2007 Mini Cooper S Convertible 2-door 1.6l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Mini juices up Convertible with John Cooper Works model

Almost one year ago today, we caught our first and only look at the new Mini John Cooper Works Convertible, courtesy of a set of spy photos. Now, the new hot droptop has arrived, and no surprise, it's basically the same thing as the JCW Hardtop. The new model blends the standard three-door hardtop's 2.0-liter, 228-horsepower, 236-pound-foot, four-cylinder with the folding canvas roof of the new Mini Convertible, which debuted in October of last year. Available with a standard six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic, the three-pedal JCW Convertible will hit 60 in 6.4 seconds while the two-pedal will do the run a tenth of a second faster. The brawnier powertrain is backed up by a standard sport suspension – dynamic damper control is an optional extra – and convertible-specific chassis enhancements, including a new stiffening plate underneath the engine. To bring proceedings to a halt even quicker, Mini attached JCW-specific Brembo brakes. There's also the usual array of interior and exterior enhancements. Outside, there's a sportier body kit, standard, JCW-specific 17-inch wheels (or optional 18s), and standard LED headlamps. We're aching to try out the new JCW sport seats, which feature a fixed headrest and some serious bolstering. They're also rocking a pretty nifty black-and-red color scheme. Mini has paired its latest announcement with a full pricing release for the Cooper, Cooper S, and JCW Convertibles. Adding the softtop kicks up the price $5,000 to $5,500, with the base model starting at $26,800. The S model just barely cracks the $30,000 mark, coming in at $30,450, while the Works model is $36,450. That, friends, is a lot of money, and you'll be putting it down before even dipping into Mini's deep options catalog. Read on for both official press releases from Mini. EXTREME DRIVING FUN, INTENSIVE OPEN-AIR PLEASURE: INTRODUCING THE NEW MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS CONVERTIBLE Woodcliff Lake, NJ – January 14, 2016... When passion for motor racing is the driving force and intense open-air pleasure the goal, the new MINI John Cooper Works Convertible takes the ideal line from the word go. The second John Cooper Works model of the latest generation combines engine and suspension technology optimized for use on the race track with distinctive design and equipment features as well as the extensively refined qualities of the new MINI Convertible.

Mini John Cooper Works GP will have over 300 horsepower

The Mini John Cooper Works GP concept from the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show was one extreme-looking vehicle, and we now know it's because the real one will, in fact, be really extreme. The company announced that the production car will be the most powerful Mini with over 300 horsepower. In fact, it will be the most powerful Mini by a large margin, as the most potent models so far have only made 228 horsepower. And of course, it will be within striking distance of equally widened and winged cars such as the Civic Type R and Focus RS. Exact numbers haven't been revealed yet, but we wouldn't be surprised if it uses the same turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder from the BMW X2 M35i, which makes 306 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. In fact, the engine would be ideal, since the X2 is front-drive based and shares underpinnings and less-powerful engines with existing Mini products. The X2 M35i is also all-wheel-drive, which naturally brings up the idea of the GP also powering all four wheels, but Mini might choose to stay with front drive to reduce complexity and weight. Sticking with front drive would also mean that Mini could challenge the Civic Type R's record Nurburgring lap. It looks like the spirit of the concept's design will make it to production, too. The teaser images Mini released show a pretty wild looking split wing that's just a bit narrower and missing some of the concept's extraneous fins. We can also just make out fat fender flares, a big rear diffuser, and the GP's trademark four-spoke wheels. The Mini John Cooper Works GP will go into production in 2020, and Mini will only be building 3,000 examples. That's a low number, but it is more than the 2,000 units of the two previous GP generations. And considering the high output and low production, the GP will undoubtedly be a pricey hot hatch. Related Video:

Mini bringing new 230-hp John Cooper Works to Detroit

Mini models may keep getting incrementally bigger, but then so do their engines. Or more powerful, anyway - especially when it comes to the John Cooper Works performance models. The JCW version of the first (post-revival) generation R50, which was really more of an upgraded Cooper S than its own model, packed a 1.6-liter supercharged four with 200 horsepower. The following R56 JCW upped that incrementally to 208 hp, but the next Works hatchback is now rumored to pack around 230 horses.
Tipped to be revealed in both three- and five-door body-styles at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show half a year from now, the F56-gen Mini John Cooper Works hatchback is expected to use the same 2.0-liter turbo four as the new Mini Cooper S, but increasing the output from 189 hp to approximately 230. That would mean it would be more powerful than either of the two previous John Cooper Works GP editions to make the new JCW the most powerful road-going Mini to date, backed by 285 pound-feet of torque driving through a six-speed manual or available automatic transmission to deliver what promises to be a blistering pace for the latest retro hatchback.