MINI’s Future JCW Vehicle(s)

Given the articles I’ve seen on this site, this doesn’t come as a surprise at all. Just a couple of weeks ago you ran snippets of a discussion with a MINI rep who said there wasn’t going to be much room for improvement in the aftermarket world.

I too would hope that there’s a “Stage 2″ with 220+, but the fact that their scratching their heads at this point and considering putting out a 200bhp JCW worries me. You can re-brand all you want, and make a car look the business (there’s plenty of Civics around which try to do just that), but if the numbers at the end of the day are 200bhp, I don’t think this will be the M-car of MINIs.

The thing that matters is that these upgrades will be available to add to the current R56. If they aren’t I will have a few dissappointed customers who are buying this new model expecting to add some more in house tuned power to their cars.

But won’t the new one have way more torque also!?

I hope this is not the case. I think a staging system would be a mess. If MINI want to build JCW into an M-like phenomena MINI should just release one well-done, powerful product.

“‘I’d consider this stage 1 JCW kit if it was half the price of the previous kit and didn’t require the sport package.’

You may get your wish.”

Well I had to wait until the final comment I read to hear something good out of this article. “Staging” the JCW cars could work, but may prove to be too complicated. If the JCW Stage 1 is only $2-3k more than a MCS that would be ok… but only if the Stage 2 JCW is around 250hp, AWD, and around a $32k beast.

At that point MINI would have a large brand spread, from the MINI Cooper with 120hp to a MINI JCW2 with 250hp and AWD. That also puts it up against the VW line with the Rabbit/GTI/R32.

Drew

I echo Jon’s sentiments. I never envisioned that when I passed up the R53 JCW in anticipation of the newer technology R56 version that I would be subjected to such a lengthy wait by Mini with no clear vision for the car and schedule for its production. Regrettably, because of this, I fear there will be no Mini parked in my garage. But if I buy a 335i, does BMW really care? I think not.

When they say they can’t get a lot of power, they probably mean without sacrificing ‘driveability’ – meaning they get turbo lag, rough idle, or something acceptable to the aftermarket, but not on a factory car.

I personally would buy a 200 hp JCW if it is a great overall package – suspension, brakes, body kit, and some power.

It goes to show you that the “low-tech” TRITEC engine is a pretty capable little beast. Long live the TRITEC!

After I read in NAM that people are trading in their JCW R53′s and getting only 13k as a starting point regardless it is a JCW or not, it makes me wonder if the extra cash is worth it. I am very happy with my setup on my R53 and I didn’t pay anything close to a JCW setup. Plus I service my car at Morristown Mini and they are performance enthusiasts which have led to no problems as far as warranties and service is concerned, so the whole piece of mind of a MINI brand upgrade does not stand as an excuse to get quality products other that JCW.

It seems to me that the branding solution here is to hold the actual MCS JCW until the big power version comes along. Sell the “stage 1″ as a kit or option for the regular car, not as a seperate model. Like the way BMW sells both M cars and M packages for lesser Bimmers, but with the added bonus of more power. 200hp plus uprated suspension in a regular MCS would be quite nice, I’m sure.

What I’d really like these JCW cars/packages to do is make the Sport Button’s “on” setting as the default.

boy you can tell the people who buy the cute cars because of marketing from those who buy cars because they are fun

No thanks Glen, I dont like tofu, go ahead and finish it off yourself

How much power does one need? How much is too much? In 2010, don’t you think global warming and fuel economy will mean more than they do even today. I hope MINI takes a step off the bandwagon of insatiable levels of horsepower.

More power does not necessarily equal decreased fuel economy or higher emissions…the current-gen Altima and Camry hybrids are plenty quick, and even non-hybrid technology (like VW’s Twincharger) promises a future of quicker (but still less-environmentally intrusive) cars.

You know, of course, that the R56 is faster AND more fuel-efficient than the car it replaces, right? And besides, why bring these comments here in the first place…this is probably the only car site on the web where 230hp = “insatiable” :)

I am with Glen on this one actually. It would be nice to revisit this thread in 5 years and see if there are any changes in consumer perspectives about energy consumption. It would be amazing to see a 220 plus HP Mini that runs in anything other than gasoline. BTW: to care about the environment you don’t need to be a patchouli tofu eater but rather an individual with some common sense. The truth is that I bet right now that a company such as Honda will be the first one to offer a ride like this and then the rest will follow. 1972 Honda civic comes to mind.

I’m casting my vote for dr as MF participant of the day. The Earth’s temperature fluctuates on it’s own regardless of what we do. Puny mankind CANNOT affect this! This crap is all about political agendas and the rest of the world which pollutes far more than the US being jealous of our standard of life.

In the 70′s the envirocommunists were whinning about global COOLING! Where are those guys now? Furthermore, there is less pollution and more trees now than 30 years ago! DO NOT BUY THIS GARBAGE! AND KEEP IT OUT OF MF! And give me 250 HP on JCW3!

Quite funny and ironic how the guys with the uninformed, nonscientific, right-leaning opinions are ranting the loudest…

As a long time BMW owner (’77 2002, ’94 325i), I have always been a fan of the M series cars, but they have been out of reach financially. I have a 2005 MCS and love it, but when you start looking at a $35000 Mini / JCW, a used BMW M3 becomes a serious alternative for me. I think that Mini needs to make a 230+ BHP version, with the suspension, brakes, and looks to match, at a decent price, or driving enthusiasts will start to look elsewhere. The new and used market has a lot of vehicles that can run with the current R53 MCS JCW if a buyer is strictly seeking performance. Going fast with a 1.6 liter engine that is economical and reliable is quite a feat, so this gets kudos above and beyond performance alone. There is however a price ceiling, and Mini needs to recognise this. I think that by offering the “stage one” kit they are making an attempt to keep impatient hot shoes interested, however it may also be a sign that they are having trouble meeting reliability goals with the new “trick” engine. I hope I’m wrong, because I have left a deposit with my dealer on a M56 JCW… whenever they actually come out…2008? I’m cautiously optimistic.

Oh my…. I think i’ll stick with my old cooper S got 210 hp and i am happy..