More fun than a
Porsche, the Mini is only weeks away from disappearing from the Japanese market.
Marish
Mackowiak
drives a Mini Cooper before it's too late.
According to Mini
importers BMW Japan, this nation ranks as "the world's number one country
in terms of the number of Minis sold," followed by Germany and the UK. With
its compact dimensions, British heritage, and the essential cute factor, there's
no need to wonder why. More broadly, the Mini is one of the most influential
symbols of the 20th century. Just look at the popularity of small hatchbacks
during the last 30 years. In the '90s, the perky upright shape of the Nissan
March was deliberately modeled on that of the Mini. More recently, a large part
of the retro trend among small car manufacturers has been based on the Mini's
classically cute lines. Some, like Daihatsu's copycat Gino "Minilite,"
are so similar you really have to look carefully to spot the difference.
The Mini was created in the late 1950s by Sir Alex Issigonis, who was given a
design brief to develop an affordable and economical family car. The first
prototype was built in 1957, and since production began in 1959, approximately
5,387,000 have been made. The design was revolutionary in employing a transverse
(sideways mounted) engine powering the front wheels and tiny ten-inch wheels to
save space. These features made it possible to build a car less than three
meters long that still accommodated four adults and their luggage. Advanced
features included independent suspension and the accuracy of rack and pinion
steering. The famous Cooper version was introduced in 1961 and was acclaimed for
its success in the Monte Carlo Rally. Celebrity owners have included The Beatles
(they had one each), Peter Sellers and his wife Britt Eckland, Steve McQueen,
and Clint Eastwood.
Back to the future
features
Today's Mini is little changed from past models. Mostly, it gives the impression
of '60s car technology supplemented by accessory shop parts from the '70s.
Nevertheless, it's a refreshing change compared to contemporary models which
claim the "retro" tag but are otherwise blandly conventional. The
original body, complete with external rain gutters, remains, while the interior
is idiosyncratic to say the least. Someone over about 185cm has to be a
contortionist just to get in. For those approaching 2m in height, getting your
legs behind the wheel is a major challenge, since the seat doesn't adjust back
far enough.
Nevertheless, once inside conditions are bearable, and at least there's adequate
headroom. A severe "short leg/long arm" driving position is also far
from optimal. The splayed legs of taller people end up being jammed in between
the steering wheel and the gear stick on one side and against the door on the
other. It makes it awkward to change gears and wind down the right side window.
The pedals are also squashed up together so Shibuya girl platforms are
definitely out.
The interior looks like a cross between the original Mini and a Bentley.
Lashings of wood veneer and the aroma of leather upholstery combine with spartan
features of the original product. An ultra chunky two-tone sports steering wheel
dominates like the proverbial sore thumb. The combination of mix ‘n' match
parts looks awkward and poorly coordinated. About the only convincing evidence
of the '90s is the single airbag. Even the stereo is an ordinary sounding
radio/cassette. Throughout, an effort has been made to play up the Mini's sporty
Cooper heritage. The Cooper crest is everywhere. The instrumentation consists of
three fairly small chrome-rimmed cream dials that are positioned too low and
aren't particularly easy to read. The gear knob is made from the same leather as
the steering wheel but once again looks like it came from Autobacs. Annoyingly,
the ignition uses a different key to the doors. There is little storage space
except for door pockets and side storage compartments in the back. The glove box
is tiny. And the trunk has enough space for an average gym bag.
Twin GT stripes
in "Old English White" cross the bonnet and there's pinstriping on the
sides, punctuated by the omnipresent Cooper crest. The Cooper is also
distinguished by driving lamps and a white roof. Multi-spoke alloy wheels
complete the classic sports sedan look. Unlike so many other manufacturers of
long serving models, Rover has fortunately avoided replacing the original chrome
with plastic moldings. The only plastic on the outside is in the form of black
flares on the wheel arches. With its original styling having been left largely
intact, the Mini is still a unique head turner.
More fun than a
Porsche
Although the last incarnation of the Mini isn't a model of contemporary
ergonomic efficiency, it's about the most fun you can have on four wheels.
Lightweight and compact dimensions combine with responsive rack and pinion
steering to offer great handling and maneuverability. A torquey 1275cc
fuel-injected in-line four cylinder engine emits a satisfying bark and provides
reasonable performance thanks to the Mini's 715kg weight. The Mini has a top
speed of 144km/h and hits 100km/h in 13 seconds. This may seem very ordinary by
today's standards, but the Mini feels much faster and more satisfying than the
figures suggest. A four-speed manual gearbox enhances responsiveness. It's not
as fast as a Porsche, but the Mini is more worthy of the sports car label than
most of today's luxury-laden expresses.
With just a handful of new Minis remaining for sale in Japan, this could be car
buffs' last chance to snap up a piece of motoring history. Choose from the basic
Mayfair, sporty Cooper, and limited 40th anniversary editions of both. Those
wanting something more contemporary might be better off waiting for the New
Mini. Debuting at the 2000 Paris Motor Show, it will be sold in Japan early next
year.
We can only hope that the Mini's successor continues the same tradition that has
been so successful for the last 40 years. Nevertheless, however good the new
model may prove to be, it's a safe bet that there will never again be anything
quite like the original Mini.
Article: Tokyo Classified