Wow, that’s a long model name. In fact, so rare will the MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 be, with just 250 units worldwide, there’s almost one letter for each owner in the title!
The WC50 has been created to celebrate 50th anniversary of John Cooper‘s first Formula One World Championship. The driver that year, of course, was our very own Sir Jack Brabham.
The car was first released to the public a couple of weeks ago at the MINI United Festival, held at Silverstone in England. Until now, nothing official had been provided from the BMW/MINI marketing team.
Mechanically the engine specs match the regular John Cooper Works models. That means 155kW is all yours from the twin-scroll turbocharged 1.6-litre engine.
However, the WC50 is unique in other areas. Namely price. While nothing official has been announced, the scribes at MotoringFile are predicting €40K. That’s 70,000 of our little Aussie dollars. Yikes!
Mind, with just 250 worldwide, I think Australia will be struggling to get any WC50s on Terra Australis. Although, with the very strong Jack Brabham connection, you’d like to think we’ll get a few. Here’s a wild and baseless AUSmotive guess—pick a number, any number—I reckon Australia will get five of these cars.
So, apart from the limited run, and the seemingly exorbitant price, what else do you get for your money? Well, sadly, it’s just a bunch of model specific paint colours and interior options. Although the suspension is unique to this car. The body is painted in Connaught Green, which is supposedly the British Racing Green from the 50s and 60s. While the roof and bonnet stripes are Pepper White.
The regular JCW 18″ wheels are now painted gloss black and to help tie in that look the bi-xenon headlights have been given the black treatment as well. A factory “Joey mod”. Nice!
There’s a few other bits and pieces as well, carbon fibre mirrors, unique numbering for each car, yada, yada. Check out the press release after the jump for the full detail.
Now, that suspension. MINI say it is unique to the car, but the aforementioned press blurb doesn’t give a lot away, “Also key to the superior performance of the MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 is its suspension technology, which is unique for this vehicle class. In addition to the McPherson struts on the front axle and a central-arm rear axle otherwise not found in the small car segment, electromechanical power steering (EPS) also helps guarantee safe and thrillingly precise handling.”
So, it seems what we have here, in the finest BMW/MINI tradition is an excellent exercise in marketing. And, I have to say, despite the fact that there is no extra power, no lighter wheels or stripped out interior—you know, the sorts of things that would pay true homage to F1 success—the car has won me over. It looks sensational and with such a limited run, rightly or wrongly, you just know these cars will be snapped up in a flash.
