Difference Between a Mini Cooper & a Mini Cooper S
by Brian VaughanThe MINI Cooper is a compact car that was first released for the 1994 model year and remains active in 2011. The MINI Cooper is available in multiple trim levels, including the standard base model and the S model. The base MINI Cooper retails for $19,400, while the MINI Cooper S retails for $23,000. The S trim level features a more powerful engine than the standard trim level.
Power
The standard MINI Cooper has a 1.6-liter inline-four engine with 121 horsepower at 6,000 revolutions per minute. The engine generates 114 foot-pounds of torque at 4,250 rpm and has a compression ratio of 11-to-1. The bore and stroke are 3.03 inches and 3.38 inches. The MINI Cooper S has a 1.6 liter inline-four engine with 181 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and a compression ratio of 10.5-to-1. The torque is 177 foot pounds at 1,600 rpm. The bore and stroke are the same as the regular MINI Cooper.
Size
The regular MINI Cooper weighs 2,535 pounds with a manual transmission and 2,612 pounds with an automatic transmission. The MINI Cooper S weighs 2,668 pounds with a manual transmission and 2,712 pounds with an automatic transmission. Both models of the MINI Cooper are 146.8 inches long, 66.3 inches wide and 55.4 inches tall. The regular MINI Cooper sits 4.5 inches off the ground and the MINI Cooper S sits 4.8 inches off the ground.
Space
Both the standard and S versions of the MINI Cooper have room for up to four people. Headroom measures 38.8 inches in the front seat and 37.6 inches in the back seat. Legroom is 41.7 inches in the front and 27.9 inches in the back. Shoulder room measures 50.3 inches in the front and 44.7 inches in the back. Hip room comes out to 38 inches in the front and 39 inches in the back.
Features
Driver, front side, side curtain and passenger airbags all come with both versions of the MINI Cooper. Power door locks and windows are included, while navigational assistance is optional. The standard MINI Cooper has 175/65R15 tires, while the S has 195/55R16 tires. Fog lights, self-sealing tires and a rear spoiler are standard for the S and optional for the regular MINI Cooper.
References
Writer Bio
Brian Vaughan is a freelance writer based in Springfield, Mo. He has been writing short stories, reviews and essays for over eight years and is currently pursuing a degree in professional writing at Missouri State University.
