23 replies to this topic

[Austifiniho]

Is it all just cosmetic? or does the sport have more go go beans?

[timmy850]

1998 Brochure lists the "Sports Option Pack" as having:

Additional gauges

13x6 wheels

13" Tyres

Large body colour extended wheelarches

2 Driving lights

2 Fog lights

Sports Pedal

Chrome exhauhst tip

http://www.minipassi... range 1998.pdf

[Bungleaio]

There was no engine difference between any of the cars with an mpi engine unless it was an S.

[Itsaminithing]

The 'Sports Pack' option listed above was available on both Cooper & standard MPI minis. (The Sports Pack also had a limited movement steering rack & therefore a larger turning circle).

All (non 'S') Mk7 Minis shared the same engine but the Sports Pack does affect performance

Std Mini 0-60mph 12.2 seconds, top speed 90mph.

Sports pack Mini 0-60mph 12.8 seconds, top speed 84mph.

Edited by Itsaminithing, 06 December 2016 - 09:27 AM.

[minisprint]

The 'Sports Pack' option listed above was available on both Cooper & standard MPI minis. (The Sports Pack also had a limited movement steering rack & therefore a larger turning circle).
All (non 'S') Mk7 Minis shared the same engine but the Sports Pack does affect performance
Std Mini 0-60mph 12.2 seconds, top speed 90mph.
Sports pack Mini 0-60mph 12.8 seconds, top speed 84mph.

Only rover could make the sport one slower lol

[mab01uk]

 

The 'Sports Pack' option listed above was available on both Cooper & standard MPI minis. (The Sports Pack also had a limited movement steering rack & therefore a larger turning circle).
All (non 'S') Mk7 Minis shared the same engine but the Sports Pack does affect performance
Std Mini 0-60mph 12.2 seconds, top speed 90mph.
Sports pack Mini 0-60mph 12.8 seconds, top speed 84mph.

Only rover could make the sport one slower lol

 

 

Big wheels and arches create more drag......for sport looks over performance.

[Cooperman]

One might wonder what the max speed would be if the wheel arch extensions were removed, 4.5 wheels with 145 tyres were fitted and both of those huge wing mirrors were removed and replaced with a single small clamp-on A-post mirror fitted. That would sure reduce the aerodynamic drag.

[Itsaminithing]

My MPI Sports Pack was fitted with13x7 alloys by the first owner, bought & fitted some original Speedline 13x6" alloys but shod them with (rounder profile) 165/60/13 tyres - this was the original specification for the ERA Turbo 13x6 alloys.

 Can't say how much difference it made to the acceleration/top end by itself (due to engine mods being carried out) but it sure improved the feedback, nimbleness, & reduced tramlining & all for the loss of a hardly noticeable amount of grip.

[CityEPete]

The 'Sports Pack' option listed above was available on both Cooper & standard MPI minis. (The Sports Pack also had a limited movement steering rack & therefore a larger turning circle).
All (non 'S') Mk7 Minis shared the same engine but the Sports Pack does affect performance
Std Mini 0-60mph 12.2 seconds, top speed 90mph.
Sports pack Mini 0-60mph 12.8 seconds, top speed 84mph.

Only rover could make the sport one slower lol

To be fair it was BMW's handiwork wasn't it?

[Itsaminithing]

No, it was all Rovers handiwork, although BMW had bought out Rover it was Rover that designed the potential successor to the Rover Mini

http://jalopnik.com/...ni-c-1478172102

[Northernpower]

No, it was all Rovers handiwork, although BMW had bought out Rover it was Rover that designed the potential successor to the Rover Mini
http://jalopnik.com/...ni-c-1478172102

An interesting article, I've never read it before.

[CityEPete]

I've read that the mpi was at least funded by BMW and given the green light by BMW to give it one last fling before the safety rating finally killed it off at the same time as the Bini came out, I've read that rover had pretty much decided the Spi was as much as they could do?

[Itsaminithing]

I see what you mean,I didn't know the MPI wouldn't even have been made without BMW's insistence.

http://www.turbomini...ts/493117-1.pdf

 

I thought the Sports Package was a strictly Rover design but this article states BMW were heavily involved in the marketing/styling decisions

http://www.thelastmi...chapter-iv.html

[CityEPete]

There you go, we can blame BMW then! Lol.

[mab01uk]

True.......the MPI Sportpack was really a result of BMW's takeover in 1994. As you probably know Rover were going to let just the Mini quietly die in 1996 due to the significant investment needed to meet new EU safety, emissions and drive by noise rules. However BMW realised the value of the Mini and its worldwide reputation and wanted to increase its position in the market as a more upmarket small car with extra 'fun' factor. The Mini no longer sold as a bargain basement economy car or 'sensible' buy....it was too expensive to build and the competition was way ahead in that area of the small car market.

 

The result was BMW funded the development of the 1997 MPi models and Sportpack range with long overdue upgrades and investment in the Mini range, far more expensive than previous Mini's to buy but with airbags, better trim and a huge choice of customer options and accessories. This also kept the Mini in the marketplace and public eye as a current car right up until the launch of the Rover designed R50 New MINI in 2001.......although of course the later BMW split from Rover mean't only the launch prototypes were ever to be shown/marketed as Rover MINI's at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor show Preview and Rover also had a New MINI R50 prototype on stage inside a special marque at the Silverstone Mini 40th Celebration in 1999. If you queued to get inside the New R50 MINI was very briefly displayed under spotlights on stage after a short film showing the history of the Mini. On exit the audience of Mini enthusiasts were given polling cards to vote whether they liked it or not to deposit into ballot boxes outside for Rover marketing research.

(R50 = Rover Development Project Code for the New MINI)

 

Despite the publicity about the end of production, the very last batches of MPi Mini's left at MG-Rover Dealers took a while to sell, even with special £900 discounts and so quite a few were not registered to retail customers until long after official production had ended. I guess many potential buyers were also putting their deposits on the New R50 MINI's waiting list due for launch a few months later in early 2001.

 

You may also find some of this thread interesting:-

http://www.theminifo...pe-launch-1997/

Edited by mab01uk, 08 December 2016 - 08:20 PM.