John Cooper Works GP Tuning Kit First Photos

Sections: JCW | MF Feature Oct 29th, 2005 129 Comments

More photos after the jump…

We’ll have more photos throughout the day…

Here’s a quick update from Philip who just saw the inveiling:

A darksilver MCS was just unveiled. Red mirror caps, special inlays in the front and rear bumbers, very nice rims differentiate the car from a standard MCS when parked side by side.

A full JCW kit, only 2 seats and 40 kg (88lbs) less weight differentiate the new MCS JCW GP even more. The GP is a limited eddition of only 2,000 cars. MINI made is very clear they are not going to build any more. So head to your MAs and sign up if you want one!

Cheers
Philip

These photos come from Mike Feidler who is also attending MINI United:

mini

Written By: Gabe

Lucas

The biggest problem is it doesn’t drop enough weight. If it can drop more weight than a normal MCS with lighter wheels + rear seat delete, then its worth a look. As it is, its a strange looking Mini S and not much more than that.
Tonyt

I’m running a vote on Mini2….

Give it your considerations…

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=103016
Rollin

Also, hope those are not fake brake ducts; that would put it over the top as ricer bling slap ons, instead of the functional Mini GP design that I think we all had hoped for. Those brake inlets in black would have looked better. Windows were dark in the drawings.

Are we disappointed in the weight reduction because it has been called the “rumored light weight” for so long, and not just the “rumored special JCW”? Looking forward to your design critique Gabe.
dgszweda

Gabe,

I think another main complaint is that it doesn’t go far enough. It is almost like the MC40 taken a little further. Again, I would have liked to have seen a real performance minded version. That was the original hype, but I think reality falls short. Even when Mitsubishi came out with the Lancer RS, they did more performance modifications than this car.

I don’t think the exterior looks bad. But again the car is mostly a cosmetic work of art. Which isn’t necessarily bad, but it is a far cry from real performance. Almost everything there you can get from Mini or aftermarket. This is why the MC40 failed. Since this one is even more limited numbers and there is some performance aspect, I think it will sell well. I was expecting something along the “M” line from BMW. That is what makes the “M” so successful. They are modified beyound the capabilities of aftermarket.
Brendan

I think the car looks pretty cool, contrary to many people I actually do like the wheels. However, my choice to order a cooper S checkmate won’t be changed for this car.
dgszweda

This one has the Works seats. Will that be retained for the US market?
Bryn

Yes, Rollin, I could take ALL the windows dark (at a pinch)- as in the artist’s impression – or none dark or even the rear ones dark (as shown) but with the roof black to match.
NoSoupForYou

Well I can finnally stop waiting and just order a factory ’06 MCS-JCW without regrets. Thanks MotoringFile!
http://www.champcarfanatics.com mg5904

No word yet on gearing, ECU remap or any massaging of the JCW suspension yet, is there?
BelowRadar

I actually think it looks great: -LOVE the 4 spoke wheels -The color is great -Wing is awesome -Grille trim is painted body color (finally someone realizes how awkward stock has looked) -GP badge and roof number are nice touch -I admit the side skirts are a bit awkward and unfinished looking, but I could certainly deal.

With all of that said, and despite previously being #1 in line at my dealership for the car, I had decided not to get one when the specs came out. I still think the major handicap of this car is the engine, and personally, I’m going to wait for the more powerful, more effiicient, and probably more “tuneable” twinscroll turbo in the MKII. I was really only considering the GP for the rumored 15% weight reduction.

I really like the exclusivity and uniqueness that BMW gave to this car–it is no MC40, thank god–and I think it is well worth the money (especially seeing what people pay for regular MCS’s in So. Cal). However, it’s just not what I’m looking for. It has some really nice looking bells and whistles, but its performance over a regular JCW will be negligible.
joe

maybe its just me .. but even the paint looks flat. perhaps its all the contrasting shades, looks very very cheap.
Wonderdrug

Anyone else notice the chrome gas cap, much like the Cooper’s?
Coopernicus
2 LITTLE 2 LATE, 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS
- OOPS – I said ’2 FAST’
how about ‘NOT FAST ENOUGH 2 JUSTIFY’

…. the ’06 JCW MCS I currently have on order is looking better and better …. (which includes MY colours, MY options, a back seat and SOME CLASS instead of just being all PUNK’ed out, etc., etc.)
http://goofytruax.blogspot.com/ GoofyTruax

I like the wheels. For all of you crapping on MINI for wheel weight, looks like they answered you with a four spoke that cuts it out. What do you want a three spoke? I like the way they look in motion, gives the car a different wheel.
Mark

With Mini only making 2000 of these units, the few that buy them will absolutely love them. Everyone else will be happy with their current Mini or lust after the 07. It is a win-win for everyone.

I think Mini is on the right track by continuing with R&D and actually getting variants into production. Besides, even if it had 1000 HP and dropped 1000 pounds, someone would say it needed 1001 HP and drop 1001 pounds.

