GT5 Transcripts/MINI COOPER 1.3i '98

Now considered a timeless classic, the original MINI, which appeared in 1959, was the quintessential compact hatchback, blending utility, style and sportiness into one boxy body. Sir Alec Issigonis incorporated an ingenius package with his creation as the engine and gearbox were placed sideways, one atop the other, under the hood. Things were even more simplified by the fact that the MINI was front-wheel drive, not requiring a need for a driveshaft and the extra weight associated with it.
The MINI's secret to its success was that it was constantly updated. One of the last special models was the Cooper, whose name comes from John Cooper, a Formula 1 race driver. The reason it bore his name was that Cooper asked Issigonis to create a sporty version of the car, and he complied.
The engine was a 1,271 cc OHV inline-4 that when mated to a 4-speed automatic gearbox produced 52 HP and when combined with a 4-speed manual produced 61 HP. The sport-tuned suspension made the car fun to toss around on winding roads, and it made for an affordable-yet-thrilling race car.
The Cooper was visually distinctive by its fog lamps and a white stripe down the middle of its body. The Cooper soon became an icon among MINI fans everywhere, and defined the phrase "sporting fun in a small affordable package."
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