MINI John Cooper Works

UK press details of the new MINI John Cooper Works have just been released. See below for more images and snippets from the very lenghty press document. Quite a few reviews of the car have popped up on the net recently and these can be accessed via MotoringFile.

The short story behind the new MINI John Cooper Works and MINI John Cooper Works Clubman

Production of the new MINI began in 2001 in Oxford and soon after, the Cooper Car Company in East Preston launched a wide range of John Cooper Works tuning kits and accessories for MINI. This gave MINI owners, obsessed with personalisation and performance, an even greater opportunity to create their perfect MINI. John Cooper’s achievements in world motor sport laid the foundations for the John Cooper Works brand. Now in 2008, fans of MINI and the John Cooper Works brand have something new to lust after: the new MINI John Cooper Works, hot off the production line at MINI Plant Oxford.

The MINI John Cooper Works will go on sale in the UK from 22 July 2008, priced at £20,995 on the road. First deliveries of the Clubman edition will not take place until early in 2009, when a bespoke aerodynamic kit will have been developed for that model, giving it an even more dynamic presence on UK roads. Pricing for the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman will be confirmed nearer the time.

Both Hatch and Clubman derivatives will be assembled at MINI’s Plant Oxford site. The John Cooper Works models will seamlessly integrate into the production schedule alongside other Hatch, Clubman and Convertible MINIs. Sixty per cent of MINI suppliers are UK-based and with body panels from MINI’s Plant Swindon and engines from Plant Hams Hall, the MINI Production Triangle is a thriving asset to UK manufacturing.

Fastest ever production MINI* is the torque of the town…and track
A strengthened, larger version of the award-winning twin-scroll turbocharger, partly responsible for the grin on the face of every MINI Cooper S owner, is the heart and lungs of the new MINI John Cooper Works. Developing 211hp and an impressive 260 Nm of torque, turbo boost can be extended even further to 280Nm on deployment of the car’s Overboost system. This gives the MINI John Cooper Works the highest peak torque figure ever of any open production MINI. Because full boost is available between 1,850 and 5,600rpm, the car is an outstanding performer on road or track.

*2006 MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit official 0-62mph time was also 6.5 seconds. UK sales of this car were limited to 454 units.

A race car for the road…with a conscience
The engine, transmission and braking system of the MINI John Cooper Works Hatch and Clubman models is adapted from the MINI CHALLENGE race car. Little wonder then that a 0-62mph time of 6.5 seconds is the result of extensive performance tuning. All this and a potential 40 miles per gallon. Have your cake and eat it!

The difference is in the differential
To ensure power is transferred to the wheels with minimal fuss and maximum dynamic performance, every MINI John Cooper Works car is supplied with Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) as standard. ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Hill Assist complete the line-up of chassis management technologies fitted to the John Cooper Works cars.

• JCW Hatch / 211hp / 260Nm** / 0-62mph 6.5sec / Top speed 148mph / 40.9mpg

• JCW Clubman / 211hp / 260Nm** / 0-62mph 6.8sec / Top speed 148mph / 40.4mpg

**280Nm with Overboost
Strength of appearance
Making the MINI John Cooper Works stand out from a standard MINI Cooper S is a range of specific styling and performance features. An aerodynamic kit, bespoke 17” alloy wheels, John Cooper Works badges, large disc brakes with upgraded bright red performance calipers and large twin tailpipes denote this car has something special under the metal.  A full range of John Cooper Works styling accessories is available from all MINI dealers or online at www.mini.co.uk

MINI John Cooper Works highlights

• On sale in the UK from 22 July 2008 priced at £20,995 for the Hatch model
• Engine modifications produce 211 hp and give the MINI John Cooper Works a 0-62 mph time of 6.5 seconds
• 132 hp per litre
• 40.9 mpg
• Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) as standard
• Engine, brakes, suspension and transmission tuning adapted from the MINI CHALLENGE race car

John Cooper Works under the ownership of BMW Group

The Cooper name originates from John Cooper, an engineering legend inextricably linked to the golden age of British motor racing throughout the 1960’s. With the introduction of new MINI in 2001, the Cooper name was reborn under the guidance of John’s son Mike, who began developing aftermarket tuning kits for the new MINI at the original John Cooper premises in East Preston, West Sussex.

In December 2006 BMW Group acquired the rights from Mike to the John Cooper Works Brand. Early in 2007, this transaction became effective and gave BMW Group the opportunity to develop this sub-brand and strengthen the MINI brand and product range.

The deal was agreed with the then owners of the John Cooper Works brand and in 2008, Mike Cooper remains as a consultant on the BMW Group’s John Cooper Works brand strategy. Mike has been involved in the design and production of the aftersales tuning kits available for the MINI Cooper S.

Although no longer producing their own tuning kits or accessories under the name John Cooper Works, Mike Cooper’s Cooper Car Company develops and supplies car accessories for various other corporate clients.  The Cooper Car Company supplies BMW AG with hardware components for the current MINI Hatch aftersales tuning kit as well as sports air filters and sports exhausts for the BMW 3 Series. These parts bear the name John Cooper Works or BMW Performance respectively.

No formal co-operation agreement exists between the Cooper Car Company and BMW AG but given the successful relationship forged between both parties, it is planned and desired that the Cooper Car Company will be a partner of BMW AG for many years to come.