R56 JCW Engine Kit: Auto Availability
MF Exclusive: Last week we broke the exclusive on US pricing of the new JCW Engine Kit (commonly referred to the “Stage 1” kit). The kit has a dealer list of $2100 w/a suggested 2 hours of installation time. It will be available at your local MINI dealer in late July at the earliest.
However both our sources and official MINI press releases have been mum on the kit’s availability for the automatic equipped MCS. MINI had quite a few software and emissions related issues bringing to market the JCW engine on the previous MCS automatic and fear was that the same fate would befall the R56’s kit. While the R53’s JCW kit eventually made it to market after several delays, the US version was scrapped altogether due to those emissions related problems.
However MINI is aiming to please with the new JCW Engine Kit. We now have confirmation that MINI (and MINI USA) is looking to have the kit available for automatic equipped MCS by October of this year. There’s no word on final power output (the R53 version of the JCW kit was down 9bhp from the manual version) but due to the nature of the kit we’d expect similar if not identical figures.
The JCW engine kit will cost $2100 in the US (as reported last week) with a suggested two hours of dealer labor. The kit includes a less restrictive JCW exhaust, intake and ECU software upgrade. The new components develop 192bhp and 184lbf-ft/250nm (199lbf-ft/270nm with overboost).
As with the manual version, the automatic JCW Kit will be available only as a dealer installed option. Of course we remain optimistic for something even hotter and factory based down the road.
Im 6’8 with size 15 shoes so I favor the automatics.
Whooo hooo for me and all the automatic lovers!!! lol
<blockquote>Im 6′8 with size 15 shoes so I favor the automatics</blockquote>
How does MINI even enter your vocabulary? I have a friend that is 6’5″ and when he sat in my MINI it was like giving birth when he tried to get out again.
WOW.
and just like that, the possibility of an r56 became reality…
Bring it on! MCSa Clubman please.
What’s the bet that the Stage 2 factory JCW will be manual only. Heh.
Super! I thought this might be the case. The pre-R56 modified the engine, this kit, like the prevous models JCW Sound Kit, is just an airbox/exhaust upgrade, with ECU change. The old sound kit was available for both the standard and the auto (without the ECU change on the auto). Now if they would just go with a dual-clutch manual/auto trans, instead of that Asian PoS, it would be perfect.
And should be no problem for tall people in the MINI. Frank Stephenson is a BIG guy, and he designed the MINI to fit himself. My son-in-law is 6’6″ and has no problem getting in-out. Trick is – open the driver’s door, put your left hand down on the door sill next to the seat, and just pivot out of the car head/shoulders first.
Very pleased. That’s the one thing that could make me want to get an R56. Of course the wife is getting one first so maybe we just get this for hers. =D
<blockquote>Im 6′8 with size 15 shoes so I favor the automatics.</blockquote>
With the “07” you could go manual. The pedals allow for your large feet. Filling out the MINI Motoring experience.
I wear size 14 and drive with work boots in my “03”.
After driving the “07” there is more room to play the pedals.
<blockquote>How does MINI even enter your vocabulary? I have a friend that is 6′5″ and when he sat in my MINI it was like giving birth when he tried to get out again.</blockquote>
I open the door, pump pump pump pump and I get in. I have just the same amount of room driving anything else. If you put the steering wheel all the way up I have no problem getting out plus i weigh 275 my friend. Yea, ex pro basketball player.lol
i hate standards! I just wanna chill out when i drive!lol
does anyone know off the top of their head the hp difference between the regular and the Stage 1.
I am 6’9″ weighing around 385 and I had issues with the previous mini. I sat in and drove the r56 and fell in love. It has a lot more shoulder room, leg room and head space. I would prefer the auto but not at the cost of power and driving fun. Check out the r56 and you will like it much better.
<blockquote>Bring it on! MCSa Clubman please.</blockquote><blockquote>
Yea, I can’t wait to see these in person!</blockquote>
What does the new MINI’s turbo boost at? like the PSI??
Chili chi. The standard MCS is 175bhp. The stage one is 192bhp. However I have read various posts here and elswhere stating dyno test of well over 200bhp on the standard. After a couple test drives I agree it is faster than my ’05 JCW so I don’t doubt these claims. Who knows what the true power of the stage one will be but for $2100 I am there! My guess is the monster stage two is a couple year away.
<blockquote>I am 6′9″ weighing around 385</blockquote>
You are now the tallest and biggest to step in a mini cooper to my knowledge!lol
The 06 MCS you can move the seat back more because the back seat doesn’t come up too much. In the 07’s the trunk is bigger resulting in the back seat to be push further up behind the front seat.
does stage 2 build on stage 1 parts? or, will stage 1 parts have to be changed?
>does stage 2 build on stage 1 parts? or, will stage 1 parts have to be changed?
No one knows and there’s no proof that there even will be a “stage 2” or a factory JCW kit for the R56 other than our sources insistences. However common sense sells us that (A) there will be and (B) it will not be a simple upgrade away for those who will have the dealer kit.
I have my fingers crossed hoping that we see a factory screamer. I agree with Gabe that this would be a natural fit to the way Mini has done things up to this point. I do have to say that there is no chance that if they produce a factory JCW that it will not be available as an upgrade for any existing R56. Looking forward to seeing what Mini does over the next many years, that is of course with the exception of a Mini SUV.
Great…just when I had nearly convinced myself that all I needed for my fun little commuter was a MC with Auto, this news comes out and makes me rethink the whole thing. Damn you MINI and your performance. The thought of having a covert auto rocket to blast around in, that won’t drive me nuts when the traffic slows to a crawl may prove too tempting. Oh, and I’m 6’7″. No one believes that I fit in the car, and that I find it more comfortable than almost any other car out there (SUVs don’t count–they are not cars). Now I just need to convince the wife that this level of performance is necessary…for safety…yeah…it’s an active safety feature…that’s the ticket…ooof…perhaps I shouldn’t say ticket…I see several in my future.
One of you 6’7″+ types should be in a MINI commercial. That would open some eyes and sell a few cars.
I volunteer. My fee: 2007 MCS!
I dunno. The commercial might be mistaken for an ad for the circus. MINI USA’s site has a video showing 4 large guys getting out–the driver is 6’5″ I don’t know how anyone would fit behind him.
Here is the <a href="http://www.miniusa.com/#/learn/FACTS_FEATURES_SPECS/dimensions/dimensionsInterior-i" rel="nofollow">LINK</a>.
Sorry, we have gotten a bit off topic.
Interesting no one has asked what type of badging will come with this.
I wonder how it will affect the gas mileage of the car.