MINI has just debuted two very important models for the Malaysian market—the all-new MINI Cooper S with the petrol engine alongside the Cooper SE and Countryman starting at RM290,288 on the road. Although it retains the same petrol engine, the newly released MINI Cooper S is largely a facelift designed to keep up with the design of the recently released MINI Cooper Electric SE.
Body-wise, the Cooper S is a heavily revised version of the F56 generation but retains the older chassis while being inspired by the new MINI Electric SE’s design. This differentiation is apparent across multiple body panels. For instance, in contrast to the Cooper SE, the Cooper S’s front bumper is positioned below the headlights, while the Cooper S’s bonnet completely encircles the round headlights. The Cooper S’s front camera for the 360° vision system is shaped differently as well.
A new set of 18-inch wheels further enhances the updated appearance, but perhaps the most standout modification is to the taillights which have kept the iconic Union Jack motif of the MINI even though they went with a new “triangular” design.
The MINI offers a 2.0-liter turbo with 7-speed DCT
Powering the front-wheel-drive Cooper S is a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine pumping out 204 horsepower and 300 Nm and married to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DCT) that can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 6.6-seconds.
The new Cooper S gets a redesigned interior boasting an infotainment system that features a new circular head unit with a larger touchscreen display that extends closer to the edges of the dash. The current MINI Operating System 9 has also been installed on the new head unit, making use of the OLED technology.
In addition, the Cooper S uses the same updated steering wheel as its electric cousin. The “third spoke” is a fabric element rather than a structural component. Another notable change is the gear selector, which is now replaced by a toggle switch located beneath the central infotainment screen. A traditional gear selector is no longer present.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
MINI is now offering a spec for every taste—the petrol-powered Cooper S, SE, and Countryman as well as the Cooper Electric SE. And starting at a reasonable RM290,000. Buyers wanting something with turbo power can go for the S which packs 204 hp plus a new operating system that makes the driving experience that much more exciting.