2007 Mini Cooper Future Vehicle

BMW Sells 40,000 Minis annually in the United States, nearly as much as in the brand's top market, the United Kingdom, wildly beyond expectations for our small-hatchback-at-a-premium-price adverse market. So designers and engineers have given us much more consideration for the 2007 Mini Cooper launching here around February than it did for the 2002-2006 model. Its new aluminum four-banger, co-built with Peugeot, replaces the iron-block lump shared with DaimlerChrysler. The car is 2.6 inches longer with a taller hood. Its comfortable suspension shows BMW chassis-tuner influences.

Will we prefer the new car? The average American buyer might, but the first new Mini appealed most to the enthusiast market in America, people who like hatchbacks with go-kart-stiff suspensions. The Cooper S's ride feels supple around Zandvoort, Holland's old F1 circuit, but still plenty fun and light on its feet. New electronic power steering feels quick and eager to give feedback. The Mini Mark III is a logical follow-up to the Mark II. "More mature," says its P.R. team. Is that what we want? For purists not so sure, the Cooper and S will have an optional sport suspension as stiff as the current S, but with the new car's extra 8 mm of suspension travel. Think of the new model to be to the old Mini what the second-generation Honda CRX was to the first-generation car. Please, Mini USA, don't follow this up with a Del Sol.