Update: We’ve got a better pic of the spoiler above (click the image for a larger view). You can also view the original we posted here. And check out this pic of what looks to be the spoiler being tested at the Nurburgring (AutoExpress via MINI2 forums).
By popular request here’s a small pic of the new JCW carbon spoiler. It should be available in the US by late February/early March. Here’s the official MINI press info on it as well (originally a few weeks back within another article):
The highlight of this MINI extravaganza in every respect is of course the rear spoiler on the roof. Also made of carbon, this rear spoiler is a technical and aesthetic eye-catcher on every MINI, probably inducing the genuine fan to keep a second spoiler at home in an illuminated glass cabinet.
Naturally there’s no word on pricing. If aynone has larger or better quality photos and more info – send it in!
<p>Thats the first JCW part I dont like. The MINI is no ricer.</p>
<p>I agree!</p>
<p>The MCS spoiler seems part of the MINI’s roofline.</p>
<p>Must see this JCW in its carbon fiber flesh. Separated from the roof, – it generates a different form & sensation.</p>
<p>Motorvating.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t jump to conclusions just yet, we need to wait till we get a better picture.</p>
<p>I think I speak for everyone when I say….GAAA!</p>
<p>The question is, does it work? Form follows function.</p>
<p>It needs missles and flashing lights on the end of it.</p>
<p>me no likey..</p>
<p>Ya know, that’s why I love the MINI community – I hate “ricers” too, and I immediately thought that when I saw it.</p>
<p>I am disappointed in JCW… it looks like they went for (bad) style over substance with this one.</p>
<p>Edge</p>
<p>Yup UGGG…LEE what were they thinking of</p>
<p>Well, thinking the upside, hopefully JCW made this thing actual work. Ricers typically have wings, if flipped upside down, could launch a B-17. What a drag… Ha! I kill me.</p>
<p>nice.. it’s not often we see a B-17 reference!</p>
<p>Based on the picture above, the JCW spoiler doesn’t use the factory mount points for the existing COOPER S spoiler. </p>
<p>Therefore, anyone purchasing the JCW spoiler for a COOPER S would also need to plug the two holes in the hatch from where their old S spoiler was attached (MINI uses two threaded studs for that).</p>
<p>Whether or not this JCW spoiler is “functional” remains to be seen, but not using the existing attachment points, and requiring plugging doesn’t seem like an elegant “factory” like installation that I would have expected from JCW.</p>
<p>Yeah I was curious about that too. Are those two little fins on the corners covers what would be the mounting points for the MCS spoiler? </p>
<p>I’m thinking the base is probably wide enough to cover the mounting points for the Cooper spoiler.</p>
<p>Ricey</p>
<p>Methinks Mike Cooper isn’t nearly as close to the Cooper as his father was. I think that edging the MINI towards “riciness” is not what John would have wanted, but it’s what Mike is doing.</p>
<p>I think people need to remember that this is very similar to the JCW Motorsport spoiler that is used in professional racing series. If I remember right it was tested at the Nurburgring. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.johncooper-mini.com/gallery/jcc_2004/brandshatch/188_8834_2076.jpg">Here’s a pic</a>.</p>
<p>And I guess <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.johncooper-mini.com/gallery/jcc_2004/brandshatch/188_8820_2102.jpg">this is what happens</a> when you don’t use it :)</p>
<p>Gabe,</p>
<p>You may be onto something there. Those little “covers” may be similar to the covers used by MINI for the accessory roof rack, when the rack isn’t installed (at the locations where they drilled into the roof).</p>
<p>I can <em>almost</em> justify the covers in the case of the roof rack, since you would be removing and installing the roof rack. </p>
<p>However, if that’s what they intend to do to resolve the problem of the exposed holes in this case, where the holes are not going to be used on a perminent basis, it comes across as a “cheap” fix.</p>
<p>It’s rather sad that JCW would put out a spoiler like this, that no doubt is going to command “JCW dollars”, only to apparently use $2 plastic parts to cover over the holes left in the hatch from the COOPER S spoiler.</p>
<p>Dave</p>
<p>Originally posted by Sean Bartnik:
