MINI to Introduce New JCW Aerokit?

Sections: Accessories | JCW Jan 19th, 2009 22 Comments

Several sources have mentioned to us that MINI will be introducing a new fully painted side skirts and wheel arches) JCW aero kit later this year. We don’t have much to go on other than that the front of the kit will look more aggressive.

Written By: Gabe

Charlie

Are your referring to the JCW Aero Kit that has been due for the R-55 Clubman series (promised for the 1st quarter of 2009); or are they going to re-do the kit for the R-56 Coupe as well?
eager2own

MINI should develop a JCW aero kit that is ONLY available for the JCW MINI — that way if people want to pay extra to have their JCW visually stand out (a la M3), they can do so knowing that every other Dick and Jane can’t just order the same kit.

I don’t mean to revisit the old debate of whether such a kit should be included with the JCW (although I personally think it should), but JCW owners should at least be able to have the exclusive option … that’s why only GPs should be able to order GP wheels.
JonPD

Painted arches, ewwww ;)
lavardera

hopefully it will look more svelte instead of more bulky.
Billy

Painted arches look sweeeet. They are surprisingly popular. I don’t recomment Chili red, it looks all too ‘sticky’ to me, the colour looks too thick. White is amazing, Midnight Black also and of course Horizon blue Met on the ’57
JP

I just wanna know if it’s a revised version or a whole new kit… maybe MINI Challenge style?? or something that i personally would find interesting is if MINI not only made the kit but had it so that the kit had varying downforces… rear wing included in kit… so that you can make the front and rear independantly adjustable for more or less downforce… sweet autox and track idea for that… and definitely more distinguished than just a regular bolt on kit (makes MINI THAT MUCH COOLER!!!!)
dc11r

ah crap… painted arches. the car loses so much of its character when people paint those things.
faster,Tobias!

If it isn’t the kit that currently comes on the Canadian JCW’s, it can only be better. The one we get up here isn’t nearly aggressive enough.
MJulian

NOOOOO PAINTED ARCHES! They look tacky with the amber and red side lights intergraded with the arches.
http://www.ausmotive.com Liam

That only concerns the NA market though. 8)
Sideways

I love the Canadian painted arches on the JCW’s. Especially on the Dark cars like the Dark Silver (we had an Astro Black) and the Midnight Black. They give such a sleeper effect to the car. You know they are a MINI, but as soon as you hammer the throttle… GO BABY GO!
dr

unpainted textured plastic on exterior trim is simply the most tacky and chintzy thing on cars. It has always cheapened the look of the car and has no place on a premium brand car like the MINI. The badly mis-matched trim/panel breaks on the r56 made painted trim made this an absolute must. thank goodness they are offering this from the factory
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

unpainted textured plastic on exterior trim is simply the most tacky and chintzy thing on cars. It has always cheapened the look of the car and has no place on a premium brand car like the MINI.

Absolutely could not systemically disagree more.
cct1

The black trim around the wheel wells is part of the Mini heritage, as is chrome around the wheel well, which I doubt (and also sincerely hope) we’ll never see again. The black arches work better on the R53 than the R56– the trim panels are a bit too wide on the R56, almost makes the car looks like it’s floating on the wheels (although dropping the car helps immeasurably here), and there is a gap between the trim and the actual fender itself, not too terribly noticeable in black–but I think painted arches will accentuate this and make it look even worse, unless the trim is tightened up flush against the body.

Plus, that “tacky and chintzy looking” plastic holds up light years better to rocks/debris than painted arches do, I cringe at the thought of what those arches are going to look like after a few track days–you’d almost have to put protective vinyl over them for anything like that.
rs

ummmm, cct1, what happens at track days to your wheel arches? Do the drivers commonly trade paint? I am so looking forward to my first track day this year but I don’t want my brand new car looking like a beat up jalopy after a day at the track.
http://www.commonwealth.nu fdavid

Absolutely could not systemically disagree more. _ Gabe …You took the words out of my mouth sir.
Ian F

I like painted arches on the R56. Less so on the R53. Probably because the R56 arches look so much larger… but to each his own.
lavardera

I also think black arches are integral to the Mini, but GABE – have you ever had anything but a black Mini? So where are you coming from? Ha!

But this is not about painted or black arches – its about what the new body kit will look like. Any of those R56 development sketches shed some light?
cct1

rs, there is a significant amount of road debris kicked up at track day–from rubber to rocks (I get rubber marks on my bonnet and even my roof all the time–no big deal, they wash right out). The wheels kick that debris up and into the arches; most of it is rubber, which for the most part won’t hurt anything, but if the track is fresh (especially after a windy night or storm), or if someone has had an agricultural excursion and kicked dirt/rocks onto the track watch out. It’s why people with glass headlight are required to cover them with vinyl (the MINI’s headlights are not glass, so no coverage is required, but if you have driving lights, put the covers on). It’s also not uncommon for folks to put blue vinyl or painters tape on high impact areas–the front lip, and the areas immediately behind the wheels, to protect the paint and arches. I’ve never done that and have always been fine, but if you look at cars that get heavy track use, check out the arches–second only to the front of the car from an abuse standpoint, and paint on anything but a flush arch is a recipe for chipping.

You won’t be trading paint with other cars; that absolutely will not happen unless someone does something incredibly stupid. I’ve never seen it happen personally–not that it couldn’t, but as long as everyone is following the rules, it’s nothing to worry about.

Your car will be just fine–and you’ll have a blast. Rubber marks come out no problem, and they’re a nice little badge of honor while they’re there…The more I got into the track, the less I worried about detailing my car–and it still looks great!
rs

cct1, THANKS! I’ve tracked my Ducati superbike so I know all about the taping of the headlights. I wasn’t aware cars had to do it too. But, I guess why shouldn’t they. So much to learn.

Track days are a real hoot. I’ve had 2 agricultrural excursions(without incident) on the bike.

I CANNOT wait for my first car trackday. Thank goodness about trading paint. I’m not rich so I’ll be driving there in the MINI and if the Track Gods are willing, I hope they let me drive it home too :)

I can relate to the badge.

Drive safe!
http://Bimmerfile.com Michael

I actually saw a car at a location in NJ… with a full painted body kit and rear carbon fiber wing, I did not have access to snap a shot quickly enough aside from a blurry phone shot. There were manufacturer plates on the car.
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