2008 Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works
By Jason Cammisa
The John Cooper Works (JCW) edition of the new Mini was unveiled earlier this year at the Geneva Auto Show. Just like the last generation Mini, this new JCW kit should make an already sporty small ride a bit more fun.
The kit, which sells for just over $2200 in Germany (U.S. pricing is not yet available), includes a sport suspension that lowers the car by 10mm (0.4 inch), cross-drilled front rotors, and revised engine management. Instead of 172 horsepower, the JCW's 1.6-liter now puts out 189. And while 17 horsepower may not seem like a lot, it's still a ten percent gain. Torque is also up, from 177 lb-ft to 184.
The JCW Mini has a body-color aero kit that includes front and rear fascias, side skirts, a carbon-fiber covered, roof-mounted rear spoiler, and eighteen-inch, double-spoke wheels. Inside, passengers are held tightly in place by John Cooper sports seats.
As a mathematical argument, the JCW makes lots of sense. With a price premium of ten percent, you get ten percent more power. And likely more than ten percent more fun.