MF Exclusive: JCW GP to Return?

Sections: JCW GP Jan 15th, 2009 55 Comments

We’ve heard rumors to the effect that MINI was secretly planning a special version of the JCW coupe for late in the R56’s model run but nothing had been substantiated until very recently. While we know very little about the car, the engine or even the timing of such a model, we do know that MINI is in the early stages of building prototypes at the Oxford plant to be finalized in an undisclosed Munich location.

Specifically we’ve heard from several sources that a Chili Red/Black JCW test car recently spotted going down the final Oxford assembly line with no back seats and several sound-system components missing. It was labelled a T-car which is the plant’s term of an internal test car used for new models.

From a timing perspective this works well with the rumors we’ve heard over the last year or so. It also works with the strategy MINI (and BMW for that matter) have perfected over the years – i.e. saving the fastest most extreme example for the latter part of a car’s production run.

Always keep an eye on MF for further information in the coming weeks and months.

Written By: Gabe

55 Comments

alpinamike Jan 15th, 2009 Link

I think the 1st run GP was a great car, it will be hard to top it. And for resale…

Nathaniel Salzman Jan 15th, 2009 Link

I’ll be Todd this time — hate it, then buy one in the end.

“Oh I hate it. It’ll be horrible! Blar blar blar! …I’ll take two!”

I jest. I jest.

C4 Jan 15th, 2009 Link

I guess the criticism levied upon the current R56 factory JCW car has not fallen on deaf ears….

Really something good to look forward to.

The last year of the R56 will be 2012. Likely we won’t see it in the flesh until MINI UNITED 2011.

lavardera Jan 15th, 2009 Link

I’m afraid thats going to blow all our arguments against the suspension in the jcw factory…

bobby_vinton Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Dear BMW – Unless you are going mid-engine, then leave the rear seats in, please. You can save those 40lbs in lots of other, more interesting ways. Once you give up rear seats, then the MINI has to compete with some very good RWD 2-seat offerings out there. I can carry my kids and my windsurfing gear inside my MINI and still apply pain to some very nice cars on the track. That is cool. Having the rear seats replaced with a non-functional “cargo restraint bar” a la the GP is not cool.

JonPD Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Finally, a potential stablemate for my GP. Fantastic news!

hank chinaski Jan 15th, 2009 Link

think it’ll bring a quaife lsd?

how will they address the torque steer?

jardp Jan 15th, 2009 Link

JonPD how did I know that after seeing this I would get an email from you!

dc11r Jan 15th, 2009 Link

dammit i cant wait any longer!!! ive been waiting for the JCW mini ever since the R56 came out, but now news of this?? The GP is what i ultimately wanted, but i just cant wait any longer… this sucks. I dont want to have a JCW mini if the GP is only a year away

Gabe Jan 15th, 2009 Link

dammit i cant wait any longer!!! ive been waiting for the JCW mini ever since the R56 came out, but now news of this?? The GP is what i ultimately wanted, but i just cant wait any longer… this sucks. I dont want to have a JCW mini if the GP is only a year away

I wouldn’t expect it to be only a year away at this point.

JonPD Jan 15th, 2009 Link

You know it Jarid. A bit of a rabid GP fanatic, as you already know heh. 509 feels a bit lonely ;)

rs Jan 15th, 2009 Link

I WILL BE PISSED! I thought the JCW was the be all end all Mini Cooper for the r56 line. Now they’re building another high performance car?! I guess I got suckered good.

cct1 Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Great news, I’ll wait a little longer before trading in my current MINI, see what comes of this. This might be the R56 variant that I’d actually consider buying….

As for the a quaife (or any) mechanical lsd, I seriously doubt that will happen, but seriously hope I’m wrong…

Torque steer, although a pesky beast to tame, shouldn’t be too much of a problem–a tighter suspension (adjusted accordingly), would work wonders here. Other manufacturers with higher HP front wheel drive cars have managed to do it, no reason BMW can’t.