I’m pretty sure that the Cooper S spoiler is attached with high-strength adhesive rather than being bolted to the car, so there should be no holes to plug. Anyone know with absolute certainty?</p>
<p>Sean: Yes, I know absolutely for certain. The Cooper S spoiler attaches with adhesive and TWO threaded studs that have nuts on the inside of the hatch. The threaded studs are exposed by removing the round black plastic covers on the outside corners of the hatch lid when you have the hatch open.</p>
<p>Good pic Gabe, but the difference between that spoiler and the JCW carbon fiber spoiler is that the Motorsport spoiler actually has a use. It’s angled in such a way as to create downforce. Judging from the above pic, the spoiler is parallel to the ground and serves no non-cosmetic purpose.</p>
<p>I should add, I know that because I had the Cooper S spoiler removed from my MINI and now have the Aerokit Spoiler.</p>
<p>If you go to the John Cooper Works Challenge photo gallery you will see, like Gabe said, a similar spoiler on quite a few cars, so I would assume that it’s functional but it’s still RICEY.</p>
<p>Dave – IMHO I think you have the best spoiler made for the MINI in the aero kit version.</p>
<p>David – I’m guessing the JCW Motorsport spoiler is adjustable and the street version isn’t. </p>
<p>I also think it’s unfortunate that when we see race inspired parts we automatically think they’re “ricey” looking. It’s not that I’m really disagreeeing… it’s just an unfortunate by-product of seeing too many Hyundai’s with three foot tall wings.</p>
<p>It looks to my eye like there are two nubs that stick off the corners of the roof. At first, I thought it was a reflection of the wing and the strut, but the far corner looks three dimensional. Could this be the plug for the holes? </p>
<p>Trevor – FYI that’s what we were discussing a few comments up…</p>
<p>Sorry, Gabe, I thought I saw it first…I’ll read more closely next time.</p>
<p>No worries!</p>
<p>rice rice baby!</p>
<p>“Holy Stealth Bombers, Batman,this can only be the Joker’s evil doing!”</p>
<p>forgive my ignorance, but what’s the difference between the Aerokit spoiler and the MCS spoiler?</p>
<p>Simply overdone- An MCS is stylistically “busy” enough without putting more unnecessary crap on it.</p>
<p>Matt: See <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27275">this thread</a> for the differences between the Cooper, Cooper S, and Aero Kit spoilers</p>
<p>thanks.</p>
<p>don’t know if i like it enough to switch.</p>
<p>i sure like the look of those mountain roads though.</p>
<p>I’m hoping this comes with some big “Type R” decals for the sides of the car?</p>
<p>Matt: Check the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://motoringfile.com/wallpaper/">MotoringFile Desktop Section</a> for another picture from that same area (west of Boulder Colorado). It’s the third desktop down.</p>
<p>soon there will be the JCW neon light package, the JCW spinner wheels and a JCW cd to hang from the rear view mirror</p>
<p>Maybe it would look better if we got a full car shot from a better angle.</p>
<p>Ugleeeeeeee!</p>
<p>Hey! That looks like it gets XM radio or TV too! Not ever on my Mini!!!!</p>
<p>Who,would of ever thought my my cooper “s” would turn into a flying rice ,so does any body know when John is bringing out wings for my little riceplane</p>
<p>I cant wait for the JCW spinners…</p>
<p>While that wing look odd on my MC it didn’t look so bad on a MCS in the new JCW booklet thats. now at you local Mini dealer.</p>
<p>The MCS thats in the new JCW booklet had every JCW item installed on it and the JCW wing looked fine.</p>
<p>John – any pics?</p>
<p>gabe- Sorry I don’t 🙁 </p>
<p>I have the booklet but I don’t own a scanner but I will try to take some digital pics of the book tonight with my camera but I doubt the quality will be up to par.</p>
<p>For a moment there I thought today was April 1st. But alas, it’s not… ick!</p>
<p>bleh. I can think of only a few MINIs that I’ve seen that could use that, and they’re all out-and-out track beasts. For the street car it’s excessive amounts of U.G.L.Y. </p>
<p>Hey Mark in response to the spinners, hanging CD, and neons- I heard they’re going to actually have a hideous carbon fiber spoiler too….uh, too late, nevermind. LOL. </p>
<p>…and in other news, the release of what critics are unamimously describing as a “ricey” rear spoiler accessory for the Mini Cooper S sent the brand equity of the venerable John Cooper Garages plummeting more than 20 percent in a single day… </p>
