MINI Cooper S JCW GP Kit: In Depth

Press Release

Aerodynamic, Purist, Individual

Design of the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit.

Boasting a special aerodynamics package, exclusive metallic paintwork and 18-inch light-alloy rims developed especially for this model, the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit stands out clearly at first sight. Sporting and safe driving fun is guaranteed above all by the John Cooper Works sports suspension, the limited-slip differential featured as standard, as well as ASC+T traction control. As an option – but at no extra cost – the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit may also be fitted with DSC Dynamic Stability Control for even safer handling and manoeuvring.

The interior also boasts an all-round range of features with somewhat different qualities: In the interest of minimum weight, the MINI Cooper S with its John Cooper Works GP Kit comes without a rear seat bench. So entirely among themselves, the driver and co-driver enjoy all the amenities of the sports steering wheel, Recaro leather sports seats, CD radio and on-board computer – and, if they wish, the pleasure offered by air conditioning, a comfort option also available at no extra cost, but not fitted from the start in order to optimise the weight of the car.

Further special equipment is not available, since the MINI Cooper S featuring the John Cooper Works GP Kit comes from the start with all the highlights required for purist and sporting driving pleasure.

Setting clear priorities: ideal weight instead of rear seats

In the MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport Series the winner of each individual race is required to carry some additional weight in the next race. This gives the competitors a greater potential, makes the races even more exciting, and, of course, serves to offer the crowd even more spectacular events.

The driver of a MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit, on the other hand, is not required to make any such concessions – instead, he can enjoy the low weight of his MINI every mile on the road. So there is no extra weight to distract from the car’s outstanding power-to-weight ratio of just 7 kilos per kilowatt or 5.1 kilos per horsepower.

To achieve this outstanding figure, the designers and engineers creating the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit have set clear priorities also in the design and configuration of the interior: With the purist driving pleasure offered by the MINI providing a truly outstanding experience primarily on the front seats, the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit comes without any seats at the rear.

Aerodynamics package for extra downforce and lower air resistance

The set-up of the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit is round­ed off by an aerodynamics package perfected in elaborate wind tunnel tests. Demonstrating lots of love and attention to detail in terms of both design and colour, the new MINI stands out at first sight as a truly unique, striking and, in particular, sporting and elegant car. At the same time a lot of work and know­how has been invested in the aerodynamics package featured on the most powerful MINI not just for reasons of looks, but rather – and above all – for functional reasons. In the process the specialists responsible for these improvements have developed body components significantly enhancing downforce on the front and rear wheels, optimising air resistance, and substantially improving the car’s driving behaviour at high speeds.

Completely re-designed from the ground up, the front spoiler merges smoothly into the front wheel cutouts. At the bottom, the front spoiler tapers out into a black “lip” in front of the wheels. The cooling air intake opening unusually large on the MINI, as well as design elements in silver integrated in the front air dam left and right, give the MINI Cooper S with its John Cooper Works GP Kit an exceptionally wide look from the front. A further point is that the front spoiler extending particularly far down creates not only a visual impression of optimum roadholding, but actually ensures much higher downforce on the front axle. The side-sills also extend far down to the bottom of the car, with their outside curvature directly in front of the rear wheels promoting the car’s aerodynamic qualities. Clearly, the flow of wind rushing by the car is guided in the ideal direction at this point.

Adding the final touch in the wind tunnel

Precision engineering and thorough testing in the wind tunnel have also served to optimise the design of the rear spoiler proudly displaying the use of carbon fibre, leading to a new concept with appropriately dimensioned bearing elements at the side. In its shape and size, the spoiler, interacting with its wing profile, serves as a particularly important feature in maximising the car’s downforce.

For functional reasons alone, the rear spoiler is mounted in the upper area of the tailgate. Hence, the third brake light otherwise fitted here on the “regular” MINI production models has been moved down to the lower edge of the rear window specially made for the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit. And in the process the engineers have again considered the need to reduce weight, deciding to do without a rear window wiper.

High-class look and exclusive colours

Grey Blue, Silver, Red and Black – these are the exclusive colours which give the MINI Cooper S with its John Cooper Works GP Kit a particularly distinctive look from the start. Indeed, it is fair to say that this intentionally limited range of colours forms a certain contrast to the highly emotional character of the most powerful MINI. But it is precisely this contrast which ensures a particularly exciting overall impression.

The 2,000 units of the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit will all come with the same colour scheme: The body is finished in Thunder Blue, and reflecting a well-known MINI tradition, the colour of the roof will stand out also on this model from the colour of the body as such, with the roof finished in Pure Silver to provide an appropriate contrast.

