MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works G_P Tuning Kit

[milliethemini]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tony*t3

Still cant make economic sense to ship a car and all its partss all the way to italy just to assemble it with out a couple of seats and some CF bits... (x2000 of course)

I was thinking the same thing myself, until it hit me - this is literally an "Italian Job" - get it? Italian Job?

I know, it's a real groaner, but I think it's darn funny personally

[Paul]

From what I've been hearing (and this is from "sources", not anything more official yet) it looks like we are certainly looking at a fairly heavily modified, no back seats, lack of creature comforts MINI. I'd never even thought to enquire if there was room in the back for passengers before, which is why I've never mentioned 2 or 4 seater! Doh!

That said, this might be a good investment as they're going to be rare?!

[northandy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

From what I've been hearing (and this is from "sources", not anything more official yet) it looks like we are certainly looking at a fairly heavily modified, no back seats, lack of creature comforts MINI. I'd never even thought to enquire if there was room in the back for passengers before, which is why I've never mentioned 2 or 4 seater! Doh!

That said, this might be a good investment as they're going to be rare?!

H'mm...

[northandy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

Considering it wont be called the CSL and there's about 10 x that due for production, I'd take anything the dealer said with a pinch of salt. I get the feeling sometimes some dealers like to sound more informed than they are, nobody wants the public to think they know more than they do about the product they are paid to sell.

I have a very good relationship with my local dealer and I've not very often found them to know more about upcoming vehicles than I/we on MINI2 do, which they do find a little frustrating at times!

Well my dealer knows diddly about any LE... spoke to the Mini Brand Manager who sys he's never heard of it, they dont have a pre-order list, etc etc....

[matt21]

still keeping an eye on this waiting for some definite news so i can go and bait my dealer

[Tonyt3]

Well, barely a week or so after I sent them a photoshop image of a 2 seater speedster concept, and the text of the Bertone Storey, Autoexpress yet again have themselves an exclusive.... they researched some better (but old) photos....

I really hope the Bertone Leightweight is a 2 seater speedster, but perhaps (I'm) just making it up as I go along...

[Rakey]

PMSL

wonder what the most ridiculous story is that you could get them to print

[k33z]

In Holland we have a car magazine called "Autovisie", in this weeks magazine there is a picture of the Mini cooper S CSL! I do not know if the made it themselves or that they got it another way but it looks great!

It is some sort of blue with white stripes on the side. Unfortunately I do not have a scanner here so maybe someone else can scan the image for everybody.

Some facts:

- twoseater (took out the backseat)
- 225 bhp or more
- about 15% lighter then S works
- 2000 are going to be build with Bertone

[S2000&CooperS]

Here is a link to the magazine. If you click on the Magazine tab at the top, then scroll down there is a blurb about the new S . Wish I knew Dutch . Didn't see any pictures - you probably have to buy the magazine.

http://www.autovisie.nl/

[Paul]

It's pretty much what the other mags have been saying, they might even use the same fake photos of some of the other mags.

Not long really now until we'll all see it for real.

[Eelke]

The picture is a mock-up, but contrary to Auto Express they actually clearly point out it is a "computer drawing". They usually do this to liven up stories about cars for which no illustrations are available; they base these drawings on fact as much as possible, though - and as far as I know they get their own artists to do an impression. The picture (which is very high quality, almost two page and photorealistic) looks like a 'shop of a Space Blue Cooper S Checkmate, with the checkers on the side removed (but with the U-shaped bonnet stripes and silver roof), with an added aero pack (with chrome grill surround instead of black), JCW Cup spoiler (so not the rice jobbie launched recently, but those used on the racing cars), cross spoke 17" wheels and a wide stripe along the bottom, just above the aero side skirt.

AutoVisie is a very respectable magazine (who usually doesn't report anything unless something really is up, but we already kenw that) and what sets this story apart from what we've heard so far is that they are actually quoting sources within Min, which say:
- Lightweight version, e.g. rear seat removed.
- JCW to tune the engine
- Will largely look like a normal Mini (so none of this speedster nonsense).

AV also speak of 15% weight reduction, which should put the car at 950-1000 kg, and of a power-to-weight ratio of 4,5 kg/bhp (implying ~220 bhp), which puts it in Boxster S and M3 territory.

[Paul]

Thankfully this is what we've largely been saying since day one. They're still not confirming JCW branding though.

Like you say, the speedster stuff is just nonsense. I reckon we're looking large intakes on the front, more aeordynamic tweaking, maybe a bit more "windswept" in appearance. Threadbare but "racey" interior, new panels in all the right places, nice seats in certain markets.... I believe it will look significantly "special", but still very much like the S we all know and love. (Andif you don't love it, your're in the wrong place!).



We've been saying 10-15% weight reduction for a long time, but that is quite significant, so who knows what will actually be acheived.

I think I'm out of the market though, as even though this would replace a 2-seater, I really need a 4-seater. So for me this could just be a dream car.... We'll see.

[DinkaDonka]

Put my name down for one of these puppies today , they happily took £500 of me so they must be going ahead?

Anyway , well and truly back into the minis!

Dinka

[Damo]

Quote: Originally Posted by DinkaDonka

Put my name down for one of these puppies today , they happily took £500 of me so they must be going ahead?

Anyway , well and truly back into the minis!

Dinka

Even with RedUn gettin...

....what he's gettin (Not sayin in case its top secret )

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by DinkaDonka

Put my name down for one of these puppies today , they happily took £500 of me so they must be going ahead?

Anyway , well and truly back into the minis!

Dinka

nice to see you coming back mate