<p>I think most of these ridiculous one word comments are a bit absurd. But I guess knee-jerk reactions are common (and hard to resist) with stuff like this.</p>
<p>I actually think they did a good job with the design now that I see the full car.</p>
<p>Gabe by any chance do you know if the JCW strut brace is available in the US and if it will fit a CVT Cooper?</p>
<p>It hasn’t been mentioned in any bulletins I’ve seen yet.</p>
<p>Atleast that testing photo shows that maybe it will actually be functional.</p>
<p>I will hold off until I can get a complete carbon fiber body kit for my all black mcs.</p>
<p>Well-p, I can’t say I’d get one m’self, as I don’t like overkill. However, some folk might find it to their liking, and who am I to decide what is art? Hmmm. Know what? I AM going to decide what’s art. This ain’t. It may be just the ticket for those who wish to project the image of say, the world’s fastest… toaster, or sumthin’, but nonfunctional gewgaws don’t impress me. Don’t let it be seen streetside, darlin’, get thee to a racetrack.</p>
<pre><code> BCNU,
Rob in Dago
</code></pre>
<p>WOW – i would be first in line to get this bad boy. Don’t listen to all the others… dysfunctional, yes. TOTALLY RAD, HELL YEAH!</p>
<p>1st JCW thing I like, outside of the brake kit… it will be pricey, and will attract cops, though.</p>
<p>First off…
it’s not “rice”.</p>
<p>So MANY European challenge/touring cars use similar spoilers in competition. From the spy photo Gabe has, it looked like they were testing height and angle. So I would assume there is function.<br />
Compared to the JCW Series cars, which looked like stock APR spoilers, the new JCW spoiler looks like it was produced “in style”. Warranting the JCW $. Of course you could get nearly the same results with an M7 Spoiler. Maybe even for less $$.</p>
<p>This particular style of spoiler is functional at speeds over 45mph.
Some would argue there is no need to force the rear down at speed, but there are positive effects of this on the track.</p>
<p>So I have to say, calling it “rice” only makes one appear ignorant. </p>
<p>I’d never buy the JCW version.</p>
<p>Anyone know what those wheels are on the red car pictured above? </p>
<p>Picture is from “John Cooper Works Tuning” booklet; picture caption reads <em>The MINI Cooper S with sports suspension, John Cooper Works 18-inch light-alloy wheels, rear spoiler and carbon covers for the exterior mirrors</em></p>
<p>Here is a thought seeing how the spoiler actualy does nothing functional. Why not work on making the thing help keep the back cleaner. </p>
<p>I want to know about those wheels in the Nurburgring spy shot !! Not only do I really like them, but doesn’t it look like the rear wheel is larger than the front wheel-!? </p>
<p>About the spoilers… honestly I like the aerokit spoiler better than JCW- although I’ve never seen the aero one before checking out that thread.</p>
<p>If you think that spoiler does anything to improve the cars performance, than I have some invisible clothes Id like to sell you.</p>
<p>It cracks me up when people complain that it looks rice. I wouldn’t classify it as rice since most of the European race cars in the various series have spoilers that look almost identical, including the John Cooper Works Challenge with the Motorsport brand of this spoiler.</p>
<p>I also laugh as to whether it is functional. Especially from the same people who purchase products from vendors who just through stuff on. I am not sure I have seen anyone from most other Mini vendors testing their products in Northern Sweden and in Dubai, as well as Nurburing and the such. JCW does all this and more, and people still question whether the product actually works or whether it has even been tested. You may pay a lot for JCW, but you can’t bash them on their testing.</p>
<p>Totally agree. Not sure if you missed them but I posted a couple of great JCW Motorsport shots in the comments above. One with the JCW Motorsport Spoiler and one without.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t fault JCW testing practices. They are no doubt nothing less than rigorous. </p>
<p>However, it is disappointing that JCW chose not to develop a spoiler that integrated with the existing mount points, leaving behind two unused holes in the hatch. It forces anyone purchasing a spoiler like this to either use a crude solution like plastic covers (apparently supplied with the spoiler by JCW) or get the unused holes plugged and the top edge of their hatch repainted.</p>
