However most of the road tests (see Autocar mag below) and owner feedback seem to rate the new 3-cylinder F56 MINI Cooper as better than the more expensive and powerful 4-cylinder Cooper S models.....so I think 3-cylinder engines are here to stay.
Quote:-
"The turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol unit is one of four all-new, in-house-developed forced-induction three and four-cylinder engines for the new Mini. It is an absolute belter, serving up the sort of performance and user-friendliness its relatively conservative power output fails to convey on paper.
As fitted here, it produces 134bhp at 4500rpm and 162lb ft at just 1250rpm. The launch range also includes a 94bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder diesel plus a 189bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the Cooper S, the latter being the only unit at launch to increase in capacity.
The new three-pot in the Cooper is a little vocal at start-up, with a deep thrum from the engine and a distant pulsing of the exhaust as you thumb the starter, now among the toggle switches mounted low down on the centre console. However, these qualities are quickly replaced by a more satisfying cacophony as you tip in the revs.
It is a terrifically responsive engine, offering lively pull from little more than 1000rpm all the way to its 6400rpm cut-out. There is a fleeting moment of lag just above idle, but the flexibility and vivacity that follows makes the peaky nature of the four-cylinder engine it replaces seem incredibly old fashioned. The new engine is also delightfully entertaining and boasts a quite extraordinary operating range, giving the Cooper solid acceleration allied to a wonderfully relaxed nature when pulling taller gears.
It is mated to a new standard six-speed manual gearbox, which boasts shorter travel and more positive feel than the unit it replaces. A further development is the inclusion of automatic rev matching for smoother downshifting
At 1085kg, the new Cooper has shed 10kg over the old model. This gives an improved power-to-weight ratio that is reflected in an improved 0-62mph time, which drops from 9.1sec to 7.9sec with the six-speed manual gearbox, or an even sharper 7.8sec with the automatic transmission. However, despite the additional performance, combined fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are improved by 17 per cent at a claimed 62.8mpg and 105g/km.
A further upside to the new engine is a tangible improvement in refinement, providing the Cooper with a quieter and more relaxed nature throughout the rev range. Combined with improved aerodynamic and rolling acoustics, this helps provide it with more endearing qualities for long-distance driving."
http://www.autocar.c...iew/mini/cooper
Edited by mab01uk, 20 July 2015 - 08:21 AM.