RE: Lightweight Mini launches
Tuesday 1st November 2005
A bit aftermarket?As revealed by PistonHeads last week, there's a new, limited edition Mini on the block. From July 2006, the Mini Cooper S with John Cooper Works (JCW) GP Kit will deliver a power output of around 218bhp -- that's 136bhp per litre -- and a weight loss of 40Kg over the standard car. Only 2,000 will be built, some 20 per cent of which will be sold in the UK.
Lightweight Mini launches
Lighter, yes, but not prettier, say most
A bit aftermarket?
- 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.
- Weight loss has been achieved by engineering tweaks and chassis changes, said BMW. For instance, the longitudinal control arms on the rear axle are now aluminium, while sound-deadening material and the rear seats have been stripped out.
- Modifications to the intercooler as well as engine tuning measures have increased power output by -- wait for it -- 8bhp. Maximum torque is now 180lb-ft, compared to the Cooper S's 162lb-ft, so the JCW-equipped car gets a limited slip differential and dynamic stability control as standard to handle the extra torque.
- The John Cooper Works brakes at the front get red callipers, set behind specially-designed, lighter 18-inch alloy wheels.
- The special edition will only be available in grey-blue metallic combined with a silver roof and red wing mirrors. The air scoop on the bonnet and in the front apron are also silver.
- Interior standard equipment includes Recaro sports seats, single CD, air-conditioning and a multi-function steering wheel.
- A new aerodynamics package - front and rear aprons, a wing-shaped rear spoiler, underbody panelling and lower side sills result, said BMW, in a less drag and more downforce front and rear.
Reaction to the new car on dedicated Mini forums has been - er - negative, with comments centring around the blacked out windows and aftermarket look of the bolted on accessories. See what you think....
- Lightweight Mini pics leak
- More pictures here
Discussion
Have they missed the point?
Lighter - yes,
bespoke suspension components - yes,
more torque - yes,
no rear seats - yes
But
* Air con WTF?
* 8 BHP ??
If it wears the Cooper badge and it is supposed to be a circuit competetive /track day/hooned version, surely the word compromise was also on the drawing board?
I would think it will still be noticibly quicker but with plenty of aftermarket companies now offering performance bits is there a market for this 'half way house' car?
Lighter - yes,
bespoke suspension components - yes,
more torque - yes,
no rear seats - yes
But
* Air con WTF?
* 8 BHP ??
If it wears the Cooper badge and it is supposed to be a circuit competetive /track day/hooned version, surely the word compromise was also on the drawing board?
I would think it will still be noticibly quicker but with plenty of aftermarket companies now offering performance bits is there a market for this 'half way house' car?
Plotloss said:
Still think they should do a Cooper R with c300bhp...
and why not.. this car could be a competition killer and put MINI where Mini was 40 years ago. 300 horses is not unatainable given the resources bmw have available to them and for once they could make us proud.
But what do they deliver? 8 hp and Halfordtastic bolt ons
red wing mirrors p l e a s e
The thing that "hurts" the MCS is excess weight.
If they'd kept the power increae, and reduced the weight by c100kg, they'd have achieved a power to weight ratio of 200 bhp/tonne.
As for a 300 bhp MINI, the Cooper S gearbox is only rated to 254 bhp, so the only route forward there is to replace the gearbox, if you want it to last more than 20k miles!
If they'd kept the power increae, and reduced the weight by c100kg, they'd have achieved a power to weight ratio of 200 bhp/tonne.
As for a 300 bhp MINI, the Cooper S gearbox is only rated to 254 bhp, so the only route forward there is to replace the gearbox, if you want it to last more than 20k miles!
jellison said:
An original Mini Cooper S with an uprated 100bhp engine (not that expensive) has a better power to weight and would murder it round the real twisty bits.
My JCW Mini Cooper S (210) is a riot of fun and a truly worthy choice for the enthusiast. And yes, I used to own an original Mini Cooper S and whilst it was a lot of fun, I wouldn't think of comparing them. They're from totally different eras.
I was on track at Spa earlier this year in my M3 CSL and there was this full JCW racing MCS from the Belcar championship on track that was very quick. Still not as quick as a 'near' standard CSL, so we need to put things in perspective. For the modest target price of £22k (my JCS MCS cost over £23k) if they are able to deliver a car that's more fun to drive than the standard car then I say well done. Less weight and less compromised suspension would be good, but they need to loose the cheesy aftermarket bits and keep things pukka and tasteful.
>> Edited by DoctorD on Tuesday 1st November 12:44
Why can't they do with this what they did with the M3 CSL over the standard E46 M3?
Carbon bonnet, roof, boot.
Thinner glass all round.
Dump air-con, add lightweight multipiston brakes.
Fancy suspension (ala Renault Clio Trophy)
Lightweight wheels.
Dump electric mirrors, dump luxuries like multichangers etc.
Add carbon trim where it was heavy plastic/metal.
Like so many have said, there is nothing here that anyone can't do already themselves, for alot less money, and with more taste.
This is just an official Chavved up MINI... ugly bag of shite.
As per power, well it isn't the way to go. 220bhp seems optimum for the chassis as it is. Dumping more weight is the way to go imho, 100kg could easily be lost.
Lower weight means better acceleration, better braking, better feel, better turn-in, off the wheels it gives better braking and acceleration again, and a smoother ride.
Thats all before we add any upgrades at all to engine or brakes etc.
Unlike the CSL which was aimed at people who would take a compromise for outright performance at a cost, this is just made for people who "think" it's a good car, but it just isn't reall is it.
Bag of poo!
Dave
Carbon bonnet, roof, boot.
Thinner glass all round.
Dump air-con, add lightweight multipiston brakes.
Fancy suspension (ala Renault Clio Trophy)
Lightweight wheels.
Dump electric mirrors, dump luxuries like multichangers etc.
Add carbon trim where it was heavy plastic/metal.
Like so many have said, there is nothing here that anyone can't do already themselves, for alot less money, and with more taste.
This is just an official Chavved up MINI... ugly bag of shite.
As per power, well it isn't the way to go. 220bhp seems optimum for the chassis as it is. Dumping more weight is the way to go imho, 100kg could easily be lost.
Lower weight means better acceleration, better braking, better feel, better turn-in, off the wheels it gives better braking and acceleration again, and a smoother ride.
Thats all before we add any upgrades at all to engine or brakes etc.
Unlike the CSL which was aimed at people who would take a compromise for outright performance at a cost, this is just made for people who "think" it's a good car, but it just isn't reall is it.
Bag of poo!
Dave
You gotta love the way they went to the slightly "try hard" extent of removing the rear seats (ala Nova) but left in the air con system, CD player etc. Personally I value staying cool in a summer traffic jam over back seat passengers too, but thats why I'd buy a proper sportscar rather than a kevved up minature-BMW :-)
mutt said:
If Renault can replace the back seats in a Clio with a V6 at an affordable price, one would think that BMW could do more than add 8 bhp and red mirrors...
I agree ... what's the point of ripping the back seats out if you're not going to put the engine there??
stripped out the back seats? blacked out the rear windows?
they've created a small fast van for chavs!!
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