Car Moon

Carscoop’s spy photographers have snapped some of the first images of the sportiest edition yet of the Mini Countryman bearing the John Cooper Works logo. The…high-hoon version of Mini’s urban crossover model will come with all the usual styling upgrades and performance modifications we’re used to seeing in the other JCW models.

First and foremost, the Countryman JCW will get a juiced up version of the Cooper S’ 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbo engine. Being that the Countryman is much heavier than the other Mini JCW variants, engineers may further hone the four-cylinder powerplant to deliver more than 211-ponies it normally produces, possibly approaching the 230HP mark.

In the same way the John Cooper Works moniker designates high-performance models, Mini plans to use the Goodwood name as a sub-brand for high-end luxury versions of its cars. According to British magazine Autocar, which quotes sources from within the company, the Goodwood badge will be used on luxurious, bespoke Minis just like the JCW badge is put on its high-performance models.

The first model of the Goodwood line is the “Mini Inspired by Goodwood”, which made its world premiere at the Shanghai auto show. The car is essentially a Cooper S that sports unique styling cues and trim options designed “in close collaboration” with Rolls-Royce. The name itself pays tribute to Rolls-Royce's headquarters, while the Shanghai unveiling signals the importance of the Chinese market for very expensive Minis.

We're no luxury handbag experts, but the first thought that comes to mind upon seeing CoverEFX's MINI John Cooper Works [JCW] tuning proposal is a....Louis Vuitton bag on wheels. For obvious reasons, the monogram canvas is different than the one found on the products of the famous French design house, but its styling as well as the colors and the leathery texture of the special foil wrap all point to an inspiration that come from Louis Vuitton.

The newly developed 2.0-liter turbo diesel we told you about in our previous post isn't the only fresh addition to MINI's lineup for 2011. The new year also brings a John Cooper Works [JCW] Pack option for the hatch and convertible models, a performance kit for the Cooper S and the Clubman Hampton special edition.

The JCW pack option for the Cooper and Cooper S Hardtop and Convertible vehicles is due to be available from the second quarter of 2011 as a factory option. It includes an aero kit with front and rear aprons, plus side skirts, as well as 17-inch weight-optimized aluminum alloy wheels.

The interior is upgraded with a new leather steering wheel with red stitching, gearshift knob with red shift pattern lettering, plus a leather handbrake boot featuring -what else- red stitching.

The latest Mini Cooper S and its JCW brother have gotten the option of more oomph from German tuner Nowack Motors.

The packages, dubbed N210, N230, and N260 are pretty self-explanatory: 210 horsepower (filter/ECU work), 230 horsepower (add an exhaust), and 260 horsepower.

The N260 adds a little extra Nowack touch: Nowack cams and downpipe, improved intercooler setup, and a rebuilt cylinder head with better flow.

$40,300 for a tuned-up Mini? REALLY? That's the opening price - including a $700 shipping fee, for the 50 coming-to-these-here-shores versions of Mini's World Championship 50 (WC50) model (read all about it in out previous post here).

It features the JCW turbo'd 1.6 rated at 208 horsepower, all the other standard Works fixin's, and special green paint (to sound like it's worth the money, call it Connaught Green). Seriously though, it looks good. Just not THAT good.

Revealed for the first time at the 2009 MINI United Festival in Silverstone, the MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 is yet another special edition model built to commemorate the Cooper racing team's first Formula One World Championship title with Jack Brabham at the wheel in 1959. The car that will be produced in a strictly limited run of 250 units is based on the MINI JCW and driven by the same 1.6-liter twin-turbocharged engine that pumps out 211HP. It accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62mph) in 6.5 seconds going on to a top speed of 238 km/h or 148mph.

The hottest drop-top variant of the new MINI Cooper has been officially revealed ahead its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in the beginning of March. Not surprisingly, the MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible features the same performance engineering and chassis modifications as the hatch model including a more powerful version of the 1.6-litre twin scroll-turbocharged engine that produces 211 hp and up to 280 Nm peak torque with Overboost deployed.

The engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox which has been strengthened to handle the extra available power. The MINI JCW Convertible goes from zero to 60 (96 km/h) in 6.9 sec or 0.4 sec slower than the hatch, and onto a top speed of 146 mph (235 km/h) while returning a combined 39.8 mpg UK that translates to 33.2 mpg US and 7.1 lt / 100km.

Other modifications concern the uprated brake system with bright red Brembo performance calipers, a series of electronic aids such as the EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution), CBC (Cornering Brake Control), EDLC (Electronic Differential Lock Control), DSC (Dynamic Stability Control incorporating Hill Assist) and DTC (Dynamic Traction Control).

Like the hatch, the JCW Convertible also features a sport button located in front of the gear stick that activates a bespoke engine control map producing boost earlier in the rev range and sharpening steering and throttle response.

Visually, the JCW Convertible subtly stands out thanks to an aero kit and a set of unique cross-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels while inside, it features a bespoke John Cooper Works Alcantara steering wheel, sport seats, JCW floor mats and glossy piano black interior.