Mini John Cooper Works
When we bought the car, we only hoped that the Mini John Cooper Works would surpass the previously unbeatable Ford Focus ST on our list of the best sports cars on the Raceland, equipped with a front-wheel drive pair. The Cooper has nearly half the engine (1.6T versus 2.5T Focus), but its half-race technique leaves no room for doubt. On the way to Krško, we were already sure that he would succeed. And this is true for him. ...
The history of the JCW Mini, as we affectionately call it, began back in 1959, when Alec Issigonis introduced the original Mini, and John Cooper, as a well-known race car driver and manufacturer, the Mini Cooper. The former driver, who also won Formula 1 with his cars, convinced many with his sporting success.
Let's just remember the victories at the Monte Carlo Rally, where the Minias also scored in the overall standings! Then, in 1999, BMW invited Mike Cooper, the founder's son, to continue designing and building (new) urban warriors in John Cooper's garage. They first focused on the Mini Cooper Challenge series, that is, the Modernized Minis Cup, and then, based on racing experience, the Mini John Cooper Works series was created.
JCW's story is very simple. They took the Mini Cooper S as a basis, which has an excellent turbocharged 1-liter engine. The engine was then mechanically redesigned to withstand higher temperature loads, other electronics were added, the six-speed manual transmission was slightly modified, larger aluminum wheels were installed, more powerful front brakes were installed, and it all ended with a more powerful exhaust system. ... ...
In other words, Johnny added 27 kilowatts (36 "horsepower"), thanks in large part to more generous electronics, an inch larger wheels (17-inch wheels instead of the original 16), weighing less than 10 pounds, and 2 inches more front-mounted additional cooling. . coils. To let the other members know that the car is no joke, they gave it a toxic red and black color combination. Outside and inside.
But apart from the connoisseurs, no one will know that you are driving a factory redesigned Mini. On the outside, with the exception of the red brake pads and the infamous John Cooper Works decals, there are no major differences from the Cooper S, it is similar on the inside. If the test Mini had at least Recaro seats, which could be considered accessories, it would still satisfy us, and therefore received a big disadvantage. For the $ 34 they charge for this car, I have to offer some exclusivity.
Thus, the seats do not fit well enough for the bodies of the front passengers, and the huge speedometer, inherited by the new Mini from the legend, is completely transparent, despite its size. By this we do not mean numbers that reach speeds of up to 260 km / h, but size and position on the dashboard. How to watch a movie from the first row. ...
Quick preparation was required before the record lap. Mini John Cooper Works has two throttle response programs and an electric steering gear: regular and sport. It's easy for everyday driving and sporty (the button next to the gear lever) wakes up the devil in this German-English race car. The already superb direct power steering is made even more responsive to racing, and the more responsive aluminum accelerator pedal, which is perfectly anchored to the ground at the BMW's heel, responds to any changes.
The difference in moderate warming up the ride is not big, but noticeable. But when you push the gas all the way, you hear it too. The sports program also features a redesigned exhaust system that gets louder, with the most noticeable difference being the quick release of the gas. Then it rattles every time and bursts out of the exhaust pipe, like a summer storm was chasing you.
Interestingly, this sound is not only unobtrusive to sports car fans, but so pleasant that I missed the opportunity to drive non-stop with this program. Well, I did it, only I had to press the button again after each launch, because the program does not remain “in memory”. And when my colleagues told me that on the track - when they finally entered the lane - overtaking the Mini sounded like a plane taking off, then I was sure.
The Mini JCW is one of the most pleasant surprises this year, as its arms, legs, buttocks, ears, and even eyes gave it a six on the five-figure pleasure scale. Well done BMW and Cooper!
But a stiffer chassis, powerful engine, and short six-speed transmission ratios don't mean the Mini is capable of overtaking a serious competitor, the Ford Focus ST. My biggest concern was whether the lack of diff lock would result in a lot of power being thrown into the air as smoke in "closed" corners, which could be caused by turning the inside wheel into neutral.
Well, BMW also fitted DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) with DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) to the Mini JCW as standard, which, due to the high torque, also had to do a lot of work when driving quietly off-road. wet streets of Ljubljana. Well, on the track we turned off both systems, but luckily, the so-called electronic differential lock works then. This is nothing more than automatic braking of the inner wheel at full acceleration from sharp corners, which does not have the disadvantages of classic locking, when the steering wheel must be held very tightly.
The system works perfectly, we did not notice excessive slippage, despite the deactivation of DSC, so once again praise to BMW. The Mini JCW is really pricey, but we haven't had such driving pleasure for a long time.
We ran the Cooper test, but we're still not sure who tested whom. Are we a car or Mini John Cooper Works, are we out of this challenge?
Aljoьa Mrak, photo :? Aleш Pavleti.
Mini John Cooper Works
Basic data
| Sales: | BMW GROUP Slovenia |
|---|---|
| Base model price: | 29.200 € |
| Test model cost: | 33.779 € |
| Calculate the cost of auto insurance | |
| Power: | 155kW (211 KM) |
| Acceleration (0-100 km / h): | 6,5 with |
| Maximum speed: | 238 km / h |
| Mixed flow ECE: | 6,9l / 100km |
Technical information
| engine: | 4-cylinder - 4-stroke - in-line - turbocharged petrol - displacement 1.598 cm? – maximum power 155 kW (211 hp) at 6.000 rpm – maximum torque 260-280 Nm at 1.850-5.600 rpm. |
|---|---|
| Energy transfer: | front wheel drive engine - 6-speed manual transmission - tires 205/45 R 17 W (Dunlop SP Sport 01). |
| Capacity: | top speed 238 km / h - acceleration 0-100 km / h in 6,5 s - fuel consumption (ECE) 9,2 / 5,6 / 6,9 l / 100 km. |
| Mass: | empty vehicle 1.205 kg - permissible gross weight 1.580 kg. |
| External dimensions: | length 3.730 mm - width 1.683 mm - height 1.407 mm - fuel tank 50 l. |
| Box: | trunk 160–680 XNUMX l |
Our measurements
| T = 7 ° C / p = 1.000 mbar / rel. vl. = 67% / Odometer Condition: 3.792 km | |
| Acceleration 0-100km: | 6,9s |
|---|---|
| 402m from the city: | 14,9 years ( 161 km / h) |
| Flexibility 50-90km / h: | 5,1 / 6,7s |
| Flexibility 80-120km / h: | 6,7 / 7,3s |
| Maximum speed: | 238km / h (WE.) |
| test consumption: | 10,6 l / 100km |
| Braking distance at 100 km / h: | 38,4m |
| AM table: | 40m |
evaluation
If even a little gasoline flows in your veins, Mini John Cooper Works will impress you. Excellent mechanics, toxic exterior and interior, excellent build quality and sound that you dream about all night. After the test drive, you'll be sure to empty the pouch, break the piglet, and flip the pockets.
We praise and reproach
engine performance
engine sound (Sport program)
appearance
workmanship
Transmission
brakes
sports chassis
legs
aircraft levers on the center console and ceiling
price
front seats
too similar to Cooper S
opaque speedometer
cheap John Cooper Works lettering
nor on the supertest
