We’ve got some fantastic real life photos of the new JCW GP as seen recently at the Geneva Motor Show. A big thanks to Mike from NewMINIStuff.com for providing the first real up close shots of the new car and some it’s most talked about features. You can check out the full JCW GP at gallery below:
[ JCW GP Kit at Geneva ] MotoringFile
But that’s not all the JCW GP information we have for you today. In other JCW GP news the first mention of a real US price (outside of what we’ve said on MotoringFile) was seen yesterday at thecarconnection.com. Here’s the quote:
>The price is expected to come in around $32,000, according to MINI officials.
For most MotoringFile readers this should come as too much of a surprise since we’ve mentioned pricing should be around $30k and/or the low $30s a couple of times Of course it’s nice to see some confirmation of that from other sources!
And finally for those that need a little bit more GP in their lives, you’ll check out MINI’s new dedicated GP site. It doesn’t exactly match the level of those new Porsche sites, but I think it gets the point across.
[ John Cooper Works GP Kit: Gone Fast ] MINI.com
Related:
hmmmm….it’s looking better. Still not for me, but not quite the eye-sore i found it to me a while ago. I guess it’s growing on me a bit.
thanks for the pics!
-jac
Like the black and red instrumentation.
Is this the same car (0001) that has made the rounds to all the “unveilings” around the world and in MINI’s photo shoots? I couldn’t tell from the most recent photos taken at Geneva (in this thread and others) as there were no pics of the roof number that I recall seeing.
The GP thread on Mini2 has some photos off the engine bay (compeltely standard JCW no mods apparent) and some of the underneath, of the fabled aerodynamic sub tray….
Ooops, see you already have Mickeys photos too… sorry
Apparently no dust shield on rear wheel.
Group buy on the rear seat delete with the storage cubbies.
How about the underbody trays too 🙂
And don’t forget those alumium control arms! Those would be a nice track day addition.
BTW anyone see this <a href="http://shows.autospies.com/gallery/pop.asp?galleryId=36&imageId=22559">little red mirrored beauty</a> at Genava? Reminds me of something I can’t put my finger on….
2 things that stucked in my mind with the pics:
no A/C condenser (i could be wrong)
aluminum rear control arm?
Hopefully the underpanel and rear wing will be available for the other MINIs too.
>2 things that stucked in my mind with the pics:
>no A/C condenser (i could be wrong)
aluminum rear control arm?
>Hopefully the underpanel and rear wing will be available for the other MINIs too.
A/C will be a no cost option. And yes, it has aluminum control arms. MINI will not be making these parts available to non-GPs. The only way you’ll be able to even order replacement parts is by using a JCW GP VIN.
You can read a lot more about the GP <a href="http://motoringfile.com/2006/02/27/the-john-cooper-works-gp-kit-in-depth/" rel="nofollow">here</a>.
every time i see this car i like it and want it more.
Man, that is a ton of Armor All on those tires! I bet they’re still not as slippery as the Goodyear (bad-in-)all-season runflats, tho…
That first pic looks like the door’s chromed, the way it reflects the crowd.
Still not liking the gauges; not enough contrast.
Is that a new head unit? Is that an ’06 thing?
I like those little bullet-type thingies where the brake ducts should be. Remind me of the tail lights on an old Cadillac.
I still don’t see how that rod thing in the back is supposed to be a strut brace. It just looks too far forward in the car.
Due to its location, I don’t think it is a strut brace. It seems to serve two purposes:
1) to keep passengers from climbing into the back to ride back there with no seats or seatbelts.
2) to block larger parcels from sliding into the back of the rear seats.
Every time I see new pictures of the GP I love it even more. I really like these pictures because they are the first to actually show the details! I think those dials will look amazing at night! Naturally I am biased and can’t stop counting the days! Bring on the GP!!!!!!!!!
I thought I read somewhere that the intercooler was supposed to be upgraded. Doesn’t seem that way in the pics. Is this true?
ok. wasn’t there supposed to be a larger intercooler?
i really like how in the mini.com movie i get to go through the car as an air molecule… why no photos of this, folks?
Man those brakes look SMALL.
Not sure if this was answered previously…are xenons an option for US GPs?
>Man those brakes look SMALL.
Those are the rear brakes in the photo gallery. Anything larger in the rear would just be added weight for a car like the MINI.
>Not sure if this was answered previously…are xenons an option for US GPs?
No.
>ok. wasn’t there supposed to be a larger intercooler?
There was no mention of how the intercooler was changed, but it was indeed modified. Also compressor and engine management system have been altered.
I’m definitely in for the aforementioned group buy on any of the aero additions: underbody trays, rear wing, front spoiler, side skirts… 🙂
“little red mirrored beauty” Does the Swatch company still have anything to do with the SMART Car design?
Still not getting the colour scheme. Why such a bland selection? I like the grille/facia treatment.
Thanks for the gallery.
Hey Gabe,
How about a separate story about the GP parts that we, the people who already own MINIs, would like to see offered for retrofit?
Maybe MINI would take the hint???
>How about a separate story about the GP parts that we, the people who already own MINIs, would like to see offered for retrofit?
