(This article is specifically about the US-spec MINI JCW and not the version that comes with the aero-kit elsewhere in the world)
A lot has been made of the new factory JCW MINI not coming with the JCW suspension let alone the sport suspension as standard. In our review last week we found the car to be exceptional in all but two ways - lack of visual distinction and lack of an upgraded suspension. And it’s not rocket science how you fix both of those issues. JCW has the parts to do it, but they just decided leave the car relatively untouched and ready for each owner to tailor it to their own needs. Of course the problem (as we said in the review) is that MINI hasn’t done the JCW brand or the car any favors with this visual restraint. People simply can’t recognize a JCW MINI (like they do an M3) from across the parking lot and due to this there’s a lack of brand recognition as well. But worse for the enthusiast, the lack of an upgraded suspension signals a serious compromise in the character of the car. People want to believe in a brand and the ideals it stands for. They want authenticity. At this point it’s a little unclear how authentic the JCW is or will be.
Our friends at AUSmotive have posted the second race from this weekend’s MINI Challenge Australia races. It’s well worth a watch for anyone interested in motorsports or the structural integrity of a MINI.
It’s also the last weekend of that year for the series that saw quite a few highsandlows. For a full recap of the race check out AUSmotive. For a the full video, click below.
Car and Driver recently did another one of their comparisons. This time they put 7 cars together to try to come up with a good dollar-to-performance figure. The MINI of choice for this particular shoot-out was one of the most expensive MINIs you can buy, the JCW Clubman.
The seats (cloth, at this price) lack support, and the view out the back is partly obscured by the French doors. The rear area seats two, and only two, in relative comfort, but not before both must insert themselves awkwardly through the half-door on the passenger side. And the radio, despite our increasing familiarity with it, continues to confound us, in both function and the odd logic behind the placement of its knobs. Unlike the charming exterior styling, the Mini’s interior looks as if it is trying too hard to be different.
Unlike the previous Cooper S, MINI has taken a two prong approach to developing a faster MINI or the R56 MCS. First out of the gates was the JCW “Engine Kit” which debuted in July of 2007. The kit developed 192 bhp and had 201 ft lbs of torque for an MSRP price of $2100 (plus installation). But unlike the previous JCW dealer installed kit, this new kit was easily installed in an hour and relied mostly on software to achieve its performance gains. You could think of it as a kit that unlocks the hidden potential in any stock R56 MCS.
We coined the term “Stage 1″ JCW for this engine kit when it became clear through sources that MINI was creating something even faster and more powerful. In July of 2008 MINI released the “Stage 2″ or factory JCW car to the public. This car was a little closer to the original R53 kit in it’s design. Not only did it feature revised software but also upgraded mechanicals. We won’t go into details here (you can read that in our full review) but needless to say it’s fast.
The factory JCW MINI is a dichotomy of character. On one hand (in stock form) it’s as comfortable over bumps and on the highway as any MINI that’s ever been produced. Yet on the other hand it’s the fastest and most raucous MINI ever. ClearlyBMW tried to create this car to be almost everything to all people. But does that make the new JCW less of a performance car?
If you only look at sheer speed, the new JCW handily takes the crown. It feels every bit as fast as the 2006 JCW GP was with an enormous amount of torque (206 ft lbs of it) available almost instantly in the rev range. Its also got the power too - 211bhp of it. While the GP may have had similar numbers, it’s the new JCW’s power delivery that really sets it apart. And weight is less of an issue as well. With the new R56 chassis weighing around 20lbs less in similar spec, the GP doesn’t quite have the same advantage it used to have.
Of course, you can respond in different ways to a car’s prevalence. You can get all sniffy about it and run in the opposite direction, with your chin haughtily aloft. Or, on the contrary, you can embrace the popularity, warmly acknowledge the taste and wisdom of your peers with regard to what is by any standards a design classic, and look forward to the chummy comfort, as you go about your business, of offering your fellow Mini owners a flick of the headlights or a comradely wave. (You could always stick a plastic hand in the windscreen when the frequency of this became irksome.)
Worth a read for the writing style alone. That and no complaints about the ride or the interior. Watch for Gabe’s review later this week.
So it was in the UK using the Imperial Gallon, but still an impressive feat AutoExpress was able to pull off.
That’s not the only trick up the John Cooper Works MINI’s sleeve, though. Despite packing enough punch to cover 0-60mph in only 6.5 seconds, the supermini can now add wallet-friendly 50mpg-plus fuel economy to its impressive list of credentials. That’s 25 per cent more than the maker’s claimed 40.9mpg combined figure. But only if you know how to handle this hot hatch…
Sure the price of gasoline in the US is dropping, but I know there have to be a few of you out there that don’t have your foot in it all the time. What kind of MPG are you getting from your JCW or GP?
