First Factory JCW MINIs Roll Off the Line?

Sections: JCW | R56 (Hatch) Apr 11th, 2008 36 Comments

This news comes from frequent MF contributor Berthil and the Dutch NewMINIclub:

Members of our Dutch NewMINIclub.nl have recently been to Oxford to visit the plant and they spotted these suspicious looking R56 MCS’s:

Could these be the first batch of JCWs from the factory? Look at the red rear brake calipers. Rims and logo do not match but can be put on later since the rims do not have the center cap on.

Based on our information we believe there are two possible answers. Either this is one of the first batches of JCW factory cars or a batch of the JCW Challenge race car which is built in batches at the factory and then modified off-site.

As always click each image a larger view.

Written By: Gabe

C4

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

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?
mike

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

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

Bean (Mr.)
robble

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

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.
C4

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

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…
http://www.mininyc.com James

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.
JFS

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

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

Matt
Victor

they do not have stock exhaust tips
Brian

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??
Fussner

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.
Mr. Bean

James,

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

Bean (Mr.)
Mr. Bean

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

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.)
John

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

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

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

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

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.
robble

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

Hey Gabe, or anybody really,

What is the drag coefficient on a 2007 Cooper S?
Rob Livesey

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.
http://www.mini-tbl.com Mderijke

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) :(
Mr. Bean

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

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.
http://www.michiganmini.org Ryephile

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.
dave

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

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?
eysmahn

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?
http://www.motorkultTV.com IRIEMAN
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)
```
gort

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

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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