Compact, explosive that’s the new 2013 Mini Cooper S

with additions we cannot even comprehend and they keep coming.
Recently on a trip to Johannesburg South Africa, I was amazed at the number of brand new cars, some not so attractive vehicles on their streets.
With fuel prices increasing the world over, it’s no wonder the best buy is not necessarily the smallest car but the smallest engine.
For me the Mini Cooper does it, it puts the funk into dysfunctional for real . . . no wonder there is the street lingo that goes . . . “NeMini Cooper kaone”
While we have had a new addition over the past two years, a little bird at a Randburg Mini Cooper Dealership told me that 2013 is going to be explosive, mind-boggling and adrenaline pumping as a brand new generation of the Mini Cooper will hit the streets.
The year 2013 is just a few months away. Sadly I could have seen and           test-driven the car had I attended the recently ended Hanover, 64th International Motor Show 2012 last month. 
Well, we all know what is just around the corner, with the new models, that means replacements for all the different variants including the sportier S and John Cooper Works trims, as well as new versions of the Clubman, Countryman and all the other body styles Mini is now offering.
We will see a new version of the regular Mini Cooper, prototypes that we have been seeing for the good part of the year on official websites and other channels.
Some like myself have been drooling over specs and images of this vehicle that we have now grown so attached to. A vehicle we may never own or even drive it.
It’s due to be revealed later this year before hitting showrooms early in 2013. Since we do not have a local distributor, I am going to be one of those few who will go next door to South Africa and do what I do best, drive the car and do justice by writing a review fit for this eye candy.
For those who have been following the John Cooper legacy, you will not struggle to see the changes and make a clear judgment as to whether the designers are fluffing and wasting time or they mean business.
The 2013 version is more fun and sporty. A clear giveaway that this is the sportier Cooper S and not just the regular Cooper are the centrally mounted exhaust tips.
The prototype that I have seen is also fitted with bigger wheels than before, suggesting it’s running bigger brakes and high-performance tyres.
The images also reveal a more aggressive look for the car, with a more sharply steeped A-pillar than the current Cooper S and a slightly wider front.
Like the current model, the new 2013 Mini Cooper S should feature a force-fed 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine sending drive to its front wheels.
A twin-scroll turbocharger, direct-injection technology and variable valve timing will ensure it at least matches the 208-horsepower rating of the current model, but produce fewer emissions.
When I looked at the interior images, I was a bit worried that they have completely changed things but besides making it high-tech it still remains and retains its classic look.
A six-speed manual should remain standard, while a more efficient eight-speed automatic may replace the current model’s six-speed auto.
Engine stop-start technology is also likely to feature.
The shot of the cabin reveals a much more upmarket look and what appears to be an iDrive-style controller in between the front seats.
There is also a large display for the infotainment settings and what appears to be a switch at the bottom of the gear stick lever that allows the driver to toggle between “green” and “Sport” modes. The Mini Cooper S 2013 is a car that is rumoured to be a continuation of the push towards fuel efficiency, quirky engineering, and also durability.
With the added size to the new model, people are wondering whether or not this car’s engine will be affected or changed.
Well, I have some good news, some better news, and some bad news for people who are wondering about the new engine’s status.
The good news is that the Mini Cooper S 2013 will continue the line’s tradition of go-kart handling, durable engines, and the speed and power that has come to be associated with the Mini brand of cars.
The better news is that personalisation has come to the engine as well.
The bad news is that you will have to wait to get your hands on this new Mini.
The unfortunate news is that I do not have a price yet.
Till 2013, let’s wait and see . . . Ciao and see you next week.
Fact D. Jeke is a motoring enthusiast who has attended auto shows, rallies and has written for various publications in the region for the last decade. She can be contacted via email on [email protected] or torque with Fact Jeke on Facebook.