MINI2 Reports from World Premier at MINI United - Misano, Italy.

Before we begin our own report and personal opinions on the new limited edition Cooper S, we’ll start with the words from the official press release which was presented during our trip to MINI United in Italy this weekend, where the GP Tuning Kit made it’s world Premier*.

The launch of the new MINI in 2001 set a new standard in the small car market for handling and driving enjoyment. Over the next four years rumours came and went regarding the arrival of a lightweight, high-performance MINI.

From July 2006, the MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works (JCW) GP Kit will realise the dream with a power output of around 218bhp, a stunning 136bhp per litre, and a weight-drop of 40 kilos. Only 2000 will be built for MINI fans around the globe with approximately 20 per cent staying in the UK.

The MINI Cooper S with JCW GP Kit will be a two-seater in exclusive colours, and extra safety and interior options will come as standard.

The reduction in weight over the standard MINI Cooper S has been achieved by modifications to the chassis and engineering tweaks. The longitudinal control arms on the rear axle are now made of aluminium, and the omission of the sound-deadening material and the rear seats have made further weight reductions.

Modifications to the intercooler as well as engine tuning measures have increased power output of the supercharged 1.6-litre engine on a standard MINI Cooper S JCW by 8bhp. In order that such power and the high maximum torque of 245 Nm are transferred securely to the road, this exclusive special edition features a Limited Slip Differential and Dynamic Stability Control as standard (FOC option in some world markets).

High-performance brakes by John Cooper Works featuring red-lacquered brake calipers on the front wheels ensure optimum stopping power. In addition, the GP Kit includes specially-designed weight-reduced 18-inch alloy wheels.

The special edition will only be available in grey-blue metallic combined with a Pure Silver roof and Chili Red wing mirrors. The air scoop on the bonnet and in the front apron also come in Pure Silver.

Interior standard equipment includes Recaro sports seats, single CD, air-conditioning (FOC option in some world markets) and a multi-function steering wheel.

A new aerodynamics package - front and rear aprons, a wing-shaped rear spoiler, underbody panelling and even lower side sills have all been added. This has resulted in a distinctly reduced drag coefficient and enhanced downforce on the front and rear axle. - Press Release Ends….

So that’s what BMW have to say about their latest “baby”, but lets start our own report with an explanation of the little “*”. The car in these photos on display at Misano, is not really a MINI Cooper S with JCW GP Tuning Kit. No surprises there. This car is simply a mock up of what will be (or roughly what will be) the new car. The car was blacked out and shut up, the interior is nothing like complete, in fact, from the impression we received, the project isn’t either. The REAL MINI Cooper S with JCW GP Tuning kit will be shown first to the press and public at next years Geneva auto show. Only THEN can we truly shape an opinion of the exterior and interior treatment, and only some time after then will we be able to get a driving perspective on what all this means.

Like many MINI owners, we felt the information provided was a little vague, and it is so partly for a reason, the people in charge don’t KNOW exactly what customers will get, not just yet. Certain things are decided, and many things are planned, but even now it seems incomplete. To try and answer as many questions as possible, we managed to pin down Marcus Krieg, Product Manager for MINI, and give him a little friendly grilling on some specifics. Marcus, as it turned out, was more than happy to oblige and provided a nice insight into the car, the thinking behind it, and why some of the decisions made were made.

Lets start with things that did not make it into the car. A carbon fibre bonnet. This was something that was desired, and seriously considered, but ruled out due to crash testing regulations. Thinner glass also was considered, but on balance the weight loss was not considered significant in balance with production implications. It seems many things were tried and “nearly where”, but in the end the balance between cost, comfort, and pure engineered light-weight fun has lead to a few compromises, but also some nice touches.

From the ground up, the car features 18″ light alloy wheels. The choice of 18″ was a style choice pure and simple, but MINI have chosen the lightest wheels they could at this size. Fitting 18″ wheels does mean the turning lock / circle is reduced to avoid rubbing, another compromise. The wheels will come fitted with the same run flat tyres that are available on current John Cooper Works 18″ wheels. The car will be fitted with John Cooper Works brakes too, obviously to improve stopping power.

