By Alistair Weaver
15 July 2008
John Cooper’s relationship with Mini stretