BMW can't really restyle the MINI Cooper very much. The entire brand exists based on the history of the classic Mini, so it'll always look more or less like a reinterpretation of that little rally-winning runabout. The third generation of the modern ultra-compact has debuted, and while it's still recognizably a MINI, it's a whole new car underneath.
The base Cooper now drives with a turbocharged three-cylinder engine. It's definitely not slow, with 162 ft.-lbs. of torque propelling it to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds. The formula is the reprise of a trend we've seen before: forced induction replacing displacement. In the Cooper S, BMW has fitted a TwinPower four-cylinder engine.
TwinPower is the name they've heaped on their trifecta of engine tech: turbocharging, direct injection and variable valve and cam control, giving the Cooper S 189 horsepower and 207 ft.-lbs. of torque. The MINI's Sport suspension is still remarkably stiff, so we'd take the standard setup for daily use. Look for the base car to start at just under $20,000, and add $3650 to get into a Cooper S.
