MotoringFile » Archive » EVO Comparison: JCW MCS vs Clio 197

EVO Comparison: JCW MCS vs Clio 197

One of our favorite motoring magazines has a comparison between to of the hostest hatches out there; the new JCW MCS and the Renault Clio 197. While the MCS tested didn’t have the new JCW Suspension (or sport suspension as it sounds) it did have the newly released JCW engine package. Here’s an excerpt:

In the MINI you can go into a corner at something other than the perfect speed and yet come out the other side without feeling it’s a wasted opportunity. It moves around, engages and involved more than the Clio. The fact that it feels significantly faster in a straight line is an added bonus that makes nipping in and out of the everyday traffic just that bit more fun.

You can find the full article on bookstores and magazine shops that sell EVO.

The 0-60 times EVO got for this particular test makes it seem like the test driver was smoking a pipe and wearing a tweed coat. Aggressive it is not at 7.6 seconds for the MCS. But the track time looks to be much more respectable getting around the EVO test track in a time of 1:30.80 – almost a full second faster than the more powerful Clio. Actually it’s faster than a number of other cars: BMW 130i, Mercedes S65 AMG, Ford Focus ST and the VW Golf R32 to name a few. It’s also almost a full four seconds faster than the standard Cooper S.

But before you JCW owners start to feel too smug, it’s still down almost four seconds to cars like the Porsche Cayman S and the BMW Z4 M Coupe.

Okay okay… you can read the article here.

Motoring Advisor Oct 26th, 2007 Link

Nah… I still feel smug… since the Cayman S base price is 60K, while my Works equipped R56 prices out at about 32K.

jas cooper Oct 26th, 2007 Link

Gotta like those seats in the Clio…

Jon Oct 26th, 2007 Link

Yeah, why is it so hard to get factory-equipped Recaro seats in the USA?

RB Oct 26th, 2007 Link

I’d feel smug, hell those others, Cayman etc, should be way better.

Jon E Oct 26th, 2007 Link

It is interesting to note that the MINI’s lap time is only 0.6 seconds behind the Lotus Elise S. I would have guessed that the Elise would be substantially quicker than the MINI. However, not knowing what the track looks like its hard to know which cars it favors. It would be real interesting to see a lap time for a MCS JCW with the JCW suspension package.

I sure wish MINI would offer Recaro seats like the ones pictured in the Clio 197.

Mark (Texas) Oct 26th, 2007 Link

why is it so hard to get factory-equipped Recaro seats in the USA

Not hard, MINI just has to want to do it. Because the seatbelt/airbag system Fed requirements in the U.S. are different than in the EU, it means they would need to have Recaro seats with side airbags specifically designed and manufactured for the U.S. MINIs. Currently MINI does not think it would be cost-effective to do so.

Victor Oct 26th, 2007 Link

I would love to the track to understand how 20 more horses and 10 ft.lbs shaved off 4 seconds off a road track.

Jon E Oct 26th, 2007 Link

Perhaps the time listed for the stock MCS was the previous generation car?

greg Oct 26th, 2007 Link

No SS much less a JCW suspension. Bet the tires were all season. My JCW was $40K and I love it 2x as much as my $70K CMN S. A bargain id you ask me.

timmee Oct 29th, 2007 Link

is the MCS JCW on test equipped with standard suspension?

thou Nov 1st, 2007 Link

Clarification is required – the four second slower lap time for Cooper S from the EVO list is an R53. EVO has not timed a non-JCW R56 MCS.

MotoringFile » Archive » EVO Magazine Drives the R56 JCW (Updated) Nov 12th, 2007 Link

[...] EVO Magazine Compares the R56 JCW and the Clio 197 ] [...]

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EVO Comparison: JCW MCS vs Clio 197

Sections: In the Press | JCW Oct 26th, 2007 13 Comments

Written By: MF Staff