MINI Releases Full JCW World Championship 50 Specifications

Sections: 50th Anniversary | JCW WC50 May 25th, 2009 32 Comments

MINI UK has released some details around the WC50 while at MINI United that bring the details of this car into greater focus. As we’ve reported MINI will be building 250 of these special JCWs worldwide with 100 going to the UK. US availability is still up in the air.

The options list is strictly set as each car will be identical when leaving the factory. Once out of the confines of the Oxford plant MINI will fit the aero kit and other accessories before shipping them out to dealers.

Technically this is identical to the stock JCW (even down to the stock suspension) which is sure to dissapoint hardcore JCW fans. However this is a very special car that will likely be the most limited MINI produced to date.

As we reported earlier this spring the color is named Connaught Green (an old color found on many British cars of the 60′s) and will be matched with a pepper white roof and pepper white bonnet stripes.

Inside the car is finished in bespoke black lounge leather seating with red piping.

Here’s the full specification list straight from MINI.

Standard Equipment

6-Disc CD Changer
Alarm System (Thatcham Cat1)
Anthracite Headlining
Automatic Air Conditioning
Bluetooth Telephone Audio Connection
Car Jack
Chrome Line Interior
Colour Line, Rooster Red
Comfort Access
DAB Radio
Darkened Rear Glass
Exterior Mirror Pack
Front Fog Lamps
Front Passenger Airbag Deactivation Switch
Full Bluetooth Preparation with USB Audio
Harman Kardon Hi-Fi System
Heated Front Seats
Interior Lights Pack
Multi-function Controls for Steering Wheel
Navigation System
Park Distance Control (PDC), rear
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment
Run-flat Tyres
Storage Compartment Pack
Universal Remote Control
Visibility Pack
Voice Control
Warning Triangle and First Aid Kit
White Indicators

Special Edition Content:

17″ Cross-Spoke Challenge Alloy Wheels in Jet Black
Additional Driving Lights, Black
Bi-Xenon Lights with Black Interior Reflectors
Bonnet Stripes in Pepper White without Pin-Stripes, with John Cooper Signature on – - Driver’s Side
John Cooper Works 3-Spoke Sport Alcantara/Leather Steering Wheel
John Cooper Works Aerodynamic Kit
John Cooper Works Carbon Fibre Bonnet Scoop
John Cooper Works Carbon Fibre Front Door Grips
John Cooper Works Carbon Fibre Interior Trim with John Cooper Signature Plaque
John Cooper Works Carbon Fibre Mirror Caps
John Cooper Works Carbon Fibre Rear Diffuser
John Cooper Works Carbon Fibre Tailgate Handle
John Cooper Works Floor Mats, Carbon Black with Red Stitching
Leather Gearshift Gaiter, Carbon Black with Red Stitching
Leather Handbrake Gaiter, Carbon Black with Red Stitching
Side Scuttle Finisher Chrome Frame with Edition Number (0-250)

Pricing will be confirmed on June 22nd but we’ve been told to look for this car to cost in the mid Â£30 range in the UK and â‚¬40,000 in Europe. If the car makes it to the US (we give it a 10% chance at this point) look for the cost to run upwards of $50,000. However at this time the official line is that there will be no WC50s produced for markets outside of Europe.

Written By: Gabe

Marcus Quinn

50k?! Wheew!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=902505721 Josh Hway

Isn’t America what put Mini on the map. The least Mini could do is send 50 or so over.
http://www.gbmini.net Ian C.

What is “voice control”?
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

What is â€œvoice controlâ€?

Ability to control pretty much every facet of the MINI’s iDrive system through voice. A great feature and one that I used constantly on my ’07. Although it’s gotten a little better on the latest iDrive system from BMW.
misslindsey

For $40k I’d call my dealer with my CC number. ’07 Stage 1 MCS soon for sale. But $50k… no, sorry. I grit my teeth and smile and pay the premium just because it’s BMW/MINI whenever I buy parts and ‘stuff’ because I know I have to, but that’s just greed. $50k will buy me a lot in this economy. I bet I could even get someone to take the sparkle out of my BRG and keep driving without worrying about crashing my 1/250 for a lot less than that.
Timothy

Nothing says “exclusive” in 2009 like a 6-disc CD changer.
Paul

6-disc CD changer? Must be clearing out stock…
Mike

What’s a CD changer?
viley

What’s a CD?
lavardera

What’s a C?
Revhed

What?
mp

They want the car to feel like it did when it was first made 5o years ago so they put a cd changer in it. Gen 1 coopers came with changers right? :-)

it almost like they are cleaning the shelves of old stock. All that carbon fiber really? All that Carbon screams “I am a Tool” really loud.

Leave it to Mini to turns something really cool into something that is a complete letdown.

