‘It’s a Mini with zip and the original’s character’
Certain cars are just in your DNA. Forty-six years ago, in 1971, the year that the UAE was formed, 7,000 kilometres away in south-west England, my parents were undergoing a momentous 12 months of their own. They got married and bought their first car, a turquoise 1963 Austin Mini. By the time they had driven it into the ground and moved on to headier drives (including a Triumph TR4 and GT6), the tiny thing was a rust bucket fit only for scrap. But it made such an impression on them that my father to this day can recall the car’s registration. You never forget your first time.
The pumped-up version that is today’s Mini is a wildly different proposition, and in its latest Clubman incarnation, it’s even a little larger than the previous model year. But it still retains a heartful of the same loveable charm that made my parents count up their newly minted pennies in the early months of British decimalisation.
With the might of BMW behind Mini nowadays, you need to do a little more than scrounge around the back of the sofa for coins: its German paymasters are keen to position Mini as a premium brand, displaying none of the free love than swirled around the original car in its 1960s heyday. Nowadays, even a base Clubman will set you back about Dh140,000.
Our Cooper S edition test car, with John Cooper Works embellishments, certainly takes you back to The Italian Job days, in classic red with white racing stripes. In a more-modern context, the Clubman's trademark barn doors are equal parts cult appeal and practicality – although they spring open rather violently when opened automatically, so be sure not to park too close to the car behind you, unless you perversely enjoy terse exchanges with fellow motorists and visits from Saaed patrols.
Inside, it’s a funky car to be in after dark. The interior is a riot of transmogrifying colours that come alive when you operate certain functions.
You don’t need to thrash the Clubman to enjoy its punchy charms, but when you do, the sensations are accentuated by the fittingly dinky steering wheel and the row of dash-based switches, including the red nuclear-button-esque start-stop knob.
All of which makes the Clubman the best of both worlds for those of us with more to think about than pure driving thrills: it’s a Mini with zip and the original’s character, but also fits in your children and groceries in scaled-down refinement when required, without being inflated beyond its original chromosome layout.
aworkman@thenational.ae
'What ruined me forever about this car, though, is everything about its boot'
Having never driven a Mini Cooper before, I’m surprised how much the experience reminds me of hanging out in a tiny nightclub.
From the green light illuminating my foot on the accelerator, to the festive green and red dotted flourishes on the door to the big round swath of colour-changing light illuminating the circular dash, it all feels quite disco. That’s not even taking into account the nifty but slightly embarrassing hologram logo that shoots out on to the pavement from the door handle.
I have so much fun zipping this car around Abu Dhabi. What stands out is how decidedly solid it feels, like the four wheels are somehow suction-cupped to the road as I change lanes or hug corners.
It rivalled my Volvo for stability, which I found surprising.
The acceleration is so effortless that I have a very hard time sticking to the speed limit, and I’m still fearful that I might have accrued a speeding ticket or two.
Although I still consider Mini Coopers fairly ridiculous-looking cars, this one almost gets a pass due to its larger size: the extra 28 centimetres in length from the regular Cooper and 7.4 centimetres in width make a massive difference – and reasonably roomy back seats.
There are so many touches that I like, including the heads-up display panel that rises from the driver’s dash upon ignition. However, it did incorrectly advise me at one point in the Sheikh Zayed Tunnel, indicating that the speed limit was 80kph rather than the established 60kph.
The car is a little jarring when it reignited after the stop-start technology kicks in while idling, and a few times as that happens I feel it jump forward just a little bit.
It’s negligible, but I remind myself to leave more space from the car in front of me. And I do love the vast sunroof, which extends almost the length of the car.
What ruined me forever about this car, though, is everything about its boot. There’s just something about facing the rear of your car, easily swinging open its spring-loaded double doors and not having to lift groceries or a heavy gym bag out over even the most minimal lip, that feels incredibly easy and care-free.
amcqueen@thenational.ae
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
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The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler
Price, base: Dh132,000
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
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RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
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What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
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