To compete with what other companies are doing for their performance models, it’s going to have to shed a significant amount of weight (both on the car itself and the rims), have a stiffer chasis, and an adjustable coilover suspension (Yes, something better than the JCW suspension), and probably a more robust rear wing (and maybe throw in a rear diffuser and aerodynamic front apron too). The engine probably will get a marginal improvement in power, but that’s not critical to what this car needs. The GP was the best track ready MINI built to date; since then other manufacturers have taken things a step farther, hopefully BMW will go to even further extremes than they did with the original GP. One can only hope….

Of course by the time this sucker is ready for release, we’ll probably have some idea of what’s in store for the next gen MINI, so it’ll be a decision like it was with the GP–buy the GP, or wait. Although I doubt this next variant will have the same long term collectability as the orignal GP, from a performance standpoint there is ton of potential here..

Is there any rumor of a special 50th anniversary edition? Seems there should be something out there about now if we’re going to see something like this…

dc11r Jan 15th, 2009 Link

i do hope there is a 50th anniversary that is a better value than the JCW, all while having the JCW bits. I have my cash ready in hand to buy the car… just waiting for the refresh… GABE?!?!?!? no new news?

Gabe Jan 15th, 2009 Link

i do hope there is a 50th anniversary that is a better value than the JCW, all while having the JCW bits. I have my cash ready in hand to buy the car… just waiting for the refresh… GABE?!?!?!? no new news?

We’ve already reported on the refresh – actually about a year ago now. Expect updates to the front and rear facia with some revised interior components as well. I’d also expect something in the way of a drivetrain improvement – probably slightly more power.

Michael Jan 15th, 2009 Link

There are two 50th anniversary cars coming out next year. One is silver. The other is Brown. They bouth have special interiors and wheels. These will availible to order for the dealers just like the Checkmate and Sidewalk packages.

Matthew Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Must I be the one who points out that the cost may be astronomical (at least, in MINI terms)?

For those of us who feel the current JCW MINI is too expensive, I imagine the GP Gen2 to be all the more unpalatable.

Edge Jan 15th, 2009 Link

I WILL BE PISSED! I thought the JCW was the be all end all Mini Cooper for the r56 line. Now they’re building another high performance car?! I guess I got suckered good.

Why are you even remotely surprised? The 1st Gen MINIs had “Factory JCWs” available before the GP came out (although it didn’t have any “unique” parts compared to a regular MCS with the same JCW upgrades). BMW has often made limited edition models at the end of a production run (like the CSL models). This should come as no surprise… in fact it should be expected.

I disagree with lavadera though that it blows the JCW suspension argument for the current factory JCW out of the water. It should have at -least- come with the sport suspension as standard, if not the JCW suspension. The base suspension should never have been allowed on the “high end” trim of the R56/R55. Hmmm… a “high end” trim of a car that is sold largely on its handing prowess, sold with the base suspension. Huh?

After all, every 1st Gen MCS (including the factory-built JCWs, except the GP of course) came with the upgraded suspension (at the time, it was called Sport Suspension Plus).

JonPD Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Quite and effort is going to be needed to make something worthy of being the next gen GP as the original (love it or hate it) is really something special in the Mini ranks.

I would not hesitate to buy a 40k R56 GP if they spend some time to make this car something special. One major sticking point with me still is that the car really needs a seat upgrade, its still a sore point with me for the US spec seats in the GP being anything but fancy seat covers.

I would love to see the car push the hp towards 230hp and increase the torque a bit more to boot. I think the current 4 pot brakes would be fine. Lets just hope they do some fixing on that center stack however.

Blainestang Jan 15th, 2009 Link

I, for one, hope that it’s not ~$40K… and I don’t think it needs to be.

