MINI Releases Full JCW World Championship 50 Specifications

Marcus Quinn May 25th, 2009 Link

50k?! Wheew!

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Josh Hway May 25th, 2009 Link

Isn’t America what put Mini on the map. The least Mini could do is send 50 or so over.

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Ian C. May 25th, 2009 Link

What is “voice control”?

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Gabe May 25th, 2009 Link

What is “voice control”?

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.

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misslindsey May 25th, 2009 Link

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.

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Timothy May 25th, 2009 Link

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

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Paul May 25th, 2009 Link

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

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Mike May 25th, 2009 Link

What’s a CD changer?

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viley May 25th, 2009 Link

What’s a CD?

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lavardera May 25th, 2009 Link

What’s a C?

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Revhed May 25th, 2009 Link

What?

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mp May 25th, 2009 Link

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. :-(

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MK!R53 May 25th, 2009 Link

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.

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Pete May 25th, 2009 Link

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!

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mp May 25th, 2009 Link

“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?

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Larry May 26th, 2009 Link

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!

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Aitor May 26th, 2009 Link

Isn’t the wheels the R113 in black 18”?¿ Didn’t look as 17”….

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Mark Talkington May 26th, 2009 Link

bears.

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Rob May 26th, 2009 Link

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.

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Toni May 26th, 2009 Link

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

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Dr Obnxs May 26th, 2009 Link

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

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CraigE May 26th, 2009 Link

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.

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JonPD May 26th, 2009 Link

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.

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bee1000 May 26th, 2009 Link

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?!

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M_POWER May 27th, 2009 Link

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!

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Ted May 27th, 2009 Link

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!

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JonPD May 27th, 2009 Link

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.

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Bilbo Baggins May 27th, 2009 Link

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!

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Dr Obnxs May 27th, 2009 Link

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

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JonPD May 27th, 2009 Link

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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MotoringFile » Archive » MF Week in Review May 31st, 2009 Link

[...] MINI UK Releases Full WC50 Specs [...]

Ian F Jun 4th, 2009 Link

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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