I say keep it up Mini.
minihaha

Overall it’s looks like it can do the job. I agree the wheel arches need to be body coloured. I really like the red mirror caps. I’m really tempted to do that on my own DS/DS-MCS, along with red brake calipers.
Dan

If BMW is listening, these reactions are categorical.

Americans claim to not having a class system, so it leaks out in places – cars being one. We the gentry, don’t aspire to out do the surfs. In the US right now, small car + meek performance + over the top styling = every high schooler stereo type piece of junk on the road. This is the same reason for our resistance to hatchbacks.

And for the record, there was nothing wrong with the drawings everyone loved, they were just fantasy enough to avoid this reality.
http://www.bancroftsonline.com Sean Bancroft

I love everthing except the wing and the side skirts.

PS roof color looks great. I love the wheels.
Jon

I LOVE IT!

Those are some wickedly trick rims. I want them on my MCS right now.

I don’t understand the huge backlash against this car…

I applaud MINI for thinking outside the box on this one. Good job!
http://www.nemini.org GMINI

I tend to be affected by the opinions i read. However, I think the car looks great. I would like to see the rear calipers as well. And yeah, I too would really like it if the GP (formerly known as Light Weight) delivered on all the rumoured specs I had expected.
RB

“Anyone else notice the chrome gas cap, much like the Cooper’s?”

Huh? The S has the chrome gas cap not the Copper.

Damn Dan I think I need a Cliff’s notes on that statement.
Allan

I like it, I like it a lot. If it was my choice I would get rid of those side skirts though. ugh.. I just wish they would let you pick more colors (maybe a few NEW colors) and more carbon fibre showing.
Kaelaria

PEE-UKE!!
GSKChicago

I like where they tried to go with the wheels, I unfortunately do not like where they ended up with them. Too bad. Conceptually, good thought, in reality, bummer.

Something about the red mirror caps though, kind of odd, but strangely interesting.
http://www.WebbMotorsports.com Brian@Webbmototsports

Wow… I think everyone is agreement, what is MINI thinking! About the only thing I can see that I like is the little roof graphic, and the seats. So much for a MINI csl…
greg

Are they kidding? Are they drunk? Red mirrors? Those wheels? A whopping 218 HP? An embarrassment. I feel for you people who made commitments to dealers for this for what…$35k?
Jeff

Gabe, I actually halfway like it. Do you have any high res photos that would work as a wallpaper?
dickdavid

I dont know. Mixed feelings about it..the wheels are ugly, the rear wing is a bit much. My favorite parts are the front and rear fascias..I guess thlose arent available as stand-alone options..

I agree. I ALSO LOVE THOSE RED MIRROR CAPS!!!!
groland

If you don’t have a MINI already, have a lot of money and want to buy a fun driver’s car you can get one of these and make it your own by getting some lightweight aftermarket wheels and maybe swapping out the spoiler and sideskirt for the aerokit parts. And for a final touch maybe debadge it.
Rob Rudorf

what a let down. I am not in the market for this car anyway since I just got my MCS 3 weeks ago.

MINI should have used some discretion, it looks like something I’d find in a high school parking lot.
paul

I like it. I think the spoiler looks a little too much like an aftermarket Ford Focus add on, but other than that… pretty good. I agree the red mirrors should have more red bits to go along with them though.
RoccosModernLife

I must admit, it’s growing on me :)
cj

A true “Matchbox” car. No class.
Rob

Not for me, thanks. It looks like an ugly over modded CRX I saw the other day. Wheels are just nasty. Can you say Saturn anyone? The whole execution worries me about MINI and thier future direction if this is the best they can do for a special model. Besides, 88lbs is almost nothing. My ’03 MCS will carry on for now.
tsukiji

Hmmm……I think it should be green with bolts sticking out…y’know, like Frankenstein!
ryan

i am underwhelmed…
Erik

Hi Gabe, First off this site is such a great resource for MINI info, keep up the good work.

I can imagine that redesigning a truely “special” lightweight edition of a modern car is quite an undertaking with the multitude of regulations in a global market place. This car just seems to (just looking at the numbers) fall short in it’s execution of performace gain, all poof and no substance. I think the next time MINI should pull out all the stops or at least $10-15K worth of stops and make a truely special performace oriented version.
ChiliCooperS

