Mini Cooper

What is it?
Mini Cooper

What's special about it?
It's shagadelic, baby! Yes, the British Mini is back, and while still built in Oxford, England, this time it'll be under the more severe management of the Boys from BMW. The original car, introduced in 1959, made quite a splash, with its smiley front face, ultra-bright colors, incredibly compact dimensions yet livable accommodations for four.

Don't be fooled into believing that this is going to be a resurrected relic, however. With available options such as xenon headlamps, panoramic sunroof, an adjustable instrument gauge/steering column, 17-inch wheels and tires, an automanual tranny, Harmon Kardon sound system, and a navigation system, it'll propel you into the future with plenty of techno-gadgetry to keep those idle fingers occupied. Exercise your individuality by picking from any of 14 colors and a myriad of fabric choices.

The Mini is powered by a four-cylinder, 16-valve 1.6-liter powerplant driving the front wheels. Vented disc brakes with standard ABS, a multi-link rear suspension, and an available Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) traction system are mechanical highlights. Front, side and head airbags will be standard.

The Mini comes in two versions, the basic Cooper and the more luxurious Cooper S. Although BMW officials state that it's "the opposite of a status symbol," they were hemming and hawing on the question of whether loading this car up with all its options might not be heavy on the wallet. As a facet of the BMW tripartite (Rolls Royce, BMW, Mini), the Bavarians expect to infiltrate every aspect of premium-class automobiles. Still smarting from that little tiff you lost, eh?

Why should you care?
We're in the midst of what is probably the greatest nostalgic period in design since the Neo-classists. The Minis are coming to BMW showrooms in the U.S. during the first quarter of 2002. Jump into that velvet suit and stand in line at your dealers, yeah!
--Liz Kim