On that thought the MINI is unapologetically retro, but like most modern re-dos this is far from an exact copy, with much

When it comes to the interior, the MINI is a completely different experience from any other car in its class. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

structural change in the forty-seven year generation gap. The new car lives in a world of gargantuan sport utility vehicles and stringent safety restrictions, explaining the reason for a bodyshell that's three times as rigid as the class norm and the increase in dimensions and weight over the original. The new Cooper is a half meter longer than the original, and its width and height are much closer to the Toyota Echo hatchback than the Morris. Other reasons for the size increase are that the longer wheelbase increases cabin room as well as improves high-speed stability, plus its added width accommodates a larger track, benefiting handling along with increased hip and shoulder room. Like the original, the new MINI is tall, essential in providing a comfortable cabin for all body types. The end result is a squat looking compact that seems a great deal larger alone than it actually is. Sitting inside the MINI is a completely different experience from any other car in its class. You sit low and a fair distance away from the upright windscreen, almost like being placed in the center of the car. The symmetrical design of the interior harks back to the original Mini, all the attention gets paid to the center of the car where the dinner plate sized speedometer sits, right above the CD-stereo, climate control and stack of wonderfully retro toggle switches. A storage bin beneath, surrounded by a pair of

The dash and doors are trimmed in top-notch leather-grain soft-touch plastic, and the whole lot has been screwed together with BMW like precision. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

arching pillars coated in the same metallic-finish patina as the rest of the dashboard trim completes the center stack. A lone rev-counter sits atop the steering column, combined with a digital speed readout that helped me keep my eyes on the road, instead on the center console. The dash and doors are trimmed in top-notch leather-grain soft-touch plastic, and the whole lot has been screwed together with the same expert attention to detail as a BMW 3- or 5-Series. The action of the toggle switches, rotary dials and stalks feel very expensive, despite what the car's accommodating price tag suggests. What separates the MINI from any other Bimmer is that it's nowhere near as serious and, well, Germanic as the automaker's other products.