I think the car wouldn’t look half bad if they removed the side skirts. After all if you look deeper into the pics/design the rest of the body sculpting is just the stock aero kit, but with it’s own touch. the wheels are ok, but I think others, ie 18″ JCW R90, would be a heck of alot better. I like the color, could go without the stickers, etc. but other than that I think it’s still a good car. I wish Frank Stephenson would come back. PEOPLE REMEMBER THOUGH, THIS ISN’T THE PRODUCTION VERSION YET, GEEZE. ALSO IF YOU THINK THEY’RE GOING TO MAKE A MINI THAT IS 200 OR EVEN 100 PLUS POUNDS LIGHTER YOUR INSANE! IT WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT IS A MINI. I think the side skirts make it ugly, but other than that I really can’t seem more to complain about, I MEAN WHAT DID U X-PECT FROM THOSE DRAWINGS, IT LOOKS THE SAME. I like the car minus a few things, for instance if you look at the front bumper in the 2nd pic, I think it almost make the car look like it has a splitter the way it’s painted, I like that. I really think JCW should stick to very little body design and more performance. Any news on what makes this have 218 instead of 210??
ChiliCooperS

seriously I kinda like the design of side skirt if it was on a smaller scale, more like the aero kit side skirt.
Andrew

I know MINI monitors this site closely so listen up guys. I said it after the MC 40 and I’ll say it again… FOCUS GROUP! If 4 out of 5 enthusiasts disapprove, you did not do your homework. Try consulting with your customer/dealer base next time.
Charlie
Questions I would have include:
1. Are the front silver “brake ducts” real? What’s behind them. (The lower front bumper doesn’t appear to be either a stock unit, or an aero kit piece)
2. Is the tint on the rear glass a removable film…or is the tint in the glass?
3. Will an Aero grill fit in the upper portion of the front bumper cover? (getting rid of the solid insert)
4. How does the rear spoiler attach?
5. How are the silver pieces over the rear bumper grills attached?
Also, the specs on mini2.com say that the front apron is in pure silver…unlike the photos of the car above.
http://users.adelphia.net/~rocketboy/index.html Rocketboy

I like the new side skirts, and the front and rear bumper ‘remix’es. Much better looking than the blandish ‘Aero’ kit. And I don’t get the red mirror caps. Or why it’s sliver on silver (bland on bland). But i LOVE the rims. It’s one of THE best rimsfor a MINI yet. (I cannot stand the horseshoe spoke rims. Blech.)

And when did this site start turning into piss and moan file? First the Tokyo concept, and then this…
Siddhartha

Look what Lotus did with the Exige! Can you say “downforce”? Now THIS is what we were expecting!

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=107587

Well, at least the GP will make pretty floor decoration . . . kinda like the MC40 in that respect.
ChrisW

Red mirror caps = nice!

Rear wing = horrifying! Do you get a complimentary Type-R sticker with that?
M1N1GUN

Wow, this really sends out our 1st gen MINI with a whimper. :(

Performance/weight wise; major disappointment, don’t really need to say much more. What happened to JCW, I would still rather get a stock MCS, then go aftermarket any day.

Appearance wise; I agree with most that the car looks to be a mish-mash of tacky ricer aftermarket pieces. I liked the rear wing in the sketches, but here it looks terrible. Not a fan of those wheels at all, and the side skirt design is too heavy and doesn’t work well with the wheel arches. I don’t mind the red mirror caps in theory but it doesn’t work with the rest of the colours. It may have looked better with a body coloured roof or even red roof.

I hope this underwhelming styling exercise doesn’t continue on to the R56, because I’m really looking forward to the engine.
brian

An MCS loaded with JCW performance parts is more than enough for me to handle and I think the car actually looks good. Unfortunately I won’t be able to pay the premium it will undoubtedly command. Ironic being one of the few (VERY few) people that fully appreciates the GP but can’t secure one.
Xan

I want those wheels . . . and provided that they are the right weight- I WILL have them.
Dan

Here is how a limited edition italian built race inspired Mini is not supposed to look:

http://laughatrice.com/galleries.htm
http://www.hubertus.net/mymini/ Philip

Hi again from Misano,

I just talked to Gerd Hildebrandt, the designer of the MCS JCW GP. He confirmed again that the interior is not yet finished but the car will be a two-seater.

The color is not standard darksilver it is a special color that has a blueish touch. The roof is silver as well as the hood decal.

On the roof above the driver side door will be a special sticker with the car’s number. Remember, only 2,000 will be sold and according to a MINI official only about 35 are left.

Some other observations: There is no rear wiper and the third brake light which sits in the roof is replaced by a silver painted bezel. Because of the wing, you won’t see it anyway.

The rims are 18″ and look really sexy. No insights about their weight though.

I didn’ read all of your comments but I think there is quite a debate going on whether the car is worth being called GP edition. This is a marketing special edition, not a pure race car. If you want to shave of weigth of your MINI you are better off by doing a few things yourself.

I’ve met a guy from Munich with a true lightweight MINI. His MCS – which is painted in the Gulf design – is a not only an eye catcher but also a professionaly made track car with number plates. No radio, nor air-con, much of the interior is gone, recaro special lightweight racing seats, roll-cage (ok, that is not a leight-weight but a safety feature) and racew tuned suspension and Brembo brakes.

Ciao di Misano Philip
firconel

9.5 lbs at each corner, v’s 22 lbs at each corner with standard ‘S’ spokes is quite a weight reduction :D

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