ACCEPTED wisdom seems to have it that the retro styling fad for new cars is over now that the New Beetle and PT Cruiser have made their limited splash. But then there's Mini, a step forward from the accepted retro standard. While its styling evokes its much loved predecessor, this is in fact a thoroughly modern, well-engineered and safe small hatchback - at somewhat of a premium price. No surprise about any of that, after all it is a BMW - even if the 1.6-litre engine is actually from Chrysler and the car is pulled rather than pushed. Here we're testing the Mini Cooper - Australia's entry level Mini and little brother to the supercharged Cooper S flagship.