JCW GP Production Update

Sections: JCW May 23rd, 2006 27 Comments

With GP deliveries just months away, quite a few folks are starting to ask various questions about production and real world power output. As always MotoringFile is here to help. We’re happy to report that we have some real answers to these questions from a few highly reliable sources.

The first step in production starts in Oxford. It’s there that the body shells for the GP are actually built. After all the metalwork that’s not needed is stripped out, they are primed and shipped to Italy. Once there, Bertone paints and assembles the final cars. The Italian portion of the assembly is essentially a hand build operation as they have none of the things like robot glazing cells or automated engine stuff that the MINI Oxford Plant has at it’s disposal. Interestingly we’ve been told that the quality control operations have been doubled at Bertone as compared to Oxford. One reason given is the simple fact that humans are not always reliable as machines.

Official output for the GP is listed at 218bhp (214hp). However this is the figure given on the car operating in any market worldwide. Thus fuel, ambient temperature, humidity and so on are all taken into account in that figure. Our sources report that MINI has found GP engines running premium 98 octane in cool damp conditions worked and gave more bhp than something running on 95 octane and extreme heat. Depending on where you live you might get up to 225bhp depending on climate and fuel quality. However that said, MINI expects an output of at least 218bhp (214hp) no matter where you are and no matter what premium petrol you put in the tank.

Once again according to our source, over 100 cars are now built with consistent daily numbers now coming through Oxford as the build process and learning curve improves. On the Italian end of production, the folks at BMW are reportedly very very happy with the end results out of Bertone so far.

You can expect more JCW GP updates throughout the summer culminating with a thorough MotoringFile review of the JCW GP in September or Early October.

Written By: Gabe

http://www.blokspeed.net Eelke

Our sources report that MINI has found GP engines running premium 98 octane in cool damp conditions worked and gave more bhp than something running on 95 octane and extreme heat.

This seems like a bit of a no-brainer, this is true for any engine. In fact, variations in climate conditions having an influence on engine power is the very reason there is a difference between DIN and SAE horsepower (which seem to be designated as BHP and HP on this site, respectively). DIN and SAE simply set their standard conditions (humidity, ambient pressure and temperature) slightly differently. And if BMW hadn’t tuned the engine so that 98 octane fuel didn’t make a difference, they wouldn’t have done their homework right, for a performance-oriented model.
diego

Thanks Gabe. This is some much expected clarification for us GP-owners-to-be that are so anxious to get our hands on this car.
LMB

Gabe did they give you any idea of delivery dates? My dealer told me they’re being delivered in phases and that for the UK anyway, delivery will be Mid August.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

My dealer told me theyÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢re being delivered in phases and that for the UK anyway, delivery will be Mid August.

Yes that seems to be pn par with what I’ve heard. US deliveries (outside the MTTS delivery program) may start about a month later.
MJO MINI

Gabe, let me know if you need a GP to use as your review car. I should be taking delivery of mine in September. I can be reached at ortizbunch@verizon.net
Jim

Geez, 95 & 98 octane gas?

Can I get that anywhere in CA other than at a race supplier?
Todd S.

Gabe, I was wondering if Bertone is planning on placing any Bertone emblem or badge somewhere on the car?
Mario

Octane Ratings arn’t the same in the US and Europe. I believe your 91 is our 95 and your 93 is like our 98.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

In most countries (including all of Europe and Australia) the “headline” octane that would be shown on the pump is the RON, but in the United States and some other countries the headline number is the average of the RON and the MON, sometimes called the Anti-Knock Index (AKI), Road Octane Number (RdON), Pump Octane Number (PON), or (R+M)/2. Because of the 10 point difference noted above, this means that the octane in the United States will be about 4 to 5 points lower than the same fuel elsewhere: 87 octane fuel, the “normal” gasoline in the US and Canada, would be 91 in Europe.

Cheers, Mario
tony T

“However that said, MINI expects an output of at least 218bhp (214hp) no matter where you are and no matter what premium petrol you put in the tank.”

I find theat quote a little odd. Is it actually from BMW Gabe? Only they usually quote output on a set condition, not as an ‘absolutly any configuation’ type condition.

For illustration, I would normally expect a manufacturer to quote in a similar regard to the SI unit of measurement standard. Such as ‘at 20deg C, at sea level’, with recommended fueling (98ron in UK for JCW cars I think) then they ‘guarantee’ 210bhp for the JCW…. along those lines.

Even in the UK, on a hot summers day, you can see a good 10-15% drop in horse power, such that the car is appreciablly sluggish. I would have thought in the extremes around the world this would have been even more noticable? Therefore, with the seemingly minor mechanical changes that have been released about the GP conversion over the standard JCW conversion, I’m surprised to see any such claims of “at least 218bhp”, whatever the conditions/variables.

