Official price and stats from MINI USA on John Cooper Works S

[Paul]

We've seen most of the information in the press release before (hence not making it a full news story), but I never noticed the official retail price was included!

Sorry for that!

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England's John Cooper Works Company Offers New Performance Package For The MINI Cooper S

Warrantied by MINI, 200 HP Kit Makes U.S. Debut At 2003 New York International Auto Show

The Big Apple witnesses the debut of an
exciting enhancement to the MINI Cooper S for the U.S. market ? the John
Cooper Works package. Produced by the legendary aftermarket company, John
Cooper Works, this exciting 200 hp package comes just 12 months on from
MINI's U.S. launch at the 2002 New York International Auto Show. Now, the
John Cooper Works package offers customers yet another way to individualize
their MINI - this time with real performance in mind.

Developed by the legendary John Cooper Works Company for a global market,
the unique package will be sold exclusively through MINI dealers and will be
covered under MINI's comprehensive new car warranty. The package includes a
reconfigured cylinder head, uprated supercharger along with special engine
electronics and a performance exhaust. This enhancement takes the regular
163hp MINI Cooper S to over 200hp.

Importantly for existing MINI owners, the package can be retrofitted to their
current MINI Cooper S. The complete package comes with an MSRP of $4,500
plus dealer installation.

Performance is at the heart of the MINI Cooper S and the John Cooper Works
Package takes this philosophy one step further. The cornerstone of the package
is an enhanced Eaton supercharger with specially coated vanes that generate
increased flow pressure. The unit comes with a new pulley design that allows
the unit to spin at a higher RPM, generating an increase in power.

A high performance head is also a key ingredient. The modified head has
improved port flow and, crucially has been especially designed for the increased
compression and heat produced by the supercharger.

The package also includes a reprogrammed Electronic Control Unit (ECU), which
manages all engine control functions including airflow, combustion, fueling and
spark advance. The enhanced ECU has been recalibrated to optimize power
output and drivability, resulting in a lively throttle response and increased
acceleration in the mid-range torque band.

Also included in the package is a stainless steel sport exhaust system. The
system is a parallel-flow, low backpressure system with superb interior and
exterior noise quality. The system adds a throatier, more powerful exhaust note
has distinctive looking twin chrome exhaust tips.

The John Cooper Works Cooper S package promises enhanced performance and it delivers. With the package, power is increased to an impressive 200 bhp at 6950 rpm from the same 1.6 liters of displacement. In comparison, the already
impressive MINI Cooper S produces 163 bhp at 6000 rpm in unmodified form.
Torque is also up, rating at 177 foot-pounds at 4,000 rpm for the equipped car
versus 155 foot-pounds at 4,000 rpm for the unequipped car.

The John Cooper Works equipped MINI Cooper S sprints from 0-60 in an
improved 6.5 seconds with a top speed increased to 140 mph. This compares to
a 0-60 time for the unequipped MINI Cooper S of 6.9 seconds and a top speed
of 135 mph. The performance upgrade with the John Cooper Works package is
very noticeable in all driving conditions and is an ideal compliment to the superb
handling and chassis dynamics of the MINI Cooper S.

Visual cues are understated and will appeal to the MINI enthusiast. A unique
chrome John Cooper Works badge adorns the rear deck lid and, when raised,
the bonnet reveals a visually appealing silver intercooler surround with John
Cooper Works logo. An individually numbered valve cover plaque tops it off and
commemorates the exclusivity of this special package.

John Cooper Works has engineered this kit so that it can be offered in all
markets where the MINI is sold around the world. Therefore, a MINI Cooper S
equipped with the John Cooper Works Package must be able to withstand
extreme temperatures and variations in fuel quality, but still offer enhanced
power in an extremely reliable package.

The John Cooper Works package is sold and professionally installed through all
MINI dealers in the U.S. A MINI Cooper S equipped with the dealer-installed
package is fully backed by MINI's 4 year 50,000 thousand-mile new car
warranty. And the John Cooper Works package is not just limited to new cars.
Owners of an existing MINI Cooper S may also visit their local MINI dealer and
have the kit installed at any time. The balance of the factory warranty will still
remain in effect.

John Cooper Works is no ordinary aftermarket company. Since the 1940s, the
company has produced celebrated racing cars, notably the front-engine Cooper
Bristol driven by Fangio and rear engine Coopers for Formula 1, driven by Jack
Brabham, Bruce McLaren and Stirling Moss. Under John Cooper's direction, the
Cooper Car Company won consecutive Formula 1 Constructors' World
Championships in 1959 and 1960.

The Cooper name is forever entwined with MINI, originating with the 1961 MINI
Cooper, which was developed by John Cooper. John recognized MINI's inherent
motorsport potential and his team produced cars that took numerous race titles,
and the MINI Cooper S became the stuff of legend with 3 Monte Carlo Rally wins
between 1964 and 1967, driven by greats such as Paddy Hopkirk and Rauno
Aaltonen. The Cooper company continues to produce aftermarket parts for the
classic MINI and played an active part in the development of the new generation
MINI Cooper. John Cooper passed away just as the new car came to market and
the company is now run by his son, Michael.

Jack Pitney, general manager of MINI USA said: "We are thrilled to be bringing
this exciting package to the U.S. MINI's regular specification cars are exhilarating
to drive in themselves, but the addition of this unique package takes the MINI
experience to a whole new level."

Note: The Cooper version of the John Cooper package will not be offered for
sale in the U.S. market.

[MGB Boy]

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul Mullett
We've seen most of the information in the press release before (hence not making it a full news story), but I never noticed the official retail price was included!

Sorry for that!

You didn't miss it, it wasn't there! That release has been on the press site for a couple weeks, but until recently, the line mentioning the price wasn't there. Back on the 16th I posted it as it then stood, without a price...

-Ricardo

[Paul]

Quote:

Originally posted by MGB Boy
You didn't miss it, it wasn't there! That release has been on the press site for a couple weeks, but until recently, the line mentioning the price wasn't there. Back on the 16th I posted it as it then stood, without a price...

-Ricardo

Phew, I thought I was going mad!

I just read over it today, saw the price, and thought 'oops, how did that slip past me!'... All the rest we've already published a while back, like you say.

Nice to get the official price then!

[jimskater]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

Phew, I thought I was going mad!

I just read over it today, saw the price, and thought 'oops, how did that slip past me!'... All the rest we've already published a while back, like you say.

Nice to get the official price then!

Now to get BMW / MINI to make the Works Kit for the Cooper available in the states.