Take the “base” JCW @ $29k and stick with the same engine (w/ a slight power boost over the JCW), transmission, brakes, etc… and simply put some money into:

Seats: Seriously, GM has put Recaros in their ~$22k Cobalt SS… I think this can be done w/o breaking the bank. (~$1.5k)
Suspension: Either GP-specific or Coilovers (~$2k)
Weight Reduction: Lighter wheels (17’s… no reason to go bigger), less sound deadening, no back seat, etc. (~$0)

This car should be set apart from the rest of the MINI line-up NOT by PRICE, but by eliminating all but ENTHUSIASTS from the list of people who would even CONSIDER driving it.

Here’s the litmus test… Let 10 soccer moms check it out and test drive it. If even ONE of them would consider buying it, it’s too soft… back to the drawing board.

This will keep ownership exclusive even if the price is reasonable. I say they shoot for a truly hardcore GP @ around $33k. (The R53 GP was ~$31k, for reference)

Mark Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Is ir April 1st already?

dr Jan 15th, 2009 Link

May I be the first to say that I think the next GP will basically be the JCW vision set forth by Gabe. They will take a JCW and add JCW suspension and a special aerokit. perhaps a few challenge car accesories like wheels and adjustable spoiler. Do a special color and strip the interor of fluff…..and a minor computer tweak to find a few more horsepower.

Jon Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Bring it on, MINI!

Bruce Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Oh crumbs… this just after I said to my wife “I would only consider selling my R53 and getting a new MINI if they made another GP.” Me and my big mouth. ;)

cct1 Jan 15th, 2009 Link

dr, I hope you’re wrong, that really isn’t enough to set it apart definitively from the JCW…Essentially it would be a 2 seat JCW, a little lighter, with a better suspension (and the JCW factory suspension isn’t that much more expensive than a regular suspension if installed at the factory). It needs more than that, or it’ll be a big yawn…

Blaine Jan 15th, 2009 Link

cct1,

Didn’t “dr” (and you) basically describe what the original GP was compared to the JCW?

Ian C. Jan 15th, 2009 Link

If they do it, PLEASE fix the clutch so it feels useful!

Ian C. Jan 15th, 2009 Link

If they do it, PLEASE fix the clutch so it feels useful!

PS: Nice GP picture :)

Tristan Jan 15th, 2009 Link

I hope it gets proper racing seats, better suspension than the stock or the sport versions, and wider tires. They can 225’s in there so why cant jcw cant? Its not like they slam the car. With some hp boost, the weight down, and some challenge aero parts then this should top the old gp

Eliot R. Jan 15th, 2009 Link

I’m saving up right now. An R56 GP is about as good as it gets for me.

goat Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Finally some great R56 news… done right this will absolve a lot of the current factory JCW’s sins! (Looking forward to the interior / exterior refresh in 2010 too.)

Edge – One small clarification… in addition to the R53 GP the R53 factory JCW Competition Edition (64 cars built for canadian-market only since we did not get any GPs allocated to us) received the JCW suspension at Oxford.

Blainstang – I like your “litmus test”… that’s exactly the way BMW should be thinking for their performance models! Enough compromise already! :)

lavardera Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Edge, I’m not saying I feel any different about the suspension, but you can see how it makes sense for positioning the jcw factory against an eventual jcw gpII. It certainly makes it easier to distinguish the one product from the other, especially since what they loan out for reviews always seems to have the factory suspension.

Edge Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Edge – One small clarification… in addition to the R53 GP the R53 factory JCW Competition Edition (64 cars built for canadian-market only since we did not get any GPs allocated to us) received the JCW suspension at Oxford.

Oops, sorry goat… yeah I forgot the Competition Edition too. My bad, eh!

jimskater Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Aaaargh.

JCW Clubman S or GP…

Don’t make me decide.

Edge Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Aaaargh. JCW Clubman S or GP… Don’t make me decide.

That’s your dilemma?

Easy.

Buy a JCW Clubman S now, and trade it in to buy a 2nd Gen GP when it comes out in 2 or 3 years. :-P

MJulian Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Is there any chance for a Clubman GP?

JonPD Jan 15th, 2009 Link

I hope they keep the GP to the coupe form only. This is supposed to be a hands down sport centric car and even though I have much love for the Clubman I think its extra weight is something that doesn’t really work with lighter weight.

