Performance Review: Mini Cooper Cooper S - [2011]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Mini Cooper Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Mini Cooper Cooper S is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2011. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2011 SSC Tuatara 6.9L V8 Twin Turbo.This particular Mini Cooper has a 1598cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Cooper shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Cooper's Front Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1240 kgs (2733 lbs) this makes the Mini Cooper Cooper S in the same weight category as the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line or the give or take 50kg.

The Mini Cooper shares the same bhp with the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp)

In terms of power the 1598cc 16V St4 engine produces 181 bhp (134 kW) @ 5500 rpm similar to the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (197 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 192 lb-ft (260.3 Nm) @ 1600 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (184 lb-ft) or the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (184 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Mini Cooper you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 1962 Buick Riviera 6.6 V8 (170.9 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Mini Cooper.

The Mini Cooper has a Power to weight ratio of 145.9 bhp per ton and 154.8 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2011 Cooper competing with the 1962 Buick Riviera 6.6 V8 (170.9 bhp per ton) or the 1989 Mercedes SL Class 500SL R129 (170.4 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Mini Cooper generating around 154.8 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2003 MG ZT 4.6 V8 260 (179.7 lb-ft per ton) or the 2009 Dodge Ram Sport RT (179.5 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 6.70 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 6.9 secs, this made the Mini Cooper Cooper S as fast as the 2020 Ford Puma ST 1.5 Turbo (6.70 secs) the 2017 Maserati Levante 3.0 V6 Diesel (6.70 secs) the 2012 Abarth 695 Edizione Maserati 1.4 Turbo (6.70 secs) the or the 2012 Dodge Charger SXT Blacktop 3.6L V6 (6.70 secs). This Mini Cooper Cooper S is also faster than the 2017 Dodge Charger SXT AWD 3.7 V6 (6.80 secs) the 2015 Renault Megane Energy TCe 205 GT 1.6 Turbo (6.80 secs) the 2012 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Countrman (6.80 secs) the and the 2010 Volkswagen-VW Scirocco 2.0 TSI DSG (6.80 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Cooper and the 2017 BMW 5 Series 54.d xDrive Touring G31

When talking about the performance of the Mini Cooper on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 15.28 secs @ 89.5 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2017 BMW 5 Series 54.d xDrive Touring G31 (15.22 secs), the 1992 Mazda RX7 Turbo (15.23 secs), and the 2015 Ford Focus ST-3 2.0 Turbo Estate (15.24 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2011 version of the Mini Cooper Cooper S has a maximum speed of 143mph.

Top Speed of the 2011 Cooper equals the 2023 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo (154 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2011 Mini Cooper Cooper S then how about the 2023 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo (154 mph), the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 3.0 V6 Turbo (154 mph), or the 2019 Peugeot 508 PureTech 225 GT S and S (154 mph).

Related Links:

2011 Cooper Rivals List.

A Brief History of Mini

Car Comparison