Man does this thing look fun!!!

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...hotopanel..1.*

 

Hmmm...

 

Nice write-up, but some of the engine desciption stuff seems wrong compared to what I've read in other sources:

"An all-new turbocharged, not supercharged, 1.6-liter engine sits under the Cooper S's engorged hood. That turbo is a twin-scroll unit, which spins up faster. Direct injection allows a high 10.5:1 compression ratio. Valvetronic variable valve timing and lift does away with the traditional throttle butterfly altogether. And the major bits are aluminum, making the whole thing lighter."

The "S" has variable valve lift? I thought that was only on the "regular" Cooper.

The base Cooper's 1.6-liter engine is also all-new, albeit without direct injection. Output increases are modest as horsepower rises by 3 to 118, and torque climbs 8 to 118 lb-ft. Fuel economy is said to increase 16 percent, making a U.S. highway rating of 40 mpg possible. We'll have to wait and see.

Maybe it is, "without direct injection", I'm not sure, but it is the one with variable valve lift, right?

 

Yeah, I thought that only the new un-turbo'd base engine had valvetronic technology, not the S? So what's the scoop? Anyway, man am I loving this new car. I mean, I can already see more leg room up front w/o those R-tarded huge downtubes!

 

The only thing that sucks about the whole deal is that I need to wait til '08 to get my next Cooper. Why do I do this to myself?!?!?!

 

I'll have to look again to see what mag it was, read a review at the mag rack two days ago. And while they said it was still good, that it was overall less satisfying a drive than the 02-6 cars. Primarily due to diff in handling feel.

 

Great....thanks for the link