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By Nick Trott
First Drives
14 July 2008 14:17
Mini is attempting to create a sub-brand with JCW – think of it as the company’s own M Division – which means the John Cooper Works is more than the ultimate Mini. It's the first of many high-performance, high-hoon Minis.
The first JCW, just driven by CAR Online, goes to war with the Honda Civic Type-R and Ford Focus ST, and while not as spacious as the Ford or Honda, it promises stunning pace and superb consumption and emissions figures. Or so Mini claims.
There are many similarities – but a few crucial differences too. First up, the four-cylinder turbocharged engine co-developed with PSA gets 208bhp – up from 173bhp – thanks to new intake valves, reinforced pistons, a new exhaust and revised turbocharger. Mini has confirmed this motor will not power any future Peugeot/Citroen vehicle: it is a JCW motor, and a batty one at that.
Elsewhere, the Mini gets the JCW aerodynamic kit, bespoke 17-inch alloy wheels (18s are an option) and larger discs with upgraded calipers. The suspension and seats are as per the Cooper S, but air-con and Dynamic Traction Control are fitted as standard for the first time on a Mini.
Click 'Next' below to read more of our Mini John Cooper Works first drive
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Mini John Cooper Works (2008) CAR review
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BenA says
RE: Mini John Cooper Works CAR review
A Ssangyong sounds like a suitable punishment! Hopefully nice and old with a few creaks and groans... :-P
16 July 2008 22:51
TimPollard says
One or two mistakes crept into Nick's review of the Mini JCW. We've now fixed a couple of gremlins - namely that the JCW has a supercharger (clearly not, all new-gen Mini Cooper S-based models have a turbocharger) and that the bodykit is JCW-specific. It's not. We have, obviously, removed the Mini keys from writer Trott's hands and sent him home in a Ssangyong. Apologies all round...
16 July 2008 13:02
farmersboy says
They should have made it smaller.....um...
16 July 2008 07:50
blubberfish says
I just wish the mini weighed a bit less - this one weighs the same as the original Impreza that had all that heavy 4wd gubbins. OK it didn't need the crash safety stuff this mini has but I still think that this car would be ultimately more fun if it was a bit lighter, and of course better on fuel/better handling etc etc. When will they start making cars with all plastic panels with deformable technology underneath the panels instead of relying on the steel to absorb some of the impact?? I guess because of the stigma attached to a 'plastic car'..
15 July 2008 22:16
I also spotted a couple more differences between the bodykit featured here, and the one on my car - mine is missing a JCW badge on the lower grille, and only has one exhaust pipe, and not twins in the middle. No response from the CAR team yet?
15 July 2008 15:53
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