THE Cooper comes standard with a new five-speed manual tranmsmission designed specifically for the Mini which mounts directly to the left-hand end of the engine block in true space-saving Mini style. The design of the gearbox allows equal length driveshafts, which means torque steer is much less noticeable. It also has double-cone synchronisers for improved shifting quality. Optional is a continuously variable transmission (CVT) which also contains Steptronic control. This means that the driver can choose between normal automatic mode and a more sporty driving mode with a six-gear semi-automatic transmission. Although the continuously variable transmission is still heavier than manual transmission, it is lighter than a conventional automatic transmission.