Mini In Japan

Australian Mini Cooper

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.