“Resolute” is a word frequently applied to jut-jawed global leaders and occasionally, become the name on the prow of a warship. In this case, the word’s more benign because it refers in this case to a very special edition of the base MINI two-door coupe. One of the welter of MINI special packages, the Resolute Edition makes the Cooper S Hardtop two-door into something the ageless Paddy Hopkirk, MBE, would likely appreciate. It evokes the original Mini Cooper S that Hopkirk used to tame the Monte Carlo Rally back in the early 1960s, establishing the barrier-breaking subcompact as a legitimate motorsport power.
The Resolute Edition has at its heart the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology, which the manufacturer says will produce 189 horsepower, impressive output for a car of this size. Its optional Steptronic seven-speed automatic gearbox is reported to be a tick faster to 60 MPH than the standard six-speed manual, at 6.4 seconds. Claimed top speed is 145 MPH. With bespoke exterior colors and interior trim, the Resolute Edition prices in at $35,900 and is just reaching MINI showrooms now.
Jim Donnelly On Wheels 