Filed under: Aftermarket, Hatchbacks, MINI
MINI Mods: John Cooper Works package for new MINI
John Cooper Works is the British tuning garage that created the original '61 Mini Cooper as a sportier version of the base model. So when BMW revived the MINI, they turned to the same garage, now headed by the founder's son Mike, to create a hotter new MINI. And with the release of the newer new MINI, John Cooper Works has come out with a series of enhancements to make the hot little hatch even hotter.
Buyers looking to raise the temperature on their new Cooper or Cooper S can opt for a wide array of extra bits. Up front there's a more aerodynamic front bumper, blacked-out grilles and carbon fiber air-scoop for the hood. Other carbon fiber bits include the tailgate handle and side mirrors. Around the back, buyers can opt for a "diffuser-style" rear bumper and a raised wing spoiler off the back of the roof. In between there are lower side sills and 19" rims in a variety of finishes, which join a polished-metal brace under the hood to improve handling and beefier brakes for added stopping power. Inside buyers can specify shift indicator lights, checkered-flag floormats, special sill plates and racing buckets.
All the parts are dealer-installed and come under the full factory warranty, so you don't have to worry about voiding the papers like with other aftermarket bits. Unfortunately they won't be available until 2008, a delay which would be expected from an independent aftermarket tuning house, but given the direct partnership with the manufacturer, you'd figure they'd have the parts ready closer to launch.
(More pics after the jump)
[Source: Auto Express]
PHOTO GALLERY:
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Saracen 5:33PM (10/26/2006)
That's all nice...but how about some extra horsepower?
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MR42HH 5:37PM (10/26/2006)
Carbon wing: so ridicoulus it's cool again
shift lights: cool-ish
rear bumper: incredibly ugly
Did I miss something or is there no info in the JCW engine kit yet...?
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Geno Endicott 6:00PM (10/26/2006)
Engine kit won't be out for at least a year.
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Disco Stu 6:34PM (10/26/2006)
The carbon wing is just silly. It'll be interesting to see what type of power can be extracted from that new turbo engine.
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beken 7:57PM (10/26/2006)
Wow! A non-functioning (fake) carbon fiber hood scoop. I would be interested in hearing what the engine kit will involve. There's no reduction pulley treatment on a turbo.
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justin 8:21PM (10/26/2006)
seats- check
strut tower brace - check
a way to squeeze more power from that turbo - check check check check
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GhostDoggy 9:21PM (10/26/2006)
How about setting a challenge for MINI by making one under, say, 2500 pounds? Then they can claim its weight is mini, too. And then the price. How about a $12K MINI?
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jimbo 9:56PM (10/26/2006)
Wow where to start. First off anytime someone uses Autoexpress as a source, they're off to a bad start. You'd be far better off getting your information from MotoringFile. Autoexpress is known in the MINI world as probably the worst source for MINI news out there. They routinely butcher real news and will gladly use shady sources (ie: some anonymous guy who emails them) for major stories.
But I digress. Let me at least try to correct a few of the mistakes in the article. First off the new R109 JCW wheels are 18" and not 19". Secondly there will be no delay. These parts will be available at the US launch of the 2007 MINI (only 2-3 months after it launched in the UK and Europe.
Now the important part of this news which you didn't mention and was actually reported on MotoringFile this morning (coincidence?) is that the JCW engine package will be released in late 2007 on 2008 models. It will be available only at the factory and not at dealers as before.
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tim 10:09AM (10/27/2006)
mostly cosmetics... seek true performance mods elsewhere!
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Mike 11:10AM (10/27/2006)
Wow, yet another monsterously overpriced and monumentally underperforming bmw/mini package.
Why don't the just sell it as an exterior appearence package to begin with? Oh, that's right, caus then the bmw/mini poser crew wouldn't buy it.
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eric e. yang 11:27AM (10/27/2006)
I'm a fan of the Works package, especially with the lower body portions, but the wing definitely isn't to my tastes. I'll be curious to see pricing.
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Michael Moses 8:24PM (11/21/2006)
Happen to have a book bearing the mark of the founder.
Please consider:
Cooper Cars-Limited Edition AUTOGRAPHED by John Cooper
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160054864371
Happy to answer any questions.
Regards,
Michael Moses
Exeter Books
Orlando, Florida
[ http://exeterbooks.pbwiki.com ]
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