Hamann tunes new Mini Cooper S and Mini Cooper D
Author: Chris Barker
Published: 11 August 2008
Hamann hasn’t strayed too far off its normal BMW scent, as MT discovers that its finely tuned nose for a styling and engineering makeover has twitched and settled on its most demure relative. The painfully cute new Mini Cooper S and its diesel brethren, the Cooper D.Therefore those of you who opt in for the new Hamann performance and aerodynamics package for the already lively twosome will find it’s probably nothing to sniff at. Proboscis punnery aside, the Teutonic twiddler has ensured that the new Mini Cooper S now comes with a kidney-whacking 204bhp (an increase of nearly 30bhp over normal guise) for its troubles, whilst the new Mini Cooper D finds itself having to handle 136bhp. (26bhp improvement over the un-fettled oil burner)Both hot hatches now get to grips with 221lb-ft of torque at maximum splurt, yet not surprisingly it’s the already rowdy Cooper S that benefits the most from Hamann’s efforts. 0 – 62mph is bettered over the standard fit by 0.5 seconds and 148mph is bang to rights when the driver lets their hair down.In terms of styling, the Hamann Mini Cooper S and D lower their tarmac defenses by 30mm, with a helping hand from four coiled springs. For those that like to live dangerously – and running the serious risk of grounding their Coopers on speed bumps - suspension can be slammed still further, to 50mm. One thing that’s not in the balance though is this. Riding that slinky, there’s absolutely no chance that squirrels will nest in the wheel arches.Just make sure you don’t try to re-enact the most famous scenes from the Italian Job, as steep steps and the new Hamann Mini Coopers won’t mix either.And that’s also got a lot to do with the body styling kit that’s attached itself to the Mini Cooper as part of the modding equation.
New front, rear and side skirts, contrasted by a rear diffuser, pick the Hamann Mini Cooper S and D out in a crowded supermini market, and with a choice of 18” black lacquered alloy designs to offset the new look, Mini Cooper drivers can make their cars an even better reflection of themselves.Guaranteeing that the new Hamann Mini Cooper S and D is heard as well as seen, a new sports exhaust system – with twin end pipes promising much - has been attached to the underside to add a bit of engine symphonics to the rather urgent proceedings.Of course, if all this isn’t enough for your tastes, drivers can circle additional enhancements like aluminium handbrake handles, gear shifts and pedals, no to mention carbon fibre-effect flashes, customized car mats and leather seating arrangements from a list of plausible extras.
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