We’ve heard you. You want to read our review of the 2009 JCW MINI. In fact there hasn’t been a week that has gone by since spring that we haven’t gotten emails asking when we were going to drive the car. The wait is over. Our 2009 JCW press car will arrive tomorrow we’ll be putting it through its paces for an entire week.
Ok we’re being dramatic. But really Motive seemed to try throw down the gauntlet against the new JCW. The results? We don’t want to ruin it for you but it’s a great read for MINI fans. Here’s an excerpt:
The key to the Mini’s lively personality is its ability to do more with less. The retuned Cooper S 1.6-liter under the hood makes an extra 36 hp and 15 lb-ft of torque, but at 208 and 192, respectively, those are easily the lowest figures among these cars. Yet look at the track results, and you’ll see that the Mini hit the highest top speed and recorded the second-fastest lap of the day. Much of that is due to the JCW’s huge weight advantage, but it’s also the confident brakes that don’t mind being squeezed hard and late.
Auto Express has assembled a list of what they think the top-20 performance cars of 2008 are. And there, right between the Porsche Cayman S and the BMW M3 Coupe is the JCW MINI Cooper S in third place.
In the end, the MINI’s feisty character is all part of its appeal – it’s a car you grab by the scruff of the neck, hold on and enjoy! And it’s even more fun on the public road. When you’re not pushing so hard, the front wheels scrabble for grip less often and the car’s agility really comes into its own. Only the sheer brilliance of the top two models prevents the JCW from taking the crown.
They even have video and it starts when you open the page. Consider yourself warned.
The Australian MINI Challenge has had a wild ride in it’s first year and this weekend was no different. Due to a particularly bad crash, the third and final race of this weekend’s festivities was called off and no points were awarded. Here’s an excerpt from the press release:
MINI CHALLENGE driver, Darren Berry has sustained a broken left ankle following an incident in the opening lap of race three of MINI CHALLENGE at Mount Panorama, Bathurst today.
MINI USA is officially recalling all 560 2009 JCW MINIs due braking issues. It’s not entirely clear in the description given by the NHTSA but it would seem that the brakes either aren’t the correct size or are simply not what was said to be offered on the car. Here’s an excerpt Inside Line which quotes the NHTSA:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in its recalls summary pointed out that the affected vehicles have the 16-inch diameter, not 17-inch, front brake discs. “Depending on traffic and road conditions, as well as a driver’s reactions, reduced brake performance could increase the risk of a crash,” NHTSA said.
UK weekly magazine Autoexpress has named the newly released JCW MINI, the best”Hot Hatch” of 2008. Here’s an excerpt from this week’s magazine:
Not only is it one of the quickest cars in its class, it’s also one of the most environmentally friendly thanks to BMW’s EfficientDynamics stop-start and regenerative braking technology. But the JCW’s real forte is entertainment, and where the car scores points over its rivals is with its ability to put a smile on your face on every drive.
BMW and MINI have worked hard on the new JCW MINIs in setting them apart from the other models. They’ve given them their own names (you won’t find “Cooper S” anywhere on them) and they’ve given the powerplant an entirely updated character let along performance boost. But is it enough?
From an enthusiasts point of view the problem with the existing MINI Clubman is it’s extra weight and subsequently a slightly lazier turn-in as compared to the MINI coupe. While the new factory JCW Clubman doesn’t solve the weight issue, it does solve everything else related to straight-line performance.
Walking up to the back JCW Clubman you can help but notice the fat twin pipes on the corners. It’s clear that MINI meant for this car to look the part. The large red calipers peaking out of the front wheels and the discrete JCW badges are the only other signs that this isn’t your ordinary Clubman. Could MINI have done more to make this car look the part though? I’m inclined to believe so. However with the JCW aerokit unavailable until March of 2009 for the Clubman (internally called the R55), I’ll give MINI USA the benefit of the doubt for now. Of course the same can’t be said for the JCW coupe which does have a JCW aerokit potentially available yet doesn’t get it as standard.
Based on our story last Friday detailing the parts associated with the new JCW brake kit, we had a few questions about a potential official retrofit kit. As we reported last year MINI has been planning on selling the brakes set as an accessory in itself. And yes, that means there is an official PDF detailing the kit, the parts, special installation instructions, and the OEM wheels that will fit the kit. You can download it all below:
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1st Gen MINI R50: One & MC Coupe R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt. R53: MCS Coupe 2nd Gen MINI R55: Clubman R56: One/MC/MCS Coupe R57: One/MC/MCS Convt. R60: MINI SUV
Sections: JCW, MF Feature Jan 7th, 2009 25 Comments 
