John Cooper Works on MINI.com
MINI has updated the international portion of the website to include the JCW MINI and JCW Clubman. There is a little bit of information there that we already posted, but it is nice to see it on the official site.
Of course we still can’t actually build one online. We’ll probably have to wait a few more months for that to happen. Don’t worry though, we’ll be sure to give you a heads-up as soon as we know more. However you may want to start rescheduling meetings now, just to be safe.
[ John Cooper Works ] MINI.com
Wow, that looks good! Obviously it comes with a distinctive body kit. . . just kidding.
LOL cough cough
If the body kit is not standard, why advertised the JCW model with it? This is false advertising!
It is common practice to show any model with optional equipment. If nothing else, it sparks interest in the brand. Take a look at the first car ad you see in any major automotive magazine and read the fine print. You will quickly see that most vehicles are shown in a configuration costing 30-100% over the base price.
Q: If the body kit is not standard, why advertised the JCW model with it?
A: Because the relaunch of the John Cooper Works doesnt only include the models (R55 & R56), it also includes the entire JCW productportfolio which has to be advertised for as well. Thats the reason why the R56 is fully specd whereas the R55 isnt!
Thats why they have the “Accessories & Collection” part of the website, to show off the non-standard JCW items.
I still believe that it would have made much more sense to show both the R55 and R56 in both forms. Clearly mark one as the base car and one as a option heavy car. From reading information from the Geneva show I have already read many reports were the writers are talking about the body kit and stance as if they come with the vehicle. Think this is already causing some level in the non-Mini ranks. I also believe that there is bound to be a moderate level of feedback about this once people start figuring it out.
What I would like to see is Mini letting Fifth Gear and Top Gear have access to the base R56 and R56. I could tell you the response from both shows as soon as the fairly soft factory suspension hit the track. A performance car that doesn’t have a suspension upgrade?? I have respect for Mini but the default suspension in the car is long shot from “go-cart” feel to me personally.
I’m surprised every “Factory JCW” press release doesn’t show the car with all the carbon fiber accents too — might as well make everyone think they’re getting a $42k MINI at the released sub $30k price.
It is truly annoying that all of the major car magazines are showing and stating that the factory JCW comes with the body kit. The latest issue of EVO (vol 116) has a nice four page spread and goes into detail about the motor and DTC components yet states the it comes with a body kit. They note that there are a multitude of options and appear on track with the suspension and brake options. Odd, it’s almost as it Mini is seeing how much a stir would be caused and then will decide what to actually have the car equipped with as a standard kit.
I believe that BMW/Mini understands that presenting a performance car without a suspension upgrade that doesn’t look any different that the base R56 would not have nearly the impact the fully optioned car will have. I don’t actually have much of a problem with them showing the cars as they have but they should be telling everybody that the body kit and suspension along with the seats, steering wheel are all optional extras.
Feeling a tad let down by Mini this week, maybe I will be in luck and catch a R60 story to make this the best Mini week ever lol.
Jon, I agree that there’s nothing inherently wrong with putting your best foot forward to market a product . . . show it in its best form — but I have never seen this kind of confusion (which is starting to appear intentional) as to what is offered in a factory package.
This would be like BMW announcing next week that the new M3 will NOT look like it has in every press release to date — it’ll look like a 335 with an M3 badge: “What we’ve shown you so far is what an M3 COULD look like if you buy these other optional packages.”
“Wow look, it comes with the Body Kit after all!”
sike!
Exactly my feeling too eager2own. I think the issue Mini had was directly related to the BMW 135i. I believe the reason for the piecemeal approach by the factory is that they were looking at running directly into the 135i territory. I also have to say that no matter if the car would have had been setup nicely its still a tough sell when the 135i beckons. I think BMW/Mini actively choose to build this car in such a way that it would slot in below the 135i.
Still would have been happier if Mini choose to develop this car with its competition in mind rather than the BMW brand 1 series. Think this development leads right back to the original discussion of what the 1 Series would do to the Mini brand in the US.
Still amazes me that a Mini race car would be blown away by the ugly little Mazda speed 3, with the $30,000 extra in savings you could put a world class suspension in it too and have something that would eat our race car every time.
What’s with the off-road ride height?
wondering are those the seats the US is going to get? or we are going to end up with the crappie ones.
Once again the US will not be getting the European optional JCW Recaro seats. Will be getting the standard R56 seats offerings.
Jon, even the JCW suspension is a long shot from “go cart feel”.
Agreed but the stock suspension to the JCW suspension are very different beasts. The standard suspension in the R56 feels way to soft and is to conservative to me, while the JCW suspension still could be taken further it would make sense on the Factory JCW. Adding power without adding suspension is a joke in my world view.
Well, for the performance minded real racers, we can always depend on the MINI Challenge Race Car, right?
lol, crying out loud.
I’m with you Jon. As a R53 and a R56 JCW (tuning/suspension) owner I can tell you that the stock R53 suspension handles better and feels “go carty” than the R56 JCW. Apparently, on the track times prove I’m wrong but I am talking in terms of “feel” and personal preferance.
You are correct that additional power requires better suspension. It’s offered but at a high price. I feel the stage two should have included a body kit (as they said it would) and the JCW suspension as well as other special doo dads. Charge $35k plus but make it a better deal than having to piece it together as it turned out.
The fact that it’s offered with just stock suspension which totally sucks is so lame. The more I hear about the stage two the more I dislike it.
The stage one is a much better value(anybody want to buy mine?).
What a sharp looking car.
Gabe, any chance that JCW will offer JCW only paint colours/schemes?
Calogero the Factory car is being handled exactly the same as the standard R56. There are no plans for specialty colors for the car. I have been hopeful that this would not be the case as I think an optional unique color could let the factory car stand out.
so let me get this straight.
You spend this much for a JCW only car.
And you can get a regular r56 and make it look the same?
See, when honda came out with the mugen si, they stuck with it..
The mugen parts are not available as options. they require a VIN and proof of ownership of a genuine mugen release to obtain parts.