The MINI Paceman debuted at last year’s L.A. Auto Show and now the brand has given it the hot-hatch treatment introducing the 2013 MINI John Cooper Works Paceman here at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.
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As expected, the MINI John Cooper Works GP has made its American debut at the 2012 LA Auto Show today.
As MINI prepares to debut its John Cooper Works (JCW) GP model at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, the British automaker has all but confirmed that the high-performance model will come in hatchback form only.
Mini has just announced pricing for the Countryman John Cooper Works edition, revealing that after all the speed oriented goodies are tacked on, the small crossover will cost $35,550.
Top 10 Track Specials Under $60,000
Driving is a mundane task for some people, but for others it’s a sport, and there’s no better proving ground than a track.
Automakers see that opportunity as well, and love to offer up cars that are designed specifically with track use in mind. Take a look at the latest offering from Subaru and Scion, the BRZ/FR-S twins. Both cars were designed with a priority on light-weight, and achieves an impressive weight balance. In true sporting fashion, it’s rear-wheel drive and can be had with a slick-shifting six-speed manual, or quick automatic with race-inspired paddle-shifters.
The FR-S isn’t the only car out there with racing in its veins. Here’s a list of factory-customized machines designed for time at the track.
We have already seen the Mini JCW GP in the flesh, and now details have leaked revealing that the car will make 218 hp, and achieve a top speed of about 150 mph.
The MINI John Cooper Works GP was unveiled back in May, flexing an impressive Nurburgring lap time of 8 minutes and 23 seconds. The British automaker figured it was time to show off the radical aerodynamics that helped achieve that time.
The John Cooper Works (JCW) MINI lineup will all get a revised 1.6-liter engine based on its predecessor with performance numbers being the same at 208-hp and 207 lb-ft of torque.
MINI announced the John Cooper Works version of its coupe last week, but if it is only performance you are after without the added paint and plastic, MINI will install the JCW engine kit on your existing MINI coupe or roadster.
The engine kit will boost the power of the coupe up to 197 hp, along with netting 199 lb-ft of torque. The kit includes a sports exhaust complete with chrome tailpipes and a laser etched JCW logo. An adapted air filter, a modified engine control unit, and JCW badges to complete the look of the car.
You can get the JCW engine tuning kit for $2100 before dealer installation fees. The suspension tuning kit, also from JCW, will be available for the just the coupe later this year.
The MINI Paceman concept was revealed to us at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, and will hit dealer showrooms in early 2013 badged as the Countryman Coupe.
First came rumors of the return of the MINI Cooper JCW GP, then came the spy photos. Now it would appear as though MINI is also planning a GP version of its new Coupe model.
Give-aways on this car include the same rear diffuser as we saw on the GP version of the hard top Cooper model, as well as the same 18-inch wheels – which we’re not a fan of. Absent, however, is the large rear spoiler, which makes some sense as the Coupe has its own retractable unit.
The move only makes sense as the Coupe is positioned as the highest performance model in the MINI lineup. When it does arrive, look for an even higher output version of the John Cooper Works turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder making around 200 hp.
With the original MINI GP model limited to just 2,000 units, expect this car to also be in short supply.
GALLERY: MINI Coupe JCW GP
Rear AutoGuide’s 2012 MINI Coupe Review and watch our Video Review Here
The MINI Cooper S JCW GP is getting updated, and will debut at the Mini United 2012 event in La Castellet, France this May. This new John Cooper Works GP MINI promises to be the brands most sports focused model yet.
We have already caught a glimpse of the new car thanks to some spy photos, and it will be getting a new lowered suspension system, a large rear spoiler, a new front bumper, 18-inch wheels and a new rear diffuser.
MINI was proud to announce today that a John Cooper Works Super Production Car (SPC) captured its first FIA International event win this past weekend. Driver Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari took the checkered flag home at the Qatar International Rally, the first found in the 2012 Middle East Rally Championship (MERC).
Al Kuwari had his brother, Nassar Al-Kuwari as his co-driver, and the pair captured the race victory by a margin of 2m 24.9s and was the team’s first career MERC win. It was also a successful debut of the Prodrive-built, Tok Sport-ran MINI John Cooper Works SPC. The MINI SPC is the regional rally specification of the MINI World Rally Car. It is nearly identical to the WRC except the SPC runs with a smaller engine restrictor (30-mm versus 33-mm) and a smaller rear wing.
“It is a fantastic feeling to win this rally,” said Al-Kuwari, who became the 32nd driver in history to win at least one round of the MERC. “I have achieved success in national rallies in Qatar, but this was the big one. This was the rally I wanted to win. It was a great battle with Nasser. The new car was fantastic. This is the biggest win of my career.”
The team is now looking forward to becoming a force to be reckoned with in the 2012 Middle East Rally Championship.
With a huge gulf existing between the road-going version of the MINI Countryman and the WRC-ready version, a halo version that could bridge the gap between urban crossover and full-blown race car could be an asset for MINI, and help them leverage some of the image boost that their rally program will provide, especially in parts of the world where WRC is a popular motorsport.
At this point, the idea of a hardcore Countryman is just a rumor, but the it’s not hard to imagine a pumped up Countryman, perhaps with some tweaks courtesy of a JCW upgrade package, more macho bodywork and big wheels. So far, a concept is supposedly planned for.
[Source: Ausmotive]