That front overhang sea bass look is enought to make me buy the Fiat. MINI really screwed the pooch on the current gen

 

Video with sound is worth more than 1,000 words. The Fiat sounded like it was ready to disassemble itself. And the new front end is growing on me.

 

My words exactly, MIniniclubman.

 

Those fiats sound soo nice.

 

Agreed. Although I'd cross shop and probably favor a nice low mileage '06 R53 with a 3rd party warranty over the Fiat.

 

While they're comparing the sport versions of the cars, the specs alone don't put them in the same category. Only the price.

Come on, a 2.0L 4 @ 189/204 should obviously stomp a 1.4L @ 160/170
Nice to know that by the numbers my 05 would stomp the Abarth as well

Let's compare the F56 Justa to the Abarth. Now that's something I want to see.

 

Well Abarth is their performance model so it's normal you'd want to compare it to the MINI performance model... (JCW not even being in the picture yet). But I agree, the numbers are there. It shouldn't come as a surprise...


Fun about the perception of sound. Personally I though the sound of the FIAT was like a screaming little dog. I didn't care for it at all. The BMW engine is so much a better and refined engine and exhaust system with a very mature sound rather than a sport want to be sound

 

that fiat is the ugliest car i've ever seen. I agree the mini with that protruding black piece looks dumb as well but not as bad as the fiat (at least in my opinion anyway)

 

that definently isnt a surprise, im still awaiting what these tuning options are going to be for this 2L!

id also like to see what happens with the 1.5 vs the abarth, i bet it would be close

and the sound of those abarths are so nice!

 

Yikes- what did they do with the front end of the MINI? Hopefully they offer a different lower piece!

 

Haven't seen the 4 door Fiat yet? Or the Nissan Juke? Or Pontiac Aztek? Or the F56 MINI?

 

Not the price either. Someone on this forum said they bought a new Abarth for $19K out the door.

 

I thought the Fiat sounded like a Formula 1 car . . .

and the close up of the noses reminded me DAMN the new MINI is ugly . . .

 

I love the sound of my R59 S. A great engine exhaust sound.

 

I love the sound of my r53 scorpion exhaust but the fiat has an awesome sound.

 

+1

 

Not a real surprise on the outcome; the numbers would predict such.

Sorta disappointed with the MCS performance though: only 126 in the mile? My all-stock, JCW-tuned 2012 MCS did 135.9. Maybe they're at elevation where Automobile mag does theirs?

 

I would have to agree with you, but I think that BMW has majorly de-tuned that motor.

My R53 with beat in it the quarter buy almost a full second, now my R53 is lightly modified.

 

For the money, the Mini seems so much more substantial. A 1.4L engine with a 5-speed tranny for almost the same price as a 2.0L engine with a 6-speed tranny? Really?

Still think the Mini is entirely more attractive than the Fiat. The Abarth is just not that sexy compared to the renowned Cooper shape. The engine sound of the Abarth doesn't surprise me. Any motorcycle engine will sound like that when under that much load (with that much weight being towed).

And IMO the Abarth just isn't that attractive. Too narrow on top and the long nose looks odd. Reminds me of a Citroen too much.

 

And yours looked a lot nicer than both doing it

 

Totally agree...The only way I would get one is if J-Lo came with it!

 

It's not that bad looking, the black is decent. The f56 really isn't much better looking.

 

Why, thank you!