Maybe they will come to their senses and let people build a Cooper with that awesome green, or maybe they will just come out with 14 more different shades of blue. :-(
MK!R53

they could stick an 8-track cartridge player in it and i would still want one. This is the best looking R56 i have seen yet.
http://minspeed.net Pete

At 40,000 Euro, which by today’s calculations equates to about $55,600, MINI is stoned. There are a lot of other cars that would appeal to me if I was going to spend that kind of money. Sorry guys, you have lost the scent!
mp

“Universal Remote Control”

I think this is not really a car it’s just a $55,000 universal remote for a TV

Seriously what is this? What makes it universal?
Larry

This car is for collectors or for people that just enjoy unique cars! And most of these kinds of people would pay whatever for this MINI….trust me, I have 6 deposits right now and each person says they will pay up to $60k for the MINI F1!
Aitor

Isn’t the wheels the R113 in black 18”?Â¿ Didn’t look as 17”….
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=542113152 Mark Talkington

bears.
Rob

There are people out there willing to pay $60K for a MINI and MINI? MINI you would actually charge $55-60K for one of you cars? Shame on you! I guess MINI is completely changing there target demographic. MINI, I’ve been a loyal owner for the past 6 years but you just lost me! Do you have any idea what kind of competition there is in the $50K range? Look at your parent company first. Sorry for the rant.
http://selfdestruct.net/ Toni

Two used 2007 Mini GPs going for 32900â‚¬ (#0375, driven 9000km) and 34900â‚¬ (#0909, driven 12000km) in Finland. I’m hopefully soon getting word about JCW WC50 price/availability.
Dr Obnxs

Just because MINI is going to charge a premium for a limited production model doesn’t mean that you can’t buy an unoptioned for low dollars. If this brings in profits for the rest of the company… So be it.

Yeah, it should have been a GP like model, but it isn’t…. So can we get over it and move on?

Matt
CraigE

I guess some of you don’t understand exclusivity. Sure there are a lot of cars in the $50,000 range. However, with the WC50 you can be assured that you will never see another on the road. It’s extremely rare to see a JCW GP and there were 2000 made. There will only be 250 WC50s.

Sure you can paint a MINI in non metallic BRG but it will never be factory original. In a collector’s car like this, being original and unmodified is worth a lot.

Because of this, I agree that it was a huge mistake to not install the JCW suspension. If it were installed as stock, then it would be perfect and need no modification. When you are in this price range an extra $2000-3000 won’t break the bank.
JonPD

For me the exclusion of the JCW Recaro’s and JCW suspension while both able to be dealt with just says volumes about the mindset of Mini about the development.

Heck even the used to be big three know you don’t turn out a performance car without upgrading the suspension. I just wish Mini would go wild and make a true /M kind of a car instead of these half-measured wannabe performance cars.

I also have to agree that this is still the best exterior look that I have seen on any R56 Mini.
bee1000

I don’t understand why someone would spend $30,000 on a Mini, so what chance do I have of comprehending the thought process behind spending 30,000 pounds on one?!
M_POWER

Gabe, any idea if those 17″ challenge spokes will be available in jet black like on F1 for US market as an option/upgrade for JCW Hardtop? Later this year/early next/ever? Thanks!
Ted

Perhaps changing the name from Motoringfile to “Bunch of Bit-ches” would fit. Quit all the whining! Just because you won’t buy this car doesn’t mean it won’t sell!
JonPD

Ted whining about whining is a unique approach.

I for one think that the very limited numbers of this car will help it sell better than the JCW Mini has by far although both cars are still somewhat of a joke due to the lack of a performance suspension in a performance car. Still much happier with this development than either of the special edition 50th cars.
Bilbo Baggins

I did not see one, single, modification to improve the performance of the car. All just stuff for show, none for GO. Very disappointed.

I always associated JCW with performance mods. It is a shame that the name has been perverted.

It would seem as though one of the earlier posters got it right. They are just clearing out the closets and shelves of everything that hasn’t sold.

It would do more honor to the JCW name to have it a real preformance Special. Boosted power, lighter wheels, stickier tires, improved adjustable suspension better seats, better brakes. Why not something similar to a Porsche Club Sport. Just things that make it GO!
Dr Obnxs

Exclusivity doesn’t mean sales. Just look at how the MC40 went. Yes this will be a factory exculsive and will appeal to many who want a rare car, but it’s also true that this won’t appeal at all to most of those that bought the GP. That was exclusive, and had more than just bolt ons to make it unique.

I come from the world of Mustangs, and there were several applique “limited runs” (High country special, GTCS) and while these command a slight premium, they are nowhere close to what a Shelby Mustang commands at auction.

The GP has more of a chance of Shelby like appreciation, (It’s not a slam dunk, but it’s a real non-zero chance) I don’t see this one as making that cut, nor the Camden or Mayfaire or the MC40 or any other “cosmetic” limited production model.

Matt
JonPD

Agreed there Matt, at the end of the day the WC50 while being a good color is more or less just a JCW Mini. The GP will always be the GP. Just wished when they decided to bring JCW out as a sub-brand that they would have built off the GP. In a great many ways the factory car still screams kit to me although I do know the mechanical are unique. However one small advance is still that the WC50 looks different than other Mini’s which is still light years beyond the JCW Mini.

Still think Mini really blew the chance to make JCW stand for something special like the /M division does for BMW. You never get a second chance to make a first impression and what Mini gave us is a performance car that looks like every other Mini and has sub-par handling for a performance model car.
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Ian F

Oh well… if it was closer to the GP’s $31K pricing (if not the unique performance & appearance differences), I would have been seriously interested… pretty much on the color alone… but $50K+ is more than I can afford in my wildest dreams, MINI or any car…

I suppose I can take some comfort in the fact it’s unlikely the car will sold in the US anyway…

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