Mini Cooper 50 Camden
And it is not surprising that the Germans came up with this. Yes, yes, it is quite possible, I really hope he was British, but considering that he is a Mini Bimvey, credit goes to him.
The story is this: in such a Mini called the 50 Camden (50 years of Mini in 2009! ) and having a durable badge for this in front of the hood, passengers more or less constantly witness the conversation of several voices.
All the impeccable British voices are really just warning voices that we also know from other cars, only that we are used to annoying “pink pink” or something similar. However, in this Mini, the recorded voices not only draw attention to specific issues regarding the car, but also do so in whole sentences, and often in dialogues.
The first thing that comes to the driver's mind after a few hundred yards is: hey cutie, how about a week, a month? ... the man gets tired? One time for sure, but you can always turn off these voices, otherwise it will included as many as 1.321 warning!
During our test, after about 600 kilometers, only a few warnings appeared more than once.
I say it's hard to get tired. Blasted throughout with English, and given the fact that it's predominantly American English, listening to this book in English is a real ear balm and a great and unobtrusive way to learn. The case lifts the mood, causes a smile and more and more frequent loud repetition of statements.
Have you ever watched a classic English drama stage? Well, here's how it sounds: female and male voices are distinct and free of speech defects, with a school accent of words, but also with dramatic expression, volume up and down, emotional expression and with many characteristic English phrases and almost the same amount of exclamations. in the style of wow and the like.
The engine, for example, agitated by the amount of fuel provided by the "trainer" ("trainer", female voice) sings "I am in paradise".
The voices also have their own characters. The tracksuit seems to be the most sober and sensible (it gives the feeling that it is a car or perhaps its computer control), the air conditioning (male voice) is already quite lively, and the engine is a real pleasure to drive.
He says: "The choke is full, as it should be", "mohaaaaaa" (no translation, but if you accidentally look at the cartoon Tom and Jerry and remember how Tom kicked in the room where he caught Jerry, and how he laughs viciously in that time, you know everything).
Summing up: the engine is running at full power... But you can also get angry if you hit the gas before it heats up. And one more thing: when the operating temperature is reached, it says (only one of the versions): “Hey, it's me, the engine. Now I'm warmed up. " (Hey, it's me, the engine. I'm warming up.)
The engine apparently also detects data from sensors that help the electronic system (ESP), and childishly rejoices when he feels a sporty ride. “Soup, Geronimo! Feeling of Monte Carlo. The feeling of rolling on a cart. A sense of Italian work. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you: full throttle. This is Mini's complete love. Let's go Mini! "
Ali: soup, Geronimo; a sense of Monte Carlo (rally!), a sense of karting, a sense of the role in the movie "Italian Work" (in both versions they play the main role of Mini); ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you: full throttle; this is immeasurable Mini-love; hmmm, the last statement is impossible to translate, the Slovenian language does not know this way of expression. ...
Probably there is no other car that would fit this. Well, maybe Italian. But imagine an impersonal male voice: Dreihundertzwanzig d, Dreihundertzwanzig d, Dreihundertzwanzig deeeeee” (three hundred and twenty d, three hundred and twenty d, three hundred and twenty deeeeee) - if you, for example, were driving a BMW 320d. Probably, we would immediately turn off this nuisance.
And Mini is still one of the cars that is already a pleasure to drive, not just driving a car. I almost dare say that the Germans have deliberately added some elements to it that are not flawlessly perfect.
Those airplane-type switches are a bit awkward, the outside door handle is non-ergonomic, the seat-folding lever is stiff and nail-resistant, and there are few drawers and storage space - all because it's rather incomplete.
Mini is lucky that he is charming in himself, and therefore we forgive him a lot. And even in this he is probably one of the few, if not the only one.
And this 50 Camden is a Cooper, which means that the performance is in the middle of a gasoline offering, which again means excellent handling (almost square wheels, precise and direct steering) is combined with an even livelier engine, although we can not shake the feeling that the original Cooper was noticeably livelier.
Today Euro5 (emission standards) are inexorable, so the Cooper's transmission is quite long: out of six gears, such a Mini in fourth gear accelerates at over 190 kilometers per hour just below the switch (6.600 rpm); shorter gears increase charge but also increase consumption.
But the engine has excellent torque in the lower rev range, so it pulls well at mid revs, and at mid to high revs it is no longer so convincing. Thus, even if it is driven by consumption (as our measured average consumption shows), it is modest.
These 50 Camdens are only available in a limited edition, which means that only a handful of Minis will talk like that. This again means that it is very likely that not everyone who would like to have and experience these dialogues will be able to achieve this.
But even this is the kind of charm that places the Mini among those cars that successfully try to get a soul. However, as you probably know, there are very few of them and every day there are fewer. This is why the exclamation “Never underestimate the Mini” seems perfectly appropriate. Miniiiiiiii!
Vinko Kernc, photo: Aleš Pavletič
Mini Cooper 50 Camden
Basic data
| Sales: | BMW GROUP Slovenia |
|---|---|
| Base model price: | 19.500 € |
| Test model cost: | 25.300 € |
| Calculate the cost of auto insurance | |
| Power: | 90kW (122 KM) |
| Acceleration (0-100 km / h): | 9,1 with |
| Maximum speed: | 203 km / h |
| Mixed flow ECE: | 5,4l / 100km |
Technical information
| engine: | 4-cylinder - 4-stroke - in-line - gasoline - displacement 1.598 cm? – maximum power 90 kW (122 hp) at 6.000 rpm – maximum torque 160 Nm at 4.250 rpm. |
|---|---|
| Energy transfer: | front wheel drive engine - 6-speed manual transmission - tires 195/50 R 16 H (Goodyear Eagle NCT5). |
| Capacity: | 203 km/h top speed - 0-100 km/h acceleration in 9,1 s - fuel consumption (ECE) 6,9/4,6/5,4 l/100 km, CO2 emissions 127 g/km. |
| Mass: | empty vehicle 1.065 kg - permissible gross weight 1.515 kg. |
| External dimensions: | length 3.700 mm - width 1.688 mm - height 1.405 mm. |
| Inner dimensions: | fuel tank 40 l. |
| Box: | 160-680 l |
Our measurements
| T = 10 ° C / p = 1.109 mbar / rel. vl. = 37% / Odometer Condition: 2.421 km | |
| Acceleration 0-100km: | 9,3s |
|---|---|
| 402m from the city: | 16,6 years ( 135 km / h) |
| Flexibility 50-90km / h: | 8,8 / 12,6s |
| Flexibility 80-120km / h: | 10,4 / 15,2s |
| Maximum speed: | 203km / h (WE.) |
| test consumption: | 10,9 l / 100km |
| Braking distance at 100 km / h: | 39,6m |
| AM table: | 41m |
evaluation
A consumer car in which looks and mechanics are fun, and the 50 Camden hardware conjures up the extra ambience of a British car with three chatty virtual faces. Such a simple (idea and implementation) addition, but such a great effect. On the market, it is not even remotely similar.
We praise and reproach
design, production
engine torque at low and partly at medium speeds
steering wheel, chassis
communicative mechanics and the car as a whole
attractive appearance inside and outside
position on the road, traction
equipment (in general)
voice notifications and dialogs
choice of four ambient lighting colors
hard door handles
few storage spaces and drawers
long gear ratios
engine performance at higher rpm
poor directional stability
no coolant temperature gauge
does not have steering teams
no parking assistant