Maybe we can just list the improved parts. However I can guarantee you that MINI will not offer these parts for sale to the general public. Most likely the only way you’ll be able to get GP replacement parts is if you have a VIN number belonging to a GP. The E46 M3 CSL is a good example of this.
<blockquote>
Gabe Mar 3rd, 2006 Link
BTW anyone see this little red mirrored beauty at Genava? Reminds me of something I can’t put my finger on….</blockquote>
Could red mirrors be the new err.. not red mirrors?
Well for “balance sake” I like the non-glovebox… who need storage?
Like the car – wish’d have gone further tho!
<blockquote>There was no mention of how the intercooler was changed, but it was indeed modified. Also compressor and engine management system have been altered.
</blockquote>
It would be nice to know what supercharger and intercooler modifications were made.
Comparing power and torque …
JCW: 206.5hp @ 6950 and 180.7lb-ft @ 4500rpm
GP: 214.5hp @ 7100 and 184.4lb-ft @ 4600rpm
I suspect these gains could be achieved by just a more agressive ECU remap.
Can anybody find the part number for the tac and speedo background?
JCW pars werent supposed to be available to non JCW cars at one time, but that changed with demand. I can’t see them not offerring the parts as some other company will just step in and copy them eventually anyway…
I would definitely go for the rear seat delete and cubby arrangement.
All this talk about weight reduction to improve the performance…they can’t be THAT serious about it. I mean, what are those 2 hideous and fake Flash Gordon plastic rocket nose cones doing in the front lower bumper intake? Purpose??? And what are they thinking is the advantage of putting even more fake plastic surrounds around the lower rear bumper air extractors (which are fake already). Beats me! I see lots of other areas where they could’ve gone to town on removing weight but I guess they thought that dressing up to dress down makes more sense. A pity, it could’ve been so cool to launch a last serious pocket rocket to do justice to MINI brand values…namely serious fun. It looks more like a toy now than a real attempt to offer us an optimum power/weight ratio. Wasn’t that supposed to be the product brief and give us the ultimate?
The car is growing on me as well, but I still feel I’d rather have a JCW car fitted exactly to my liking, in the color of my choice. The rather disappointing increase in horse power over a “standard” JCW is not enough of a draw for me to take the plunge. GP option I’d most like to install on my MINI? ….. the rear seat delete (without the red tractor fenders).
Gabe,
Great column and very useful in helping me make a decision.
I’ve been reading pretty much everything on the MCS JCW and MCS JCW GP, and I’m seeing how disappointed folks are in general for the GP.
But I haven’t once seen anyone mention how the combo of 80 less lbs + the .30 drag coefficient + 8 extra hp would actually make it a significant enough (special enough?) difference compared to and entry MCS JCW with the same basics (i.e. JCW brakes and suspension). They would still be at about the same price of $30K-$32K.
I guess the only way to really find out is to test a GP and an entry JCW with the similar setup. Are there any plans for trying something like this with a pro driver?
I’m wondering what the opinion would be on this.
Also for the exterior and paint job. Ok, it’s not incredible, but it’s not that bad. I guess I don’t quite get the big fuss. The red mirror caps actually work with the red front brakes at speed. I agree with someones comments to make the back brakes also red. Maybe some suttle red pin stripping would accentuate the affect. Or even red bonnet stripes with black sides.
Ok, the rims aren’t the greatest plus at 18″ … that’s taking away hp at the wheels I think. The dyno should bear that out. But at speed … they really work well to show off the red front brakes. Did anyone notice this? Looks great to me. I wish they would some of these in 17″ instead.
Last but not least, do we know if the U.S. seats will have the same red lining as the Recaro versions we won’t be getting?
Again, thanks and keep those updates coming.
Gabe & all,
One more thing. I know folks are getting pretty excited about the new ’07 version coming out with the new Peugeot / Citroen engine … but it has so many new things that I’ve never even heard of before let alone see in production for any car … that I’m really hesitant to wait. I have a hunch folks are going to miss the supercharger before too long and the “trusty” Chrysler block.
I just know enough from past experience that when you introduce too many radical new developed items to an engine … it’s just asking for trouble. I know it’s BMW and they’ll put the work in to get it right … but hasn’t anyone felt this way?
I also remember turbos just going through engines much faster. So durability can be a concern. I grew up in France and had a chance to drive the Peugeot 205 GTI, and although it was a great little rocket … it definitely had turbo lag. Nothing like a Renault R5 turbo, but it was very evident.
Hopefully today’s engine management from Peugeot will take care of this. TBD.
Pricing has to go up I think as well. So where will that put an ’08 MCS JCW? $35K to $40K? I’m not so sure the market will be there for that kind of price.
x Miniac, the date correct are:
JCW: 210hp @ 6950
GP: 218hp @ 7100
hi Pat,
the new engine PSA of cooper s is better respect the actual engine Chrysler ?
i have reserved JCW GP ?
what tasks of this car in terms of performances?
thanks Simon
for Italy (BMW ITALY) is 34.000 EURO
i know because i have buy it (prenoted).