The new Mini is neither a retro, nor a heritage design. It’s just the new Mini. After all, the original was in production from 1959 through 2000, and this is just the latest version. A version that is true to the spirit and look of the original, but fully modern in its execution. If you want to argue, call BMW. After all, this is their car, their brand, and their interpretation.

The 2,315-lb. Mini Cooper is powered by a 1.6-liter in-line four that produces 115 hp and 110 lb.-ft. of torque. (A supercharged, 163-hp, Cooper S also is available.) This is good enough for an electronically limited top speed of 124 mph, and a claimed 0-60 mph time of 8.5 seconds. I have no doubt both numbers are accurate, though they tell you little about the true essence of this car. That is found on the road.

Expecting that the car could never live up to its advance billing, or its charming, friendly looks, I braced myself for disappointment. Sure, the exterior looks wonderful, and the playful interior is full of personality and neat features, but how does it drive?

Quite well, thank you. From the feel of the gearbox to the first slip of the clutch, the Mini Cooper impressed with its abilities. Though I want to reserve final judgment until I’ve been in an off-the-shelf car, these early production vehicles have the nicest clutch action I’ve ever encountered in a front-drive vehicle. And the shift lever is as light and direct as any I’ve come across. As a result, running through the gearbox on the winding, twisting, challenging roads north of San Francisco, or on the city streets themselves, was no problem at all, uphill or down.

The same can be said of the handling. BMW fitted the Mini Cooper with a version of the 3 Series’ rear axle, and added ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and Corner Brake Control (CBC) to keep everything in line. EBD adjusts front-to-rear braking force to the load, while CBC does the same side-to-side. So, despite its short overall length (142.8 in.), the Mini Cooper turns in under heavy braking without drama.

Does this mean the Mini Cooper is without its quirks? Hardly. The trunk is small (5.3 ft.³ with the seat up), and the metal tie-downs at the trailing edge are perfectly placed to puncture an errant bag of cat litter or the like. Then there’s the throttle. Like all BMWs, it's hinged at the bottom, which makes the first attempts at heel-and-toe downshifts, or full-throttle applications slightly awkward. The LED odometer display in the center-mounted speedometer is all but invisible to a driver wearing polarized sunglasses, but fully visible to a front seat passenger wearing the same. Plus, the fuel and temperature gauges are located in the bottom of the speedometer nacelle, making their viewing a conscious decision. And that’s about it.

With a base price of $16,300, the Mini Cooper should be an instant hit, and provide owners with a canvas ready for individual touches. Dealers will be delighted given the fact that the margin on the ape’s arm-long list of accessories is higher than that on the car, and that the first year of production is spoken for. Unless the full production versions are full of bugs, or prove to be unlivable on Michigan’s almost-paved roads, I can wait. And so, do I think, will most people. The Mini, at first blush, is that good.