JCW GP Production Update

Eelke May 23rd, 2006 Link

Our sources report that MINI has found GP engines running premium 98 octane in cool damp conditions worked and gave more bhp than something running on 95 octane and extreme heat.

This seems like a bit of a no-brainer, this is true for any engine. In fact, variations in climate conditions having an influence on engine power is the very reason there is a difference between DIN and SAE horsepower (which seem to be designated as BHP and HP on this site, respectively). DIN and SAE simply set their standard conditions (humidity, ambient pressure and temperature) slightly differently. And if BMW hadn’t tuned the engine so that 98 octane fuel didn’t make a difference, they wouldn’t have done their homework right, for a performance-oriented model.

diego May 23rd, 2006 Link

Thanks Gabe. This is some much expected clarification for us GP-owners-to-be that are so anxious to get our hands on this car.

LMB May 23rd, 2006 Link

Gabe did they give you any idea of delivery dates? My dealer told me they’re being delivered in phases and that for the UK anyway, delivery will be Mid August.

Gabe May 23rd, 2006 Link

My dealer told me they’re being delivered in phases and that for the UK anyway, delivery will be Mid August.

Yes that seems to be pn par with what I’ve heard. US deliveries (outside the MTTS delivery program) may start about a month later.

MJO MINI May 23rd, 2006 Link

Gabe, let me know if you need a GP to use as your review car. I should be taking delivery of mine in September. I can be reached at ortizbunch@verizon.net

Jim May 23rd, 2006 Link

Geez, 95 & 98 octane gas?

Can I get that anywhere in CA other than at a race supplier?

Todd S. May 23rd, 2006 Link

Gabe, I was wondering if Bertone is planning on placing any Bertone emblem or badge somewhere on the car?

Mario May 23rd, 2006 Link

Octane Ratings arn’t the same in the US and Europe. I believe your 91 is our 95 and your 93 is like our 98.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

In most countries (including all of Europe and Australia) the “headline” octane that would be shown on the pump is the RON, but in the United States and some other countries the headline number is the average of the RON and the MON, sometimes called the Anti-Knock Index (AKI), Road Octane Number (RdON), Pump Octane Number (PON), or (R+M)/2. Because of the 10 point difference noted above, this means that the octane in the United States will be about 4 to 5 points lower than the same fuel elsewhere: 87 octane fuel, the “normal” gasoline in the US and Canada, would be 91 in Europe.

Cheers,
Mario

tony T May 23rd, 2006 Link

“However that said, MINI expects an output of at least 218bhp (214hp) no matter where you are and no matter what premium petrol you put in the tank.”

I find theat quote a little odd. Is it actually from BMW Gabe? Only they usually quote output on a set condition, not as an ‘absolutly any configuation’ type condition.

For illustration, I would normally expect a manufacturer to quote in a similar regard to the SI unit of measurement standard. Such as ‘at 20deg C, at sea level’, with recommended fueling (98ron in UK for JCW cars I think) then they ‘guarantee’ 210bhp for the JCW…. along those lines.

Even in the UK, on a hot summers day, you can see a good 10-15% drop in horse power, such that the car is appreciablly sluggish. I would have thought in the extremes around the world this would have been even more noticable? Therefore, with the seemingly minor mechanical changes that have been released about the GP conversion over the standard JCW conversion, I’m surprised to see any such claims of “at least 218bhp”, whatever the conditions/variables.

I have to further query this quote…

“Our sources report that MINI has found GP engines running premium 98 octane in cool damp conditions worked and gave more bhp than something running on 95 octane and extreme heat”.

I’ll be direct and to the point on this one: I bloody well hope so. Otherwise whats the point? Surely someone has made a mistake with that comment? A GP running higher octane fuel and in a cooler climate with denser air outpoerforms a something running lower octane fuel in extreme heat? Confused. very confused.

Best regards.
Tony

tony T May 23rd, 2006 Link

?

tony T May 23rd, 2006 Link

I find the above report confussing and in parts unintelligable….

“Our sources report that MINI has found GP engines running premium 98 octane in cool damp conditions worked and gave more bhp than something running on 95 octane and extreme heat.”

This doesn’t make sense.

“However that said, MINI expects an output of at least 218bhp (214hp) no matter where you are and no matter what premium petrol you put in the tank.”

