[update] Here's a post on Roadfly from someone who claims to have talked to a BMW employee that was assigned as the liason for the development of the JCW package for the MCS. Some interesting stuff if true.
From MINIUSA:
Woodcliff Lake, NJ March 3, 2003…. At the 2003 Geneva Auto Show, MINI announced an exciting enhancement to the MINI Cooper S for the U.S. market – the John Cooper Works package. The exciting 200 hp. Cooper S package will be coming to our shores this spring.
Developed by the legendary John Cooper Works company, the unique warranted package will be sold exclusively through MINI dealers and will include a reconfigured cylinder head, uprated supercharger along with special engine electronics and a performance rear silencer. This enhancement takes the regular 163hp MINI Cooper S to over 200hp. Detailed U.S. specifications and pricing will be forthcoming.
I imagine the official pricing information will come out at the NYC auto show but I'm guessing we may here something before then. You can find more details in this previous post from last week.
<p>I seem to remember Minimania advertising a similar kit for the cooper, can't seem to find it at the website anymore. Was I mistaken?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.minimania.com/" rel="nofollow">Mini Mania</a> does have a turbo kit coming out for the Cooper (not the MCS) that produces 200hp. It's not released that I know of.</p>
<p>I belive that's "brit" for Suburu.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26100">here's a review</a> from the first JCW owner in the UK.</p>
<p>I called mini (california) today and asked about the JCW kit. They told me the estimated cost is going to be $5000-6000. very steep…………..</p>