Michael Pezzullo, the newest contributor to Bimmerfile, got the chance to go to the NY Auto Show. Since he was there, he thought he’d snap a few photos of the JCW MINIs and the MINI Challenge Car for us to look at over here.
Be sure to follow the link above for a great write up of the auto show as well as some equally cool BMW photos!
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The way those hood stripes get interrupted by the (fake) hood scoop and then have the logo cut out of them at the edge of the grill looks really bad.
No coupe?
hey, R56 grouches, don’t forget to complain about the “wheel gap” (WeverTF that is).
Why are you trolling?
“Wheel gap”? Which one are you talking about–the one above the plastic trim, or the one between the wheel and the plastic trim? If you’re unclear to what wheel gap is, just compare the R56 to the R53, that should do it for you.
Are you happy now?
I can see already someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Play nice or comments get closed.
Thanks! 😀
Nice shots, actually rather glad only the R56 made the trip as its the closest representation of the stock car. Still has a little optional carbon fiber and a JCW steering wheel.
Would take the car on the left though heh
So far, this is the only newly branded JCW car in the world! Nice to see it in NYC.
I know it’s not included on the R56 or R55 JCW but I’d like to see a JCW aero kit for the R55 if it exists yet. Bout the only thing that bothers me on the R55 S is the tiny ill-formed faux rear diffusers on the bumper.
Mini challenge car is incredible.
Crusoe: “Mini challenge car is incredible.”
Yeah, man! Way incredible. May be the somewhat traditional “ship in a bottle” race car build approach, but very closely resembles the stock car, both the body and the motor, as opposed to a tubular frame chassis displayed in the BMW race car in the BMW booth, with a highly tweeked race motor, transmission etc…
A nice bunch of technology in the MINI Challenge car. It would be a super series of races with young, up-coming, fearless drivers to start in and move up to the faster ALMS touring cars.’
Would make for an outstanding race series in combination with some other professional series in the US. Just like Formula BMW teams their races with big events, a MINI Challenge Race Series could do the same thing and offer MINI great exposure in the US and international race scene.
MINI Challenge car – no stereo/cd player! There goes my plans of throwing on turn signals and a safety inspection sticker to make it a daily driver lol
The JCW MINI Challenge car is NOT coming to the USA. Damn. MINIUSA got shot down by the EPA about 3 weeks ago. MINIUSA notified their dealers it’s not going to happen! Individuals can try to get approval on their own through DOT/EPA, but not through corporate MINI
Holy wheel gap, Batman!
Yes, indeed, Young Robin. The R56 model MINI has massive wheel gap as compared to the earlier R53 model, which is far superior in all ways. Unfortunate, but true.
The wheel gap is there because this is actually the new mini SUV.
I do love the look of the Challenge car (I agree, that stripe on the JCW has got to be fixed). The cleaned-up bonnet (to the beltline) of R56 is a really great looking feature that is oft overlooked.
The hood scoop is not fake! I dare anyone to stick a finger in the scoop after I turn the engine off. Hahahhahahahaah….burnt sausage anyone??