New 2009 MINI Cooper

Vehicle Overview
The iconic Cooper lineup includes both a hardtop and a convertible model. The two body styles come in base and S trim levels, with S models being turbocharged or supercharged for more power. While the Cooper hardtop was redesigned in 2007, the convertible remains unchanged and is no longer in production — but there are still 2008's available. Expect to see an all-new convertible sometime in 2009.

There's also a John Cooper Works edition that has 208 horsepower and more performance enhancements. While there's no car quite like a Mini, the Cooper competes in the market of high-end sports compacts like the Honda Civic coupe, Mazda3 and Volkswagen Rabbit.

New for 2009
Electronic stability control is now standard across the lineup.

Exterior
The design of the second-generation hardtop looks enough like the first that the convertible doesn't appear outdated at all. The convertible has a powered soft-top that can be moved back like a moonroof or opened entirely. Any Cooper can be had with contrasting-colored roof and mirrors.

The Cooper hardtop is nearly 3 inches longer than the convertible. With a 145.6-inch length and 66.3-inch width, the Cooper is one of the smallest vehicles available in the U.S. market.  15-, 16- or 17-inch wheels and auto-leveling front/rear fog lights are available.  Options inlcude: heated mirrors, washer jets and automatic windshield wipers, automatic bi-xenon headlamps with integrated washers and dual-panel panoramic power sunroof (on hardtop).
 
Interior
The hardtop Cooper's interior features a center-mounted speedometer; that console also incorporates the audio system and optional navigation system. The convertible has a slightly smaller, but somehow more legible, center speedometer, minus the extra controls.

The convertible's cargo volume is more than respectable at 4.2 cubic feet. Lowering the top doesn't decrease the trunk space at all, and the backseat can be folded to increase volume to 21.4 cubic feet. Overall, the Cooper line is much roomier inside than people expect.  Standard features include: power windows and locks, plus keyless entry and air conditioning with a climate-controlled glove box.  Options inlcude: automatic air conditioning, heated seats, 10-speaker stereo with HD radio, Bluetooth and USB/iPod adapter and a navigation unit.
 
Under the Hood
The Cooper hardtop has a different four-cylinder engine than the convertible, which uses a previous-generation engine. The Cooper S hardtop gets a turbocharged powertrain while the convertible gets a supercharger.

Compared with the Cooper, the Cooper S has a sportier suspension. The Cooper S has a 0-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds and achieves an estimated 29 mpg average fuel economy with the manual transmission.

Mechanical features include: 115-hp, 1.6-liter inline-four-cylinder engine with 111 pounds-feet of torque (convertible); 118-hp, 1.6-liter inline-four-cylinder engine with 114 pounds-feet of torque (hardtop); 168-hp, supercharged 1.6-liter inline-four-cylinder engine with 162 pounds-feet of torque (S convertible); 172-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four-cylinder engine with 177 pounds-feet of torque (S hardtop); standard five- (convertible) or six-speed manual transmission (hardtop); optional six-speed automatic (hardtop) or continuously variable automatic transmission (convertible); standard performance tires or optional all-season run-flat tires and an optional sport suspension with stiffer front and rear stabilizer bars.
 
Safety
Available safety features include: standard side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags (not available on convertible), standard antilock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability control and optional parking sonar and alarm system.