May 12th, 2012
It’s here. A MINI six years in the making. The next generation follow up to MINI’s most R53: the JCW GP. The family resemblance is immediately recognizable. The colors, the graphics and the aggressive body pieces. The formula is the same. More power, less weight and more performance refinement. Right about now in the south of France, MINI is drawing the curtain back on this car in the flesh. Gabe and Todd are on-hand and I’m sure we’ll see their in-person shots any moment. In the meantime, here are the official photos.
Gallery: MINI John Cooper Works GP
May 7th, 2012
Later this week JCW will release it’s latest product – the GP2. It’ll be the fastest MINI to date with more power and engineering hours behind it than any product from the brand ever. But where did the modern JCW come from? We wanted to look back at the brand and the kits (dealer or factory) that have been released since 2001.
The Cooper name originates from John Cooper, an engineering legend linked to the golden age of British motor racing throughout the 1960′s. With the introduction of new MINI in 2001, the Cooper name was reborn under the guidance of John’s son Mike, who began developing aftermarket tuning kits for the new MINI at the original John Cooper premises in East Preston, West Sussex.
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May 4th, 2012
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What is Red Roof Radio? It’s when a few of us get together when we’re not suppose to be doing a podcast this week and just talk. Consider this a behind the scenes show without the normal production values or even sound quality you might get from WWR (although it’s not half bad). But what you get are unbiased opinions. Sort of like Black Roof Radio but something we can actually post. continued →
Apr 23rd, 2012
Last week we broke the news that MINI is planning on turning the GP name into a high performance sub-brand for MINI and to a lesser degree JCW. But what does this mean and when should we expect it? Read on for the details on the full range of GPs and when we should see them on dealer lots. continued →
Apr 20th, 2012
What if there were something beyond a JCW that came straight from MINI? What if there were a MINI engineered from the beginning to be faster, more extreme and look completely unique from all other MINIs? Then, what if MINI did this with not just one model, but with most of their lineup, one by one, until it became something of its own? Something like JCW but even more special and more rare. Sounds like the JCW GP, doesn’t it? But what about a whole lineup of GPs? continued →
Apr 18th, 2012
While MINI is putting the finishing touches on the R56 based GP set to be released at MINI United this May, we’ve now confirmed that there are plans for a second Coupe based GP the following year. We’ve known about the existence of the Coupe GP for some time but until today, there was no visual confirmation. Car and Driver has just published spy photos which not only confirm the car but also show that it’s being developed alongside the R56 version to be released later this year. continued →
Apr 13th, 2012
The MINI JCW was a kit until 2006. Even then it was a factory option that was engineered in a garage. Then came the GP. Taking the spirit of the garage and coupling it with intensive factory testing on the Nuburgring and elsewhere, it gave MINI fans something to believe in. Here was a car, fathered by head of MINI Deisgn Gert Hildebrand, approved by Dr. Kay Segler (the future father of the BMW 1M) and built off-site at a storied Italian coach-builder. This was a special car. More special than anything that was priced around $31k had a right to be. continued →
