Why does anyone buy a Vertu instead of an ordinary Nokia? Why choose Prada over Bata when both do the same job? It's because they do what they do while giving you that extra bit of pleasure. That can be said about the new Mini too. Like other high-end products, the proposition here is not so much about value for money but how it fits into the buyer's lifestyle and raises overall product enjoyment.

In the Mini's case, the latter is especially true because of the added dimension of fun. A top-of-the-line Mini Cooper S is priced three times what the cheapest 1,600cc Japanese - not even Korean - sedan on the market costs, but it is almost certainly three times as fun.

From the outside, the new Mini looks hardly different from the old Mini. But it is. The headlamps and tail lights are new, and the car has been lengthened slightly, mainly to meet pedestrian safety standards.

But inside and underneath, almost everything else has been more radically transformed.

In the cabin, the dashboard revamp sees the large centrally located speedometer incorporating the audio controls for better ergonomics. There are numerous other clever details too, like the flower-shaped fuel gauge and ambient light option. They may scream design overkill but they all gel in a cohesive and very hip kind of way.

However, the improvements in the engineering department are the most impressive. The new Cooper S has a 1.6-litre engine with direct fuel injection and a twin-scroll turbocharger driving the front wheels (in the quest for efficiency, the engineers decided to leave the previous car's supercharger and its trademark whine by the roadside).

With the new configuration, the Cooper S starts pulling away strongly from 2,500 rpm onwards. Apart from having virtually no turbo lag, the engine is also remarkable for being quieter than the old Cooper S's. Part of the reduction in the cabin noise level is due to the revised suspension.

In the past, a fast ride over irregular surfaces would have had the same results as the spin cycle of a washing machine - everything gets tossed about. But even with bigger 17-inch eight-spoke wheels (18 inches are optional), the new Cooper S displays an added dimension of ride comfort.

It feels more grown-up while retaining that familiar go-kart handling which make it feel impervious to the law of physics.

The overall refinement extends to more accurate steering feel. The new Cooper S can be navigated with more precision and feedback. Some torque steer is evident, though, if you're leadfooted.

But perhaps more significant than the Cooper S's upgraded performance is the new Cooper's pricing. Also with a 1.6-litre engine but naturally aspirated and combining BMW's fuel-efficient Valvetronic valve management system, the Cooper now enters the ring at just below $100,000 for both the six-speed manual and six-speed automatic gearboxes - or $10,000 less than the old car's price.

The new Cooper with auto transmission is an improvement over the previous car's continuously variable transmission. It also drives more enthusiastically. It feels light off its feet and more manoeuvrable than the manual Cooper S. The Cooper auto also has shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel and one ergonomic advantage over the old car is that the gear selection display is now on the tachometer in front of the driver - not in the centrally located speedometer.

Both the Cooper and Cooper S come with six airbags as standard. But one cute option is the panoramic sunroof. With two large glass panels and retractable mesh screens, it imparts an airiness to the cabin of this diminutive car. It may only seat four and have a boot that barely holds half a week's groceries. But as a redesigned icon which offers maximum driving pleasure, it is the perfect lifestyle accessory.

Mini Cooper

Engine: 1,598cc
Gearbox: 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic
Max power: 120 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max torque: 160 Nm @ 4,250 rpm
0-100 kmh: 9.1 secs
Top speed: 203 kmh
Price: $99,800 (with COE)

Mini Cooper S

Engine: 1,598cc turbocharged
Gearbox: 6-speed manual transmission
Max power: 175 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Max torque: 240 Nm @ 1,600-5,000 rpm (260 Nm @ 1,700-4,500 rpmwith Overboost)
0-100 kmh: 7.1 secs
Top speed: 225 kmh
Price: $122,800 (with COE)
Distributor: Trans Eurokars. Tel: 6473-3777