I have to further query this quote…

“Our sources report that MINI has found GP engines running premium 98 octane in cool damp conditions worked and gave more bhp than something running on 95 octane and extreme heat”.

I’ll be direct and to the point on this one: I bloody well hope so. Otherwise whats the point? Surely someone has made a mistake with that comment? A GP running higher octane fuel and in a cooler climate with denser air outpoerforms a something running lower octane fuel in extreme heat? Confused. very confused.

Best regards. Tony
tony T

?
tony T

I find the above report confussing and in parts unintelligable….

“Our sources report that MINI has found GP engines running premium 98 octane in cool damp conditions worked and gave more bhp than something running on 95 octane and extreme heat.”

This doesn’t make sense.

“However that said, MINI expects an output of at least 218bhp (214hp) no matter where you are and no matter what premium petrol you put in the tank.”

This too. It doesn’t add up. Manufacturers quote accorsding to a set specific set of conditions, not ‘the unknown’. How does the GP suddenly guarantee power out put no matter what grade of fuel or climatic conditions? Most manufacturers usually have a ‘benchmark’ set of conditions – such as 20 celcius, at sealevel etc etc…. I cant see the minor mechanical changes of the GP over the standard JCW suddenly guaranteeing baseline bhp of 218hp…? very confussed.
tony T

I find the above report confussing and in parts unintelligable….

“Our sources report that MINI has found GP engines running premium 98 octane in cool damp conditions worked and gave more bhp than something running on 95 octane and extreme heat.”

This doesn’t make sense.
tony T

Gabe, my attempted comments on this story never get on… is there some kind of ‘auto censorship on posts I should know about…?
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Not that I’m aware of.
Revhed

Does anyone know what the specific changes are that lead to the increase in power over the regular JCW bits?
Charlie

The hardware is essentially the same. The additional HP, from what I understand, is coming from “software tweeks” to the engine’s computer system.
http://www.blokspeed.net Eelke

Gabe, my attempted comments on this story never get onÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦ is there some kind of ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‹Å“auto censorship on posts I should know aboutÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦?

Same here, apparently. I left a comment yesterday, but it doesn’t make it.
Charlie

According to Stracco, the MINI Product Mgr. the GP has a new intercooler which accounts for most of the HP changes in the GP
http://Motoringfile.com Mark Hendrie

Apparently getting my motor at the end of next month so thanks for the update – cannot wait!
Simone

for Italy the ship is august/september
http://Motoringfile.com Mark Hendrie

Just phoned to double check and my car is expected to arrive exactly 5 weeks from today – so I hope the dealer is right and I do not have to wait until August!
Charles

A salesman at Knauz told me they expect cars in October.
Jim
OK, I posted this up on MINI2.com, but I’ll ask it here, too:

Differences between US Spec & UK Spec:
```
* UK lists floor mats as standard equipment.
* No mention of floor mats in the US brochure.
```
Are US buyers going to have to pay extra for freakin’ floor mats?
```
* UK buyers get "Recaro Sports Seats in leather (heated)"
* US buyers get "Sports Seats (heated)"
```
Are the US seats going to be decontented from the 1/2 leather we’ve been lead to expect?
```
* UK buyers get "16" JCW brakes up front"
* US buyers get "16" JCW breaks up front"
```
I spelled that very carefully.
```
* UK Buyers get "Interior lights pack"
* US Buyers get "Light package"
```
So what are these, and is there any difference between the Interior lights pack and the Light package?
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

* UK lists floor mats as standard equipment. * No mention of floor mats in the US brochure. Are US buyers going to have to pay extra for freakinÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ floor mats?

This is market dependent. Most US based dealers throw in a set of floor mats with any MINI purchase.

* UK buyers get “Recaro Sports Seats in leather (heated)” * US buyers get “Sports Seats (heated)” Are the US seats going to be decontented from the 1/2 leather weÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ve been lead to expect?

As we reported last October, the US market will not have Recaros but instead will have cloth/leather seating similar to the Octogan Cloth and Leather combination.

* UK buyers get “16″ JCW brakes up front” * US buyers get “16″ JCW breaks up front” I spelled that very carefully.

The JCW Brakes are the same the world over. Everyone will get the same stock JCW brakes kit on their GPs. And no, they aren’t actually 16″ rotors. Somehow that incorrect figure found it’s way into an early press release and has been misleading people ever since.

* UK Buyers get “Interior lights pack” * US Buyers get “Light package” So what are these, and is there any difference between the Interior lights pack and the Light package?

No difference. All US bound MINIs get the Interior lights pack.
Jim

Thanks, Gabe.

I guess them’s the breaks.

However, all y’all ‘ll be needing brakes if you want the car to stop.
Jim
- UK buyers get ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œ16ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â³ JCW brakes up frontÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â
- US buyers get ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œ16ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â³ JCW breaks up frontÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â I spelled that very carefully. brakes if you want the car to stop.
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