05 June 2009 - 11:00
Mini Cooper hits 226bhp
Some cars - like, say, the Rolls-Royce Phantom - simply shouldn't be modified. Ever. While some - like, say, the Mini Cooper S Convertible - are ripe for it.
Enter AC Schnitzer - the German tuning firm best known for doing odd things to big BMWs and their dizzying array of spanners and hammers.
Herr Schnitzer has bumped up power in the Cooper S's 1.6-litre turbocharged engine from 175bhp to a meaty 226bhp: that's more, even, than the 208bhp JCW Convertible.
If you're thinking ‘death by torque steer', it's a fair worry: even the standard Cooper S cabrio is a squirmy little thing. But the ever-vigilant Herr Schnitzer has fitted the Cooper with a limited slip differential, along with an adjustable suspension set-up and, of course, a big ol' sports exhaust.
There's also the option of an optimistically named ‘aero package', and more decals and visual gubbins than you can shake a jealous estate agent at.
For all that, though, we rather like the AC Schnitzer Mini. Should make a good rival for the Alfa MiTo GTA...
Want to comment on this?
Secretely i have been waiting for this to come out. I have been seeing all these new minis which have had upgrades to 170 bhp 180bhp and all the time ib the background iv breen screaming......MORE POWER!!!!!Why are we still in the 100s bhps? why not go 300 or even 400? This is a car that is just begging you to tune it, so why dont we tune it till the laws of physics deny us?
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I wouldn't want a Mini - or indeed any FWD car - to have more than 300bhp tops. It would just be impossible. So 226 is fine for me, a small car doesn't need 1,000,000bhp because it's light. It's power/weight ratio that counts. But I wouldn't have this. It's the cabrio, the girl's Mini. Vicki Butler-Henderson would pull this car off waaay better than Richard Hammond, for example. A modded convertible isn't a manlier convertible.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Blimey! How much is this worth now. If I ever buy a Mini, it will HAVE to be this one. You should knock off the ariel though. With a dead fish. (Which I plan to do to every scientist with a dead fish).
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
i would prefer the alfa. i think mini's are too girly and i do not like this one much either. in fact i am going to say something that will probably have mini pr peeps trying to kill me. the mini cooper is a terrible car. and for a supermini isnt it a bit expensive? just because it has character doesnt mean it is any good
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
i would prefer the alfa. i think mini's are too girly and i do not like this one much either. in fact i am going to say something that will probably have mini pr peeps trying to kill me. the mini cooper is a terrible car. and for a supermini isnt it a bit expensive? just because it has character doesnt mean it is any good
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Hur hur hur...
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
never liked hot hatchs, never will, untill they put a rear or four wheel drive layout, i mean, fwds suck, they just understeer like hell, and if all the weight is in the front, then the car wont be good enough on the bends as theres no weight in the back, the fastest cars round the track are rwd or 4wd, and the fastest 2wd is no more than 1:25 secs
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
never liked hot hatchs, never will, untill they put a rear or four wheel drive layout, i mean, fwds suck, they just understeer like hell, and if all the weight is in the front, then the car wont be good enough on the bends as theres no weight in the back, the fastest cars round the track are rwd or 4wd, and the fastest 2wd is no more than 1:25 secs
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
never liked hot hatchs, never will, untill they put a rear or four wheel drive layout, i mean, fwds suck, they just understeer like hell, and if all the weight is in the front, then the car wont be good enough on the bends as theres no weight in the back, the fastest cars on the track r rwd or 4wd cuz they have proper things
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
never liked hot hatchs, never will, untill they put a rear or four wheel drive layout, i mean, fwds suck, they just understeer like hell, and if all the weight is in the front, then the car wont be good enough on the bends as theres no weight in the back, the fastest cars on the track r rwd and 4wd
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
never liked hot hatchs, never will, untill they put a rear or four wheel drive layout, i mean, fwds suck, they just understeer like hell, and if all the weight is in the front, then the car wont be good enough on the bends as theres no weight in the back, the fastest cars on the track r rwd and 4wd
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
srry but im having some trouble with my computer
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I LIKE THE MINI AND I AM PROUD OF THE DEVELOPMENT
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
that mini looks quite good!! but it still could have some MORE improvements.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
max this is so cool!!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
wise words from Mikeado
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Power! Torque steer, tree! Death! End of
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I BET THIS CAR MAKES MICHEAL CAINE JELOUS, IF ONLY HE HAD THAT MUCH POWER IN THE ITALIAN JOB HE WOULD HAVE HAD EVEN MORE FUN
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Advertisement
Test Driven
.jpg?p=080926_03:52)
Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer
Estate version of Insignia VXR makes more sense than the hatch. Quick and practical, but is it just too thirsty?
TG Car Chooser
Who says Top Gear doesn't do sensible car buying advice? Use this new interweb tool to find your next car. It's better than talking to a geek...
MoreAdvertisement
Open Car Bar
AshHorne commented on this article
05 June 2009
No no no. You don't need to do that to a Mini convertible. Standard Cooper S, 4 wheel drive, and about 350bhp. Why has nobody made that yet?
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.