This too. It doesn’t add up. Manufacturers quote accorsding to a set specific set of conditions, not ‘the unknown’. How does the GP suddenly guarantee power out put no matter what grade of fuel or climatic conditions? Most manufacturers usually have a ‘benchmark’ set of conditions - such as 20 celcius, at sealevel etc etc…. I cant see the minor mechanical changes of the GP over the standard JCW suddenly guaranteeing baseline bhp of 218hp…? very confussed.

tony T May 23rd, 2006 Link

I find the above report confussing and in parts unintelligable….

“Our sources report that MINI has found GP engines running premium 98 octane in cool damp conditions worked and gave more bhp than something running on 95 octane and extreme heat.”

This doesn’t make sense.

tony T May 23rd, 2006 Link

Gabe, my attempted comments on this story never get on… is there some kind of ‘auto censorship on posts I should know about…?

Gabe May 23rd, 2006 Link

Not that I’m aware of.

Revhed May 23rd, 2006 Link

Does anyone know what the specific changes are that lead to the increase in power over the regular JCW bits?

Charlie May 23rd, 2006 Link

The hardware is essentially the same. The additional HP, from what I understand, is coming from “software tweeks” to the engine’s computer system.

Eelke May 24th, 2006 Link

Gabe, my attempted comments on this story never get on… is there some kind of ‘auto censorship on posts I should know about…?

Same here, apparently. I left a comment yesterday, but it doesn’t make it.

Charlie May 24th, 2006 Link

According to Stracco, the MINI Product Mgr. the GP has a new intercooler which accounts for most of the HP changes in the GP

Mark Hendrie May 24th, 2006 Link

Apparently getting my motor at the end of next month so thanks for the update - cannot wait!

Simone May 24th, 2006 Link

for Italy the ship is august/september

Mark Hendrie May 24th, 2006 Link

Just phoned to double check and my car is expected to arrive exactly 5 weeks from today - so I hope the dealer is right and I do not have to wait until August!

Charles May 26th, 2006 Link

A salesman at Knauz told me they expect cars in October.

Jim May 28th, 2006 Link

OK, I posted this up on MINI2.com, but I’ll ask it here, too:

Differences between US Spec & UK Spec:

* UK lists floor mats as standard equipment.
* No mention of floor mats in the US brochure.

Are US buyers going to have to pay extra for freakin’ floor mats?

* UK buyers get "Recaro Sports Seats in leather (heated)"
* US buyers get "Sports Seats (heated)"

Are the US seats going to be decontented from the 1/2 leather we’ve been lead to expect?

* UK buyers get "16" JCW brakes up front"
* US buyers get "16" JCW breaks up front"

I spelled that very carefully.

* UK Buyers get "Interior lights pack"
* US Buyers get "Light package"

So what are these, and is there any difference between the Interior lights pack and the Light package?

Gabe May 28th, 2006 Link

* UK lists floor mats as standard equipment.
* No mention of floor mats in the US brochure.
Are US buyers going to have to pay extra for freakin’ floor mats?

This is market dependent. Most US based dealers throw in a set of floor mats with any MINI purchase.

* UK buyers get “Recaro Sports Seats in leather (heated)”
* US buyers get “Sports Seats (heated)”
Are the US seats going to be decontented from the 1/2 leather we’ve been lead to expect?

As we reported last October, the US market will not have Recaros but instead will have cloth/leather seating similar to the Octogan Cloth and Leather combination.

* UK buyers get “16″ JCW brakes up front”
* US buyers get “16″ JCW breaks up front”
I spelled that very carefully.

The JCW Brakes are the same the world over. Everyone will get the same stock JCW brakes kit on their GPs. And no, they aren’t actually 16″ rotors. Somehow that incorrect figure found it’s way into an early press release and has been misleading people ever since.

* UK Buyers get “Interior lights pack”
* US Buyers get “Light package”
So what are these, and is there any difference between the Interior lights pack and the Light package?

No difference. All US bound MINIs get the Interior lights pack.

Jim May 29th, 2006 Link

Thanks, Gabe.

I guess them’s the breaks.

However, all y’all ‘ll be needing brakes if you want the car to stop.

Jim May 29th, 2006 Link

• UK buyers get “16″ JCW brakes up front”
• US buyers get “16″ JCW breaks up front”
  I spelled that very carefully.
  brakes if you want the car to stop.

whiteroofradio.com » Woofcast #64 Jul 22nd, 2006 Link

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