Royal Blood

A fluorescent green Mini Convertible, a lazy Sunday morning and a couple of friends. Isn’t that a recipe for the perfect weekend?

"I just bought a new car, one where the top goes down, so we can see the stars”, said John Legend, probably, while driving a Mini. You see, the Mini has more historical significance in Great Britain for several reasons. Before the Ever Given blockage put the Suez Canal into the limelight, the Suez crisis was a historical chapter in the history books, leading to the birth of a car that was ‘small, cheap and economical.’ Today, the car is known as Mini and well, it has come a long way from its massy days.

In British culture, tea has been an extremely exquisite commodity since the start of the 18th century. Back in those days tea was served in delicate English crockery which defined traditions and respectability. Tea was a status symbol. Today, the Mini is as exquisite as tea and also a symbol of luxury. In its latest guise it gets a TFT-cluster, a face with a stubble, modern, DRL-infused LEDs, seats made of recyclable materials, a multifunction-steering wheel, head-up display, frequency-selective dampers and a lot more modern features. All of this, without forgetting its grassroots which means the silhouette remains as it was 50 years ago and of course, that includes the hypnotic round headlamps. Even the Union Jack has found its way onto the roof and not just the tail lamps now, reminding you of its British roots and heritage.

As you open the beautiful frameless door and step into the compact cabin you are further transported into the British era. Everything is circular inside, right from the infotainment system to the air-conditioning vents and everything in between, seemingly inspired by the London clock tower. The Union Jack graphic finds its way onto the inside as well with a stencil painted infusion of LED lights on the dashboard.

Fire up the 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged petrol motor and you’re greeted with a loud and growly note that’s typical of a Mini. However in the BS6-guise, it seems to have been toned down slightly. Nevertheless, the driving experience hasn’t been altered with, thankfully. You get World War II aircraft-like switches for everything including the driving modes toggle that lets you choose between Green, Mid and Sport. Yvonne and I are in the mood for a leisurely trip to the countryside, so off we go into Sport, right away. Well, not before we went topless, erm, with the Mini, of course!

Driving a Mini is like wearing a British trench coat. Trench coats evolved from waterproof coats but were only worn by soldiers in the muddy trenches of the First World War. It is understated but definitely packs a punch. Driving on the twisty roads took me back to my childhood days, when I would sit shotgun at go-kart outings. The Mini still has that go-kart feel, although in the latest iteration the steering has gotten lighter and the suspension seems to be on the softer side too. The engine is still potent though, with a big shove that pushes you back in your seat. Errr... it even saved us a trip to the salon, helping us blow dry our hair thanks to the pace it can carry in corners!

The Mini was meant to be like Fish and Chips for the Brits — affordable yet tasty. However, the Mini today is sophisticated in the way it goes around corners, very much like a plate of English breakfast. It’s precise and direct with minor surprises in the form of understeer. The ride is slightly harsh for our road conditions but the Mini has definitely gotten a lot more comfortable in its latest avatar, especially post the recent update.

Well, prices haven’t changed much and the price tag really does not matter to Mini buyers anyway. A Mini is a fashion icon, like a supermodel decked up in designer wear from head to toe, catwalking down the Oxford Street. The interiors are full of character, as you would expect of a Mini. At the same time, driving it around town or in the twisties still gets you grinning from ear to ear. It may not be authentically British anymore, as there's a BMW X1 underpinning its elegant body to say so, but the Germans still haven’t managed to get under the (thick) skin of the Brits. Long live the queen then!

Publication: Turbocharged

Photography: Gaurav Chandrashekar

Words: Roshni Manghani