I also think making it out of multiple platforms would seriously hinder its uniqueness. Just my opinion however.

rkw Jan 16th, 2009 Link

Remember all the hopes, rumors and excitement about the R53 GP before it came out? There was huge disappointment and a lot of criticism when the specs and photos finally appeared.

I predict that it will be deja vu all over again. First and foremost, it will be a street machine. It won’t be much more than a factory JCW with minor tweaks and a unique body kit, just like the original GP was. Not that this would be such a bad thing, as you can see with the original GP.

dickdavid Jan 16th, 2009 Link

This is exciting news in the MINI world. As with the GP, I’m going to love following the development of this on MF.

Ian F Jan 16th, 2009 Link

Although I like the R56 sport seats better than the R53’s, something better would be welcome.

2011, eh? Hmm…

lilcoopr Jan 16th, 2009 Link

fingers crossed that we’ll see this up north in Canada too!!

Todd Jan 16th, 2009 Link

I would hope that this would not be labeled a GP but something else entirely. Still a JCW, of course, but the GP should always be just the GP and not the R53 GP or the 2006 GP. I think labeling it differently would help to maintain the special nature of each car.

Yes, I will be critical at first and then probably buy one in the end. ; )

lavardera Jan 16th, 2009 Link

I’m thinking a GP2 or GPII designation. They would be foolish not to play off the market value of the GP designation.

Plus they need to feed Todds indignant phase as much as possible to contrast it properly with his revelation phase, so we have plenty of fuel to remind him when he settles into his What, I knew it all along phase way down the line… :P

JonPD Jan 16th, 2009 Link

I second that Todd, think the GP should always be the GP. Surely Mini can come up with another name for the car.

Maybe go for John Cooper Works Mini Cooper S with the Flying Finn kit. ;)

Mini FF

jimskater Jan 16th, 2009 Link

JCW Clubman S or GP…

Don’t make me decide.That’s your dilemma?

Easy.

Buy a JCW Clubman S now, and trade it in to buy a 2nd Gen GP when it comes out in 2 or 3 years. :-P

@ edge: I’m on my 3rd MINI. Right now, I’ve got my autographed early delivery GP (yay, me ;) ). The other half will flat out kill me if I try & may the case that I need 2 more MINIs in the next two years.

bee1000 Jan 16th, 2009 Link

Another overpowered, overpriced Mini variant coming down the line. Whoopee.

kevjandon Jan 16th, 2009 Link

Wow, another GP. Great idea and could see this coming a mile away.

Here are my opinions of what should be done:

KEEP the seats in the back. This is a mini, not a Porsche or Ferrari. Maybe a light weight rear seat could be developed.

PUT lightweight Recaro’s in front (porsche now offers them with airbags)

Give the option of AC and Radio deletes. Even the S2000 CR had that ability.

USE carbon fiber for the hood and roof. The new M3 coupe has a CF roof panel.

USE aluminum for doors, hatch and suspension components. The E36 M3 LTW had alum. doors and the old GP has alum. trailing arms.

USE lightweight interior door panels, perhaps dump the power windows, locks and mirrors too. Remove all cup holders, pockets, storage bins, etc.

Perhaps dump the power steering?!. Porsche did this on the RS America I believe.

Maybe delete the side curtain airbags.

No rear wiper or defroster.

Lightweight wheels as suggested above.

Limited sound deadening and light weight carpet. Maybe not apply the undercoating either.

Power boost, with better brakes, suspension and Aerodynamics should be a given. Suspension, Sway bars and spoilers should all be adjustable. Perhaps gear the trans a little different and give it shorter shifter throws too.

Maybe, just maybe, thinner glass.

Add some extra welds at the weak points of the car to make it stiffer.

Roll the damn fenders and get some wider tires under it.

Give some color choices this time. One off colors like viper green, ferrari fly yellow, Orange, etc..

