Motoring | Test Drives
Small cars with big attitude: Mini
In its fifty years of existence,the Mini has remained faithful not only to its size, but also to its huge fan base. And fans will love the Mayfair, says Philip Shane
- Philip Shane, Writer, Friday
- Published: 00:00 September 3, 2010
- Image Credit: Supplied
Golden jubilees are always something special and automaker Mini decided to celebrate its 50th anniversary last year with the launch of two new models: the Mayfair and the Camden, both named after suburbs in London.
The thing about Minis, unlike other cars, is the fact that their design is quite restricted by strict parameters, especially in terms of dimensions. So, the carmaker endsup with models that look and feel quite the same unless you take a look at the tag. The Cabrio model, however, has a soft convertible roof, which I must say felt quite different on road with the roof down.
Mini is one of the few companies to have stuck to its core idea of making small cars. However, in the past few years, especially with BMW ownership, it has kind of changed its personality to become a gadget-laden city car that is not cheap. It must be said that the Mini has evolved in leaps and bounds over the past decade, and all the improvements kind of justify the price you pay for it.
The Cooper S version of the Mini 50 Mayfair that I got to test-drive comes with a 1.6 litre, 4-cylinder engine that produces 175bhp.
The power available for a car of this size is abundant and therefore there is very little effort neededto reach highway speeds or for agile city driving.
The Mayfair is capable of reaching a top speed of 238km/h, which is not bad at all for a 4-cylinder engine.
On the highways, the car is quite stable given its size and it can comfortably transport four people and a little luggage. In my opinion this is a perfect city car - the kind where it doesn't really matter if it has the most advanced rally-bred transmission system; instead it's about being functional to a point where it doesn't deviate from the identity it's managed to build over the years. Parking is a breeze with this car and its agility within the city is quite good.
The Mayfair isn't about extreme performance at all. It's about style and image. It's more of a collectible for fans and that in my opinion is what all carmakers need to strive for. To make cars that their fans would want to keep as collectors' items. Such appeal is, unfortunately, quite rare in the automobile industry.
The doors of the Mayfair are quite heavy for a car this size.
The interiors are quite typical and feel well built. The seats are comfortable and supportive at the same time and unlike most small-segment cars, do not induce any kind of ride fatigue.
The speedometer is mounted on the centre of the dashboard around the navigation display and gives offa look and feel that is very unique, especially with the adjustable interior lights.
The sunroof, door locks and most other controls are designed unconventionally and take a bit of getting used to, especially in terms of its layout in the cabin, but it doesn't feel like it's done wrong.
During the test drive, I did manage to take it off tarmac on to a little soft sand along the beach at Kalba.
I wasn't quite sure about the Mini being able to negotiate other terrain given its ground clearance, but it managed very well. On the way to Kalba, the Mini negotiated the roads around the mountains with ease.
The Mayfair is priced at Dh145,000 and comes with a ‘Hot Chocolate Metallic' paint finish and a white roof.
The stripes on the bonnet are well designed and make the car very camera-friendly. The 17-inch white painted alloy wheels add to the distinctive look of the Mayfair. Minis have always been head-turners on the roads, especially with kids, who immediately want one for themselves.
With the Mayfair, the Mini's unconventional looks are made more obvious and, if I were a fan, it would be a real treat.
Like many great brands, the Mini creates a resonance among its fans. Performance figures, which in my opinion are overrated these days, have nothing to do with the way a fan admires a car such as the Mini.
Ask a VW Transporter fan what she or he thinks about a first-generation Type 2 and that's pretty much the same kind of reaction you could expect to get from a Mini fan.
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