Scoop: 2007 MINIs Trim Down & Speed Up

Gabe Jul 17th, 2006 Link

Since it will be asked eventually, let me get it out of the way; where’s the mythical 140bhp Cooper? It’s a good question and one that we don’t know the answer to. Could it be offered as something other than a Cooper or perhaps not even offered in the US market if at all? If you look at the exchange rates and the MINI pricing structure in the US, slotting another turbo MINI between the naturally aspirated Cooper at 120bhp and the turbo Cooper S at 175bhp might prove difficult. Of course this last part of purely conjecture at this point.

Mike Jul 18th, 2006 Link

I’m willing to bet this will be the best driving MINI to date. Lighter weight, more power and probably one of the best suspension set up’s in it’s class. In JCW form this car will be an absolute riot. Now we need some pics of the interior Gabe!
Mike

Frank Jul 18th, 2006 Link

The R56 is looking better and better as each day goes by, but I am not going to jump in the first year bandwagon to get one. I LOVE my ‘05 MCS and plan to keep it at least until the end of the warranty. By then 2009/2010, MINI would have had worked out most of the bugs of the R56 generation and if previous power increases are any indication of future performance, it is likely the ‘09 MCS will have even more power and more improvements than the ‘07-’08 cars.

Well worth the wait IMHO.

For now, I am really looking forward to the ‘08 Traveller wagon.

Frank Jul 18th, 2006 Link

I am also thinking that further weight reduction can be achieved with the used of aluminum components in the powertrain, body and suspension and/or carbon fiber components.

How much weight difference are we talking about here? 100, 200, 300 pounds??

Gabe Jul 18th, 2006 Link

Now we need some pics of the interior Gabe!

We got them in March 2005.

j Jul 18th, 2006 Link

could all this weight saving open the door for the all wheel drive system that was brought up a while back? gabe, any idea?

Jon Jul 18th, 2006 Link

All in all a pretty exciting time for Mini fans. I personally love most the changes on the R56 so far, though the tad longer nose will take a bit more time to used too. The new power plant should make for some interesting new tunning choices. The info about the car shedding a few pounds is very interesting, deffinetly waiting on the edge of my seat for more more info on the R56.

Steve Jul 18th, 2006 Link

My guess is that the new engine is less in weight than the TriTec. That is the only thing I can imagine would give it less weight.

I’m right behind you Frank, I’m waiting on the “Traveler” also.

Mark Jul 18th, 2006 Link

The JCW version should be great! Hope they also can release the JCW for the automatic in the US this time around. A friend drove an ‘06 JCW auto in Germany a few weeks ago, and said it was a paddle-shiftin screamer on the autobahn.

mike c. Jul 18th, 2006 Link

No 140bhp engine? Darn, I guess I’ll have to order a 2007 MCS instead of the MC :)

RallyMINI2005 Jul 18th, 2006 Link

Let’s see folks:

Confirmed Changes & Possible Effects
-Aluminum Engine=lighter
-Turbo=lighter than supercharger (?)
-Straight shot exhaust (single muffler) = lighter!
-Battery-in-engine-bay = lighter (no long wires and extra battery box).

-Speculation-

-Continued use of aluminum suspension components from GP Ed.?
-Aluminum Hood? Or maybe just simplified to make it lighter…?
-Aluminum doors? (Unlikely)

I’m definitely taking one out for a test drive when it’s available, but I’ll probably wait till my current 05 MCS is out of warranty before I make the jump…

RM2k5

snid Jul 18th, 2006 Link

The mythical 140hp Cooper is my dream car… I can still hope, I guess.

eto Jul 18th, 2006 Link

The ‘07 looks better with every news release! A 175hp S sounds tasty, especially with less weight to pull around! I still haven’t seen any torque numbers for the S engine; the rumored Cooper turbo was to have 170 lb/ft of torque, but with 140hp.

Gabe, any word on the torque numbers for the next Cooper S?

Matthew Jul 18th, 2006 Link

This is great news. A lighter, faster, more powerful MINI? What other improvements do you need? Bring it!

FH Jul 18th, 2006 Link

The ’07s do look better and better. Unfortunately, no one really knows what price tag these improvements will bring yet, right? Any word from MINI on that end, or do they not know yet either?

Enzo Jul 18th, 2006 Link

The R56 keeps getting better and better. Gabe I know you have some interior pictures in the march 2005 article, but I really would love to see pictures of the entire interior finished to production quality, with all the different options as far as gps, inav and more.

Gabe Jul 18th, 2006 Link

I really would love to see pictures of the entire interior finished to production quality, with all the different options as far as gps, inav and more.

Soon…. very soon….

mr.abulia Jul 18th, 2006 Link

-Speculation-

-Continued use of aluminum suspension components from GP Ed.?
-Aluminum Hood? Or maybe just simplified to make it lighter…?
-Aluminum doors? (Unlikely)

If BMW uses any of their technology from the 5 and 3 series, expect an aluminum frame around the engine compartment and possibly behind the passenger compartment. That would save a significant amount of weight in and of itself: it is how they have managed to keep a 50:50 weight ratio on their current generation of road cars. It makes repairs much more difficult, but before you smash ‘em up the cars drive better than ever!