I’m not stupid. I know that implementing all of these changes would result in the car needing to have new crash testing done to it so it could be sold in the US. But in the 30K to 40K range this car is going to face some stiff competion when it comes out like the 370Z, 135i, new GTI in the fall and I’m sure a new RX8 and update Civic Si has to be in the works too. A limited high performance edition has to beat the competions base model offerings at a minimum.

Lets not forget cars like the Cobalt SS and Mazdaspeed 3 that offer tremendous value for the $ (even though the cobalt is a POS on the inside).

Conclusion, I’d pay 37K if I new I could get the car I described above and it would hands down beat the competition listed.

SFRedMCc Jan 16th, 2009 Link

Does “GP” mean “Grand Prix”? In my search for its meaning, I found this great website that most of you JWC-GP fans probably aready know about: http://www.jcwgp.com

Dennis Jan 16th, 2009 Link

As one of the first owners of a 09 JCW, I will consider trading her in on a properly branded and equiped GP.

But that is years down the road when that car might be available. Between now and then, I will continue to tweak my JCW and change my mind.

Time will tell

MJulian Jan 17th, 2009 Link

What I would like to see on this future development is maybe MINI USA will work on getting those Recaro seats from Europe to America. As well as the black headlight option and shodowline trim.

greg Jan 17th, 2009 Link

B_V. Sounds like you need to wait for the Crossman GP. It’s not supposed to be a mini van for soccer moms. Hank Chinaski….”To all my frehhnds”;) As much as we all have we all have great ideas as to what this car should be I have no doubt we’ll be dissapointed again. I just hope it it’s not all go and no show again. Bugly!

mr.m8o Jan 19th, 2009 Link

I paid like $38.5K for my very loaded JCW, which has hardly any visual differentiating than a base S… That was already too much $$$ spent on a Mini. Maybe this will be the collector car to have with the best resale. But well, the reality is only if you hold it long enough, and keep it pristine enough, do you have even a chance of maybe getting what you paid for it. This sounds like a pass.

Amith Jan 28th, 2009 Link

Yay! I missed out on the first run and immediately ordered two of the next ones at my dealer. At the time she said that they don’t even know if another one will ever be produced! She started a list regardless!! Woohoo!

Tim Feb 12th, 2009 Link

This time I hope Mini take some inspiration from the Renault R26R, and produce a proper track spec car.

Like the Megane, I think it should be equiped with cage, race seats, 4 point harness, carbon panels, Brembo brakes, trick suspension, R888 tyres, etc.

MotoringFile » Archive » MINI’s Next Two Seater Under Development Jun 30th, 2009 Link

[...] six months ago we published a scoop about an internal test JCW going down the Oxford assembly line that had no rear seats and [...]

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MF Exclusive: JCW GP to Return?

Sections: JCW GP Jan 15th, 2009 55 Comments

Written By: Gabe

55 Comments

alpinamike Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Nathaniel Salzman Jan 15th, 2009 Link

C4 Jan 15th, 2009 Link

lavardera Jan 15th, 2009 Link

bobby_vinton Jan 15th, 2009 Link

JonPD Jan 15th, 2009 Link

hank chinaski Jan 15th, 2009 Link

jardp Jan 15th, 2009 Link

dc11r Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Gabe Jan 15th, 2009 Link

JonPD Jan 15th, 2009 Link

rs Jan 15th, 2009 Link

cct1 Jan 15th, 2009 Link

dc11r Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Gabe Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Michael Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Matthew Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Edge Jan 15th, 2009 Link

JonPD Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Blainestang Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Mark Jan 15th, 2009 Link

dr Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Jon Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Bruce Jan 15th, 2009 Link

cct1 Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Blaine Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Ian C. Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Ian C. Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Tristan Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Eliot R. Jan 15th, 2009 Link

goat Jan 15th, 2009 Link

lavardera Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Edge Jan 15th, 2009 Link

jimskater Jan 15th, 2009 Link

Edge Jan 15th, 2009 Link

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rkw Jan 16th, 2009 Link

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MotoringFile » Archive » MINI’s Next Two Seater Under Development Jun 30th, 2009 Link

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