Thunder Blue is reserved exclusively to the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit, clearly proving that all MINIs in this colour combination are without doubt the most powerful production models in the world. And even if, despite the limited edition, two MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works Kit meet on the road one day, there is still no reason for confusion. For at the side of the roof, directly above the driver’s door and therefore clearly in the driver's line of vision when entering the car, each model proudly bears its “GP” designation together with the car’s individual, four-digit production number – from 0001 to 2000.

Tinted rear side windows and the tinted window at the rear also contribute to the particularly distinctive, sporting look of the MINI Cooper S with its John Cooper Works GP Kit. Indeed, the special body elements of the aerodynamics package likewise reflect this particular look and optical impres­sion: The superior function of these aerodynamic components is clearly recognisable, their design follows obvious technical necessities, and their discreet colour scheme creates additional highlights. A refined touch is added, for example, by the inserts in the front and rear air dams and by the surround on the air scoop in the engine compartment lid all finished in Pure Silver. The black background behind the rear numberplate and on the front air intake scoop, as well as the brake callipers finished in red on the front wheels and the exterior mirror caps highlighted in striking Chilli Red, smoothly and harmoniously round off the overall impression of the car’s exterior.

Hot spot for two: the interior with all the ambience of motorsport

The interior of the MINI Cooper S with its John Cooper Works GP Kit guarantees an undiluted motorsport ambience: The driver and co-driver both enjoy sports seats designed and built by Recaro, the renowned seat specialist. Clearly, the seats offer perfect side support, the adjustable thigh support optimises the occupants’ sporting position and ensures very good body contact with the car. The need for comfort is however not neglected, with seat heating naturally coming as standard.

All exterior colours are also featured inside the car: The seats finished in finest leather come in Panther Black, red seams providing an attractive contrast. No other MINI is available with sports seats in this design, not even as an option.

The dashboard stands out proudly in Pure Silver, the central instrument housing the speedometer as well as the rev counter positioned above the steering column in the driver’s primary line of vision underlining the sporting character of the car in its classic circular design. The dials in both instruments are finished in anthracite, the needles standing out in red from the faces in the dials. The display of the on-board computer featured as standard is integrated in the rev counter, and another “GP” model designation placard bearing the series number of the car stands out clearly on the dashboard in front of the co-driver.

A three-spoke leather sports steering wheel offering particularly good grip and featuring multifunction buttons enhances the driving pleasure offered by the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit. Pressing the buttons, the driver is able to operate the radio and cruise control without having to take his hands off the steering wheel.

Ample space for luggage and a reinforcement tube

Instead of the usual rear seat bench, the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit comes with yet another feature typical of a genuine sports car at the rear: The area behind the front seats is dominated by a polished reinforcement tube connecting the spring strut domes on the rear axle. A further practical advantage of this reinforcement tube is that it prevents luggage from sliding against the front seat backrests when applying the brakes.

The smooth and flat loading area significantly enhances the practical value of the MINI Cooper S with its John Cooper Works GP Kit, offering maximum loading space of 670 litres or 23.5 cubic feet. The entire floor of the loading compartment can be opened in z-configuration to the front, providing easy and convenient access to two storage compartments beneath, with the warning triangle positioned conveniently in between these two boxes.

The side panels created and designed especially for this two-seater MINI form a particularly striking contrast to the black carpeting in the luggage com­partment: Finished in twin-tone Tartan Red and Panther Black, they make the interior particularly bright and attractive.

Complete range of equipment featured as standard – air conditioning as a no-cost option

While concentrating on the essential – that is supreme driving fun – the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit is clearly an all-inclusive offer, the wide range of standard equipment leaving nothing to be desired on this extra-dynamic and sporting MINI. Naturally, this applies to the car’s power unit, its suspension technology and the aerodynamics package, just as it does to the wide range of driving stability and safety features as well as the interior as a whole.

The on-board computer, Bose audio system with CD player, leather sports seats complete with seat heating, and the leather sports steering wheel with multifunction buttons are naturally standard in each of the 2,000 units to be built, as are white direction indicators, velour foot mats, the lights package, and tinted glass on both the rear side windows and the rear window as such.

Just like the car’s safety, the high standard of motoring comfort may be enhanced to an even higher level through one single option: With DSC Dyna­mic Stability Control serving to provide even greater safety, air conditioning is the second and last item on the list of optional extras. And again, air conditioning will be fitted in the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit only at the customer's request as a no-cost option.