There’s one thing dogs, babies, and Mini Coopers have in common: They’re all cute. Well, unless it’s one of those inbred pups or the 80-lb. infant plastered on this week’s tabloid newspaper. But, the Mini, it’ll always generate smiles.

For an entry price of $17,500 (including a $550 destination charge), buyers get the base model with 115-horsepower, 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine connected to a five-speed manual transmission. Drivers looking for a bit more excitement will want to opt for the 168-horsepower, supercharged Cooper S, which starts at $21,150. Both base and S models can be ordered with a soft convertible top.

Mini Coopers come standard with a basic AM/FM sound system with a single-disc CD player, with the option of adding a cassette player or Sirius satellite radio. And thanks to a new deal between Mini and Apple Computer, Cooper owners can enjoy the benefits of their iPods while driving. Both companies collaborated to design a Mini-specific adaptor that allows an iPod to be connected to a cable in the car’s glovebox. After a simple installation by your Mini dealer, the Cooper’s sound controls will operate the iPod, which in turn will be charged by the car’s battery. Pricing for the adaptor has not been released, but a similar product for BMW sells for $149 (plus installation).