<p>Expectations for clean design implementation should justifiably be higher for a tuning company officially sanctioned by MINI.</p>
<p>Dave – for what its worth the plugs are a biit like little fins I believe. They at least look look cooler than standard plugs :)</p>
<p>ok, slightly off topic, but does anyone know what kind of wheels those are?</p>
<p>should clarify, not the JCW ones, but the ones in the development picture</p>
<p>Wraith- Those are JCW 18inch wheels that you can buy directly from your Mini dealer for around $2,600 for the set (not including tires). </p>
<p>John – Wraith isn’t referring to the JCW wheels but the wheels in the photo taken during testing at the Nurburgring.</p>
<p>“An MCS is stylistically “busy” enough”………..HUH?</p>
<p>Ugt2B kidn’.</p>
<p>Looks kinda kool if I was going to take it to the track.</p>
<p>+++RB</p>
<p>For MY taste, I think the MCS comes from the factory with all of the spoilers, grills, scoops it needs. Anything added to it can detract from the overall design. When I look at the car I don’t want to see a conglomeration of tacked on parts. </p>
<p>Gabe,</p>
<p>If you read this – did you get the news item I sent early on Friday morning? (Regarding the JCW strut brace)</p>
<p>Edge</p>
<p>LOL nevermind – are you reading my mind? Just got your email, glad to know you got the message. :)</p>
<p>Edge</p>
<p>‘Now with the new JCW Wing, you can bring your MINI into the Jet Age!’</p>
<p>Sorry, couldn’t resist yet another rash judgement… :)</p>
<p>The rims in the Nurburgring picture look like the R90 rims</p>
<p>I think they’re talking about <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/bascule/new_mini_pic.jpg">this picture</a>.</p>
<p>Dunno about those, but they look like BMW rims. I think i’ve seen them on some 5 and 7 series cars in the area.</p>
<p>hmm, after looking through Tire Rack they look more like the OX Superleggara</p>
<p>OZ not OX</p>
<p>Okay here’s the info on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/bascule/new_mini_pic.jpg">those wheels</a> (linked in the post) everyone seems to want info on. The are Tecnomagnesio Detroit F1 and can be seen <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.mini2.com/forum/showpost.php?p=585742&postcount=30">here</a>. If anyone successfully imports them into the US, let me know!</p>
<p>there is an updated pic of the spoiler on the John Cooper Works website..I’d say, it’s awesome…
The only problem-my dealer said:”available by end of april”</p>
<p>chech out this link: <a href="http://www.autocrony.com/carbonspoil.html" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.autocrony.com/carbonspoil.html</a>
They have carbon fiber spoilers roof mount (universal application).
They also have a nice scoop for the PTCruisser at <a href="http://www.autocrony.com/ptscoop.html" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.autocrony.com/ptscoop.html</a>
Regards</p>
Well. I went ahead and decided to install the wing on my ride. I have to admit that I am a little nervous to see the result. I took the car in last week to morristownmini in New Jersey to get the aero kit installed and perhaps the impulse buying took over, but I have to say that I grabbed the wing at the shop, placed it next to my ride and it look quite nice. About the little wings: I decided to have them cover and paint them since I thing they are quite hideous. Lets see how the ride looks once its done. My car is an MCS05 JET BLACK with 17″ BBS RGR’s anthracites. I really hope the car looks great because this guys at morristown have been great and I am surely going to buy my next ride (possible and x3)from this dealership.
Gabe I will send you pics of the b4 and after so you can make an assestment if you like.
flckr pics here.
<a href="http://flickr.com/photos/zoedavid/68150709/in/set-409369/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://flickr.com/photos/zoedavid/68150709/in/set-409369/</a>
Sweet – send ’em in when you’re done 😉 Can’t wait to see it!
BTW is it the carbon fiber pattern you don’t like?
Actually, the CF looks great on my Black car. i just don’t wan’t to break the elegant lines the car inherently has to offer. Pretty nervous here. I broke the news to be lady and she is been supportive of my possible mistake. Anyways, lets wait and see, perhaps it looks great.