2011 MINI Cooper S Review - AutoGuide.com
That being said the Cooper, not to mention our more fun Cooper S test car, gets a long list of small upgrades in numerous areas that help add-on more of what the car does best. Unfortunately, MINI has done nothing to address the car’s few, albeit important, drawbacks. Design wise, it’s barely worth noting the changes to the Cooper S with adjustments so minute it’s even hard to tell this year’s car apart from the 2010 model when parked side by side. TURBOCHARGED ENGINE GETS MORE ‘POP’ More, slightly less-insignificant changes have been made under the hood, with the turbocharged 4-cylinder now getting BMW’s Valvetronic variable valve timing technology, resulting in a bump in power of 9 ponies. Yet as much straight-line acceleration as the Cooper S brings, it absolutely excels on winding roads – especially with the sport button pressed, tightening-up the steering and throttle response to near open-wheel levels. Adding to the enjoyment, MINI has enhanced the popping sound from the engine when under deceleration or when you lift off the throttle. IMPROVED STEERING, BUT GRIP STILL HARD TO COME BY A more functional improvement is new anti-torque steer programming that keeps the wheels pointed forward under hard acceleration. Source: www.autoguide.com