Mike Jul 18th, 2006 Link

Like someone else mentioned Gabe are there any rumors going around about the base price for this new version? I’m expecting it to be at least 1k more then the current version but with a few odd’s and end’s now standard on the S.
Mike

Gabe Jul 18th, 2006 Link

I’m guessing pricing for the US market probably won’t be finalized until this fall.

JD7 Jul 18th, 2006 Link

So Gabe, this is who you sold those JCW wheels to? I hope thats an S and not a “base cooper”.

Soddhartha Jul 18th, 2006 Link

AWD & 250-270 bhp will bring me back to the showroom. The rest is just eye candy and window dressing.

Brent Jul 18th, 2006 Link

Glad I turned down the GP. My wife was right for once!

Chad Jul 18th, 2006 Link

Anyone know what octane fuel these will require? I wonder what the combination of less weight and a turbo will mean for improved fuel economy?

John Jul 19th, 2006 Link

I thought I read on this site that both Mini’s will be turbocharged. Is it confirmed that the 120hp engine is indeed normally aspirated? If it is a turbo I am sure many will buy the 120hp and chip it saving thousands over the MCS…..I guess that would be too good to be true.

Mark Jul 19th, 2006 Link

John, that opens another question. If the 120hp is indeed a turbo, will there be a JCW kit for it? Now THAT would would be a kick.

Gabe Jul 19th, 2006 Link

The 120bhp engine will not include a turbo. Here’s an excerpt from the official release we posted a few years back:

With its compression ratio of 11:1, the naturally aspirated power unit develops maximum output of 85 kW/115 bhp at 5,700 rpm and revs up to a maximum speed of 6,500 rpm. Engine displacement of this four-cylinder is 1.6 litres, with torque reaching 140 Nm or 103 lb-ft at just 2,000 rpm and peaking at 160 Nm/118 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm. The wide useful engine speed range provided in this way offers an optimum combination of driving pleasure and fuel economy from this compact power unit.

Fully variable valve management as well as a wide range of features extending from the fully controlled oil and water pumps all the way to the optimisation of friction losses make this normal-aspiration power unit one of the most efficient engines throughout its entire segment, even including engines with direct gasoline injection.

Jim Jul 19th, 2006 Link

So the 140 HP Cooper doesn’t exist?

Or is MINI planning a JCW Cooper & a JCW MCS?

Hmmmmmmm….

Chad Jul 19th, 2006 Link

Something else occured to me, will the new models have the equal length drive shafts still?

vanderspunk Jul 19th, 2006 Link

So 175 bhp for the S.

How much with the JCW?

Brad Fox Jul 23rd, 2006 Link

Will there be a non-turbo Mini for 2007 for the U.S. market?

MotoringFile » Archive » Scoop: 2007 Cooper S to Drop 180lbs! Jul 25th, 2006 Link

[...] As we mentioned last week the MCS will be going on a serious diet when the next generation rolls out in a few months. However until now we’ve only heard rumblings of what the final figure would be. We can now confirm that the next generation MCS will weight in 180 pounds lighter than the current car. We’re told that much of that savings will be from the new aluminum block - the best place to take weight considering vehicle dynamics. That figure combined with the increased power (175bhp) and better weight balance should give the car a noticable performance boost over the current R53. [...]

lasersailor Jul 25th, 2006 Link

Gabe (or other knowledgeable participants):

The weight reduction is really exciting.

I know math is hard (except for “Rainman” Todd), but can someone with access to published curb weights figure out the relative improvement in power-to-weight ratios between the R50/R53 MC and MCS and the R56, assuming that the new models have 120/175BHP and weigh 180 pounds less?

Thanks.

RandomRay Jul 26th, 2006 Link

Using the UK numbers …

Old
MC: 115hp @ 1150kg = 100hp/tonne
MCS: 170hp @ 1215kg = 144hp/tonne

New
MC: 120hp @ 1068kg = 112hp/tonne
MCS: 175hp @ 1133kg = 154hp/tonne

Nice

MotoringFile » Archive » Scoop: 2007 Cooper S Torque Figures Jul 26th, 2006 Link

[...] We know that the 2007 MINI Cooper S will have 175bhp, but how about torque? From what our (always reliable) sources are telling us, the ‘07 MCS will have 175lb-ft of peak torque with it’s new BMW design 1.6L turbocharged engine. Even better, the torque curve shoots up sharply at the low-end and then levels off throughout the band. And turbo lag is basically non-existant. [...]

Ed Lightfoot Jul 26th, 2006 Link

The new MINI Cooper S and 2 BMW’s are in Lancaster CA undergoing testing I assume, as they are clad with plastic fascias front and back. Due to the high heat we are having guess they are testing cooling. All MINI’S and BMW’s are all black and I have not been able to snap a picture yet but hope to get one soon. They test up here often and I have even seen the new Bently?

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