First Factory JCW MINIs Roll Off the Line?

C4 Apr 11th, 2008 Link

Ahhh, Chili Red and white… The fastest MINI color.

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dave Apr 11th, 2008 Link

they look optioned up; or at least w/ crown spokes and rear fog lights. if they were to be modified to challenge cars off site, wouldn’t they be stripper cars?

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mike Apr 11th, 2008 Link

Am I missing something? Are all factory JCWs going to be red?

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Mr. Bean Apr 11th, 2008 Link

So if these are factory JCWs, where are the body kits on them?

Bean (Mr.)

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robble Apr 11th, 2008 Link

I noticed the truck in back carrying MINI at a 45 degree angle.

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Jon Apr 11th, 2008 Link

I am betting these are the next batch of JCW race cars since they all come in Chili Red and have the rear fogs. Guess it could be dealer JCW Mini’s though as Mini has shown the car with the same paint scheme. Betting on the race car though.

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C4 Apr 11th, 2008 Link

Hey Robble, amazing how the cars don’t get damaged when positioned like that.

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Eliot R. Apr 11th, 2008 Link

If these really are the factory JCW cars, all I have to say is one word: lame. If you are going to spend at least 7 grand more than a base car on a “unique” model, it should look like it. Looks like the dealer-installed kit will be my choice for some time…

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James Apr 11th, 2008 Link

Mr. Bean -

If you look back over some of MF’s earlier JCW coverage, you will see that Factory JCW cars will NOT be sporting the aero kit. It remains a Dealer (or Port) installed option.

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JFS Apr 11th, 2008 Link

No JCW Kit on the Factory JCW MINI?!?!? ;-)

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Dr Obnxs Apr 11th, 2008 Link

Wow! Things are slow if we’re left to debate photos of cars on the Mini factory lot….

Matt

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Victor Apr 11th, 2008 Link

they do not have stock exhaust tips

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Brian Apr 11th, 2008 Link

I seriously want to vote this for question of the year… and yes I’m going to ask it again..

No aero kit on the factory car?? wtf??

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Fussner Apr 11th, 2008 Link

In the top picture it looks like their side-markers (the chrome brick) doesn’t look the same as a standard S it looks like there is a line going through it or something.

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Mr. Bean Apr 11th, 2008 Link

James,

Then whats the point in spending more money on a JCW if it doesn’t look the part?

Bean (Mr.)

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Mr. Bean Apr 11th, 2008 Link

Anyway, No JCW kit aside, That chili red looks pretty dang good.

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Mr. Bean Apr 11th, 2008 Link

Sorry for all my posts in a row, but I keep thinking of questions. Yeah, I’m with you eliot r. I agree 100%. Anyway, Are these Factory JCWs gonna be the predesessor to the 2006 GP? Next, I noticed the white taillamps. I like those way better than the orange. Who’s with me? Next, off topic, but looking at my screen name who’s up for a 2009 Mini Cooper Bean edition to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Bean? It could be lime green with a black hood. Could someone photo shop and post one here?

Thanks, Bean (Mr.)

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John Apr 11th, 2008 Link

Bean, That Bean edition would be awesome. I don’t have the technology to photoshop one. Maybe someone else does.

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Mozza Apr 11th, 2008 Link

Any news on when we can expect the JCW on a configurator near all of us? :-)

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lavardera Apr 11th, 2008 Link

Crown spokes? I thought the factory JCW came with the nice spoked wheels that looked like the racers?

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Jimskater Apr 11th, 2008 Link

Those would be another of the options fitted to all the press cars.

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Jon Apr 11th, 2008 Link

The wheels look like they are there just as a placeholder to let them transport the cars for modification. Still betting these are the next batch of racers.

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robble Apr 11th, 2008 Link

yup, there will be special rims on the jcw, but no aerokit.

