BONN (AFX) - Bayerische Motoren Werke AG said it is acquiring the rights to the brand name John Cooper Works under a deal signed yesterday and effective from January 2007.

No financial details were disclosed.

A BMW spokesman said the acquisition is in line with BMW's strategy to strengthen the company's MINI brand.

John Cooper Works currently fits BMW's Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S models with tuning kits and accessories for customers who want to make the cars faster and sportier.

No surprise.

JCW is to MINI as ///M is to BMW.

hmmm interesting.... :)

Could have put money on it.

Hence why they shut up shop earlier this year - it's been a deal in the making.

Blimey. Oh well, that's stopped any muddled thinking then :)

i thought they already had

i thought they already had

They've been talking for more than a year. Took a while, though, to reach an agreement.

The new JCW S should be something special.:D

Definitely looking forward to the new JCW S in a few years!

So does that mean the new JCW MINI will only be available in 2009?

Which is perfect for me then i can get the 07 MCS and keep it for 2 years.

So does that mean the new JCW MINI will only be available in 2009?

Which is perfect for me then i can get the 07 MCS and keep it for 2 years.

The works is meant to be out around 2008.

There's nothing official on any of BMW's websites yet about this.

I don't think that piece of news should come as no suprise to anyone. You only have to look at the new model with everything being MINI and the lack of outside suppliers i.e. no Harmon Kardom Hi-fi option, no Recaro seat option. :(

The JCW seats are Recaro for the R56.

I don't think that piece of news should come as no suprise to anyone. You only have to look at the new model with everything being MINI and the lack of outside suppliers i.e. no Harmon Kardom Hi-fi option, no Recaro seat option. :(

Are the new Works seats not Recaro's? The standard seats on the old MINI's were also Recaro's. If you look under the seats you will see the little Recaro tag hanging down from the middle of the seat. I would expect the R56 to be the same.

I see BMW buying JCW as a shrewd move. Stops them offering tuning for other vehicles, another company poaching them and will forever cement the JCW - MINI relationship.

As I see it BMW are just protecting their asset. Do people really see this as a bad thing?

I see BMW buying JCW as a shrewd move. Stops them offering tuning for other vehicles, another company poaching them and will forever cement the JCW - MINI relationship.

As I see it BMW are just protecting their asset. Do people really see this as a bad thing?


Personally I'm not so keen on it, although I understand why it's being done, and don't blame BMW for it at all. However, JCW used to mean an aftermarket conversion; it was something off the beaten path--it wasn't production. Now, with the JCW as a factory option and taking it further, being taken over by BMW, it's mainstream; it's now a glorfified production model, and I think something gets lost in the process. Some of the mystique and nostalgia are missing now.

If I was buying an R56, I'd go the JCW route, but I prefer the old setup.

And there is no guarantee that BMW is going to do something extraordinary with the JCW, although hopefully it will. Time will tell. But if they don't do something fairly extraordinary, it's going to dilute the JCW marquee.