It's celebration time for Mini Cooper

1.689266-1006103303 — Image Credit: Stefan Lindeque

For as long as I can remember, I've always loved the cheeky little Mini Cooper. Growing up in Britain during the Eighties, if you didn't see at least ten a day, there would be something seriously wrong with the world. You were guaranteed one every minute and in between, MG Midgets, Triumph Spitfires and other classic British Leyland brands would help pass those sixty seconds until the next Cooper came along. Some would be pristine, others knackered but regardless of their condition, they brought a smile to my face whenever I saw one. They were so cute, I always thought they had been designed for babies. Fast forward thirty years and you still see the original versions bumbling around.

Today, even though the Mini is about as English as a bratwurst, those clever Germans have managed to build a car that is not just cute, but exceptionally fun to drive. What's more, it has been put together using more than just double-sided tape. Slam the doors on the old cars and the rear-view mirror would likely fall off. They had a tendency to rattle and squeak and you were scared to turn on the radio in case it blew up the engine. Of course, they weren't all like that. But the 1979 silver Clubman that we had when I was a little boy was exactly that way.

But since BMW took it under its wing in 2001, it's become a different story. I was worried they would ruin it, take away its charm, appeal and personality and make it, well, German. Thankfully, BMW's done nothing of the sort. You no longer have to drive it with your knees wrapped around your ears and best of all, your spine doesn't shatter every time you drive over a pebble because it now comes with some suspension. And to celebrate its 50th anniversary, there are now two special editions which can be had on any Mini model. They've been named after trendy London boroughs — Mayfair and Camden. I got my hands on the Mayfair, based on the Cooper S, and it's such a blast that it brings out the brat in you. You can weave in and out of traffic with your foot floored as soon as you push the start button, and if I had a chance, would have driven on two wheels and down long sets of stairs. It makes you feel like a star in the chase scene from The Italian Job.

Think of this car as a go-kart, only bigger, safer, with sat-nav and Bluetooth connectivity and you're almost there. Add 17in white alloys, exclusive metallic paint and stripes and there are more reasons to love this special edition Mayfair as much as your pet dog. It retains the bulldog stance while the interior is reminiscent of the original.

The anniversary edition features some nice eye-candy, but the first thing that strikes you is the delicious-looking chocolate paint job. It looks good enough to lick. And, with a creamy white top and a smattering of chrome accents, it leaves quite an impression. Other differences compared with a regular Cooper S are the twin rally-style headlights, the Mayfair logos and a Mayfair 50 plaque sitting proudly on the grille.

Inside, that massive speedometer remains slap bang in the middle of the centre console. There's another digital speedo above the steering wheel inside the rev counter.

You get toffee-coloured leather seats with green stitching, while the striped brown and black trim on the side-view mirrors finds a home on the dash. Add old-school switches on the centre console and chrome accents on the dials and it feels like you've been transported back to the Sixties. Pulling you back into 2010 is a CD-player with MP3 capabilities and an auxiliary port for your iPod.

It also comes with two front airbags, two side-thorax airbags and two head airbags to help keep you safe.

Admittedly, it's cramped in there and two medium-sized blokes will not be able to sit together in the back for more than a minute before coming to blows. The boot is good for just 160 litres, only 35 more than the Mini Convertible, but then you don't buy one of these to lug furniture around.

It doesn't glide over speed bumps like a Rolls; the shocks are as sporty as they get and since it comes with run-flats, it doesn't really help the ride quality much, but it never stops being fun. It's happiest on a perfectly smooth road while the brilliantly responsive steering, perfectly geared six-speed transmission and the explosive turbocharged 1.6-litre engine encourage you to drive it like you stole it.

Like most hot front-wheel drive cars, the Mini torque steers. And there is noticeable turbo lag too, but once the twin-scroll blower is on song, it provides stomp-n-go acceleration. With 260Nm of torque and 175bhp lugging a total weight of 1,215kg, the Mini is extremely chuckable. It accelerates from 0-100kph in 7.1 seconds and tops out at an impressive 225kph. But the real fun begins when you throw some twisties into the mix.

The nose eagerly sniffs out corners, but go mad with the throttle and the Mini understeers wildly. However, the moment you back off the loud pedal, you're rewarded with a generous serving of lift-off oversteer to bring things back in line. It's a joyous car to drive.

I've tested cars that cost ten times more than this but are actually ten times less fun. But should you buy a Mini at all? Yes, if you have no friends to put in the back seats, no luggage to carry in the hopelessly tiny boot and especially if you enjoy being bullied by maniacs in their massive SUVs. But, get behind the wheel and suddenly the world feels like a better place as you dart around everyone else with consummate ease.

Joining it in the compact car segment is the Alfa Mito, Citroën DS3 and Audi A1. But, if you thought the Mini legacy might be coming to an end, you'll find the answer is a resounding no: it's just warming up.

RIVALS

Audi A1
Both four-pot turbo motors can be optioned up with a manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch auto/manual, but the engines are kind of underpowered, the petrol ones being an 86bhp 1.2-litre and a 122bhp 1.4-litre. Although of course, now there's an ‘S1' (flip to page 14).

Alfa MiTo
At present it's available with a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine making 155bhp. The power is enough to give the hatch peppy performance with 0-100kph coming up in eight seconds and a top speed of over 200kph. Uses the Alfa 8C for inspiration. Smart move.

Citroën DS3
Three petrol engines are available, kicking off with a 95bhp 1.4-litre and topping out with a 150bhp 1.6-litre. It's fresh, stylish and comes with the latest technology. 240Nm of torque is available from only 1,400rpm. We like the sound of that.

The big 50
The jubilee plate on the tiny grille provides clear testimony to the tradition of the brand now going back fifty years. It bears the number ‘50' in typical Mini design and the colours of the Union Jack — red, white, and blue.

Specs & rating