IF It ain't broke, why fix it? To make it better, perhaps. This was apparently the case for the second generation. 88DB took the new top-of-the-line MINI Cooper S for a spin and gives you the low down.

Taking cues from the legendary Mini designed by Sir Alec Issigonis, the new MINI was an instant hit when it first hit the roads in 2001. It was not quite a fuel-sipper its predecessor was intended to be, it quickly became a fashion icon. Hopping in the car quickly changed our personality. We were suddenly morphed into attention-grabbing, fun-loving people. And we are glad that hasn't changed from the first generation MINI. So what exactly has, I hear.

Cosmetically, changes are easily missed to the undiscerning eye. BMW (the owner of MINI) claims that the entire body is brand-new, and nothing can be swapped with the first generation. If you looked hard enough (side by side, no less), you will notice that the new MINI is slightly taller, wider and longer. A dead giveaway would be addition of the rear fog lamps.

Under the hood, the engine is completely new. The whiney Cooper S supercharger power plant makes way for more efficient turbocharger unit. Speaking of plush, the interior is what one would expect of a BMW (and a car of this price), but the MINI adds a tinge of fun to it. For example, the driver-controllable ambient lights (5 colours to choose from!), old-styled toggle switches and a humongous speedometer that would work against you if you were ever caught speeding. While we were contented with the earlier model, we are certainly not complaining about having a better car around the block. The new MINI Cooper S has swung us around and we are in love, baby.

The engine put out 175bhp and some 240Nm of torque starting at 1,600rpm, bringing the Cooper S to 100km/h in a fraction over seven seconds. But you would be missing the point if you were expecting faster numbers. The Cooper S isn't about raw speed or power. And we found out quickly (no pun intended!) when we tossed it into the back-roads and turns. To call it a plush go-kart on steroids is apt.