Mini Cooper S Works on the line
From October, the 210bhp John Cooper Works (JCW) engine tuning kit will be available as a factory-fit option when ordering a Mini Cooper S in either hatch or convertible form, and costs an extra £3,600.
The kit adds 40bhp to the 170bhp S, and boosts top speed from the Cooper S's 137mph to 143mph, reaching 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds -- the S makes it in 7.2 seconds.
The Works features a modified cylinder head with higher compression, modified engine electronics and increased throughput injectors. The factory option will also include the following JCW products as standard: air filter system, 16-inch brake discs, exhaust pipe finisher, front apron and tailgate badges, and certificate of authenticity. A limited slip differential is also included in the cost.
Mike Cooper, managing director of John Cooper Works, has been heavily involved in the introduction of the kits at Plant Oxford. He said: "I’m pleased that the partnership with the new Mini has been such a success. The kits offered as a factory fit option show how closely we work together and will provide us at John Cooper Works with more time to develop further high performance products."
The JCW kit will still be available to Mini Cooper S owners as a retrofit offered by all 157 UK Mini dealerships and John Cooper Works garage in West Sussex. Cost is £2,999 (inc. VAT, plus 10 hours’ labour). The retrofit does not include the additional specification included on the line of JCW sports brakes and limited slip differential.
The John Cooper workshop said they'd fitted only 400 kits to date in the UK, so the kit puts you in some reasonably exclusive machinery.