer suspension, ASCT traction and stability control, performance exhaust system, and 16-inch alloy wheels with 195/55R16 all-season tires; 17-inch wheels are optional. The Cooper S Convertible runs the old-generation engine supercharged to 168 horsepower; and adds a sport suspension with 16-inch wheels, ASCT traction and stability control, body-color front grille, and other visual cues. The hardtop and Cooper S convertible come standard with a six-speed manual transmission; a six-speed automatic transmission with Steptronic controls is optional. The base convertible comes with a five-speed manual, and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is optional. It also features Steptronic control. The Cooper is, above all, fun to drive. The turbocharged S model has plenty of power and almost no turbo lag. The brakes are also confidence-inspiring. If you've always thought the Cooper was an image car, do yourself a favor and take one for a drive.
Design of the 2008 MINI Cooper
Although extensively redesigned for 2007, this second-generation of the modern MINI Cooper is still unmistakably a MINI . Even while updating the car for safety, mechanical, and manufacturing considerations, BMW designers were reluctant to risk messing with a successful formula. Anyone who is not already a MINI owner will have difficulty distinguishing the latest MINI from the old one, unless the two are parked side by side. Nevertheless, though the same chassis has been used, there is not a single exterior panel that is common between the two cars. The front of the MINI had to be restyled to conform to more rigid European restrictions on exterior panel shapes for pedestrian safety, as well as to adapt to the shape of the new engine. The design of the second-generation hardtop looks enough like the first that the convertible doesn't appear outdated at all. The convertible has a powered soft-top that can be moved back like a moonroof or opened entirely. Based on the newer-generation hardtop, the Clubman adds 9.5 inches of overall length and 3.2 inches in wheelbase. It also has a third door on the curb side for ease of backseat entry, and in lieu of a rear liftgate are two doors that swing to either side.
Inside the '08 Cooper
The redesign of the MINI Cooper for 2007 brought more visible change inside the car than outside. The interior still has a sporty feeling, though now a bit less extreme, with the enlarged round speedometer in the center of the dash (as it was on the original), and the modern convenience of a tachometer mounted on and moving with the tilt-adjustable steering column. Audio controls have been moved from the center stack into the bottom half of the speedometer dial, and the heating and air conditioning controls have been compressed below it. These changes reduce the width of the center stack, which increases knee and leg room in the foot wells, answering a common complaint against the previous model. For a car that has the smallest exterior of any four-passenger vehicle on the road, the MINI is surprisingly spacious inside. Upholstery and trim was upgraded, as well, and the range of customizing possibilities expanded. The hardtop Coopers' new interior features a center-mounted speedometer that incorporates the audio system and optional navigation system. The convertible has the older design, with a slightly smaller but somehow more legible center speedometer, minus the extra controls. Cloth seats are standard and leather is optional.
2008 MINI Cooper Lineup
The 2008 MINI Cooper hardtop comes standard with air conditioning; AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with six speakers, RDS, and pre-wiring for satellite radio; power windows with auto-down; power locks; remote keyless entry with electronic signal transmitter in place of the ignition key: leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel; six-way adjustable driver's seat; split-folding rear seat; leatherette upholstery; a rear wiper and defogger; and other appointments you'd expect from a more expensive car. Standard wheels are 15-inch alloy with 175/65R15 all-season tires; 16- and 17-inch wheels are optional.
The MINI Cooper S hardtop is design details, including a black grille insert, hood scoop, rear bumper inserts and prominent rear spoiler wing, distinguish the Cooper S from the Cooper.
The Cooper Convertible is powered by the previous-generation conventionally aspirated 1.6-liter four, rated 115 horsepower. The top is fully automatic and features a heated glass rear window, and Park Distance Control is standard. Otherwise standard equipment is similar to the base hardtop.
Conclusions
The MINI Cooper is fresh from a complete redesign that was launched for the 2007 model year. To meet European environmental and fuel-economy requirements, BMW designed a completely new engine in cooperation with Peugeot. It produces approximately the same horsepower as before: 118 in the MINI Cooper and 172 in the MINI Cooper S. But now a turbocharger in the Cooper S, in place of the old supercharger, delivers 177 pound-feet of torque from 1600 to 5000 rpm, significantly improving the sportier model's performance. This second-generation version continues to generate smiles on the faces of passersby. That's an impressive feat given the first-generation models have been with us since 2000 and the current version looks very similar. The MINI Cooper has gained a reputation of being fun to drive. It's also a practical car, with comfortable seats, useful cargo capacity, and an EPA-rated City/Highway 28/37 miles per gallon. For more information on the MINI, visit the official MINIUSA website.
