The Mini Cooper has just had an upgrade. David Brown says it has heritage and some modern features
Character is the main feature of the Mini although the looks have lost a little of the old mini magic.
Inside it has a big round infotainment console in centre of the vehicle where the first minis had a speedo that was best read by the driver behind.
The modern touch is that it is surrounded by strip lighting that that changes colour depending on whether you are backing or stopping. It took me a while to understand it and it’s more about style than function.
But like the old model it has a firm ride that feels the bumps and can become tiring.
A turbo charged engine of moderate 100 kW with the four-door starting at just over $31,000 plus on roads.
David’s boyhood passion for motor cars did not immediately lead to a professional role in the motor industry. A qualified Civil Engineer he specialised in traffic engineering and transport planning.
What followed were various positions including being seconded to a government think-tank for the planning of transport firstly in Sydney and then for the whole of NSW. After working with the NRMA and as a consultant he moved to being an independent writer and commentator on the broader areas of transport and the more specific areas of the cars we drive.
His half hour motoring program “Overdrive” has been described as an “informed, humorous and irreverent look at motoring and transport from Australia and overseas”. It is heard on 22 stations across Australia. He does weekly interviews with several ABC radio stations and is also heard on commercial radio in Sydney.
David has written for metropolitan and regional newspapers and has presented regular segments on metropolitan and regional television stations. David is also a contributor for AnyAuto
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