inability to get moving of the current MINI. I drove my MC to town today, and with the AC on it had almost as much power as my Cub Cadet riding mower, when trying to get moving from a standstill. Turned the AC off and it was much better, but you shouldn't have to sweat to have adequate performance on a hot day.

This is MINIs chance to fix this problem for good.....time will tell.

 

I confess that I have one way of launching in the summer (w/ AC) and one in the winter (no AC). The difference in technique is slight, but the effect is very noticable. Experiment. I find that if I am much more smooth w/ the throttle and clutch at launch it helps. You're right though, there is a difference between AC or no. Maybe there'll be an improvement w/ the '07s, but I won't be holding my breath to see the phenomenon vanish altogether.

It's a trade-off...the Cooper isn't the most powerful of MINIs perhaps, but that also presents certain advantages. I treat it as a bit of a game. Depending on the season, road conditions, driving styles, economy goals, my Cooper has many personalities and, if the situation at-hand presents certain challenges, I adjust my driver inputs to compensate. Very engaging motoring in a Cooper......AC or no. But don't get me wrong....I love getting those ponies back when the weather decides to cooperate.

 

They've had a solution to that problem forever! Buy a Cooper S .

That being said, any car that you put a small low displacement engine into and ask it to drive an accessory that robs 15-20 HP from the total output, it's not going to be pretty for acceleration.

You get the gas mileage, we get the performance, unfortunately you can't get both!
(Even though the 07's come closer to getting that result)

 

I doubt it takes 15-20 HP! The problem is that it takes X amount of torque at any RPM including low RPMs where you don't have so much. Say it takes 10 ft/lbs. and at 1500 RPM you only have 40 from your engine then that's a big part of the total. The new engines are supposed to have torque earlier so that may in fact fix your issue. Some cars in the past turned off the A/C under heavy engine loads. Some creative electronics could perhaps monitor some key data and cut the A/C to help you start or a well placed momentary switch could do the trick. Kind of like a green nitrous button.

 

I've seen post from "S" owners with the same complaint.

The key is producing more torque at a lower rpm, something some engines do a lot better than others.

My 86 Madza B-2000 pickup has 80 hp and takes off just fine with the AC on.