Beneath the car, modifications, including a rear tray, have been made to reduce drag and increase downforce. The suspension is also special John Cooper Works suspension, modified to suit the GP Tuning Kit. The geometry remains the same as the standard JCW Suspension currently available as an option. To further improve downforce a carbon fibre rear spoiler is added, which results in the rear brake light moving from the roofline to lower down behind the rear screen, in an area where the rear wash wipe would usually cover.

The omission of the rear wash wipe, seen by many commentators as a strange decision, saves around 3-4 kg in itself. Despite the “rear bar” that appeared to feature in the design sketches, no structural changes have had to be made to the interior, or under the car, to replace any stiffness losing the rear seat bench may have created, as the panels for the rear seat are purely cosmetic. The interior rear quarter panels have been modified. they use thinner plastic and are a different shape, due to the lack of rear seating, and requirement for arm rests etc. Throughout the car, sound deadening has been removed from “non critical” areas, to reduce weight. Some sound deadening remains to keep the noise levels inside the car of a bearable level.

The recaro seats will be trimmed in all black leather. Other interior design touches will include new anthracite fascias for all dials, with red needles replacing the standard MINI orange. In the rear, there will be a storage compartment or “false floor” to the rear, with a z-folding cover made of a light weight, but load bearing, material to secure storage of items such as luggage, shopping and so on.

Focusing again on the exterior of the GP Tuning Kit equipped car, the body kit and other exterior modifications seem to be a blend, or compromise, of styling and genuine substance. For example, the car was developed using a wind tunnel, and the modified body cladding reduces the drag co-efficient by something like .03 from the standard .36, which is good, however the silver “ducts” on the front spoiler are purely cosmetic. Not good.

The colours and other accents are intended to provide a more sporting look, silver, black and red accents follow through the exterior and interior of the vehicle, and on the front of the car focus is drawn to the scoop and spoiler areas over the grill thanks to an entirely body coloured grille, and silver accents on the scoop and spoiler. The rear spoiler also features silver accents in place of the regular black grilles. The car sits 8cm from the ground at it’s lowest point thanks to the suspension and body kit changes. The roof, and the interior, will feature a unique number on every car. All cars will feature”US style” side marker lights.

The power gains are achieved in part through improved air flow to the intercooler as well as adjustments to the back pressure, however many details on such matters are still unclear as the car is still in development. The only figures available were the stated 40 kg in weight loss, 218 bhp, and a top speed of 240 km/h. Like many aspects of this car, it feels as though BMW/MINI now what they want to (and no doubt will) achieve, but they’re either not sure, or just not saying, how exactly they’ll achieve it yet! With customers due to start taking delivery in July 2006, and a full world premier at Geneva in March, they’ve still got time on their side.

So, with that said, what did we actually think of this much anticipated lightweight, limited edition MINI Cooper S? Well, we’re not sure really. The overall verdict is good, and personally I really liked the car “in the metal”. Something’s actually surprised me, the wheels for example I really like, the black accents on the rear number plate surround and light/handle, other neat touches actually appealed to me. However, the styling is subjective, and it’s bound to split opinions deeply.

The value for money is, we feel, very good. Stick a factory JCW Kit (210 bhp), JCW Suspension, an aero kit, 18″ JCW wheels, Recaro seats and all the other goodies offered here on a MINI Cooper S order, and you’ll already be in excess of the estimated price tag of around 33k Euros, or £22k GBP. Take into account this will be a limited edition, numbered car, partially hand finished in Italy, and we think it’s a real bargain.

The performance figures do feel a little disappointing, and the weight loss much less than hoped. It’s certainly not the “balls out” “lets have some fun” lightweight we were hoping for, but all in all we believe with their balance of performance and popular styling and “comfort” options, MINI are on to a winner on this one and they will have more than enough demand to sell the 2,000 being produced.