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Melis Apr 11th, 2008 Link

The four reasons I can think of that these would be JCW Challenge cars and not the first factory JCW cars:

1. They’re ALL the Challenge Chili Red w/ White Roof & Mirrors (Yes, you can order this combo on any car, I know…but c’mon 9 of them?!)
2. None have JCW emblems on the boot (Yes, they could stick that on at any time, I know)
3. All have the whiteout turning signals and rear fogs (Mine does too! And I rarely see whiteout signals), as seen on all the JCW Challenge cars (Albeit with the special diffuser rear bumper, but still.)
4. The JCW brakes were seen being tested on a car with the same wheels (rumored to be the smallest wheels that can handle the larger 2 pot calipers), and its much easier to remove a set of wheels, than fit these cars with Challenge wheels w/ street tires for transport, only to remove them to fit race tires. (Plus its really bad to for tires mount and remove them unless you’re replacing them)

Those are just my observations. Now, if I’m right, can I have one? Please!

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Fussner Apr 12th, 2008 Link

Hey Gabe, or anybody really,

What is the drag coefficient on a 2007 Cooper S?

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Rob Livesey Apr 12th, 2008 Link

Melis. Rear fog lights have been a requirement for all vehicles here in the UK since 1980 so this would not necessarily suggest that they are JCW Challenge cars and not the first factory JCW cars. It is not an option.

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Mderijke Apr 12th, 2008 Link

Photos were taken by Dutch member “the blue lobster” and I was with him (however my pics are not as good as his). Check http://www.mini-tbl.com for his pics. http://fotoalbum.mini-tbl.com/thumbnails.php?album=102

Note that these are the only batch that were all identical and they were put aside in a special corner of the lot. The rest of the cars on the parking lot were all different models, colours, version scattered through one another.

There’s a lot of assumptions here of what this particular batch could be. I guess the true answer will only come available in time.

Please note that the truck in the back is able to carry 3 floors of MINI’s. We were hoping that it would drive by us after it was fully loaded, but that was taking a very long time (which we didn’t have) :(

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Mr. Bean Apr 12th, 2008 Link

Well, their jipping us on the suspension, why not the wheels too?

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Melis Apr 12th, 2008 Link

Rob, That I didn’t know. In the US its an option almost no one gets. Unfortunate, because I think both the MC and MCS look much better with the rear fogs.

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Ryephile Apr 12th, 2008 Link

The only non-standard MCS parts I see are the exhaust tips and the red calipers. The rest [rear fogs, clear turns, Crown spokes] look like normal options. These cars are the only wheels away from looking externally like JCW factory models.

Why are people still confused that the factory JCW model is just JCW engine & brakes and won’t come with the JCW body kit or suspension. I agree it’s stupid, but it doesn’t change what it is.

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dave Apr 12th, 2008 Link

they might also be a fleet of factory jcw press cars, hence their all being red and identical

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TonyUK Apr 13th, 2008 Link

Not sure if it’s been mentioned, but they’re missing their rear badge. JCW works cars waiting for wheels and badges (and optional aero kits) – dealer demonstrators?

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eysmahn Apr 13th, 2008 Link

These are definately JCW cars. They have the JCW exhaust tips, painted brake calipers and the JCW side scuttles. Are they meant to be Challenge cars or they are the first factory JCW is up in the air. I just want to know, what’s up with the crown spokes?

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IRIEMAN Apr 14th, 2008 Link

On Apr 12th, 2008 Fussner wrote:

“Hey Gabe, or anybody really, What is the drag coefficient on a 2007 Cooper S?”

.39  (according to cars.com anyway)

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gort Apr 14th, 2008 Link

Mules for the >50th Anniversary< edition! ;)

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Ian F Apr 14th, 2008 Link

I don’t understand why everyone is in such an uproar over the pricing… the R53 JCW package is/was $6000 and didn’t include a body kit or special wheels…

One could argue the R56 package includes more than the R53 package.

All things considered, not bad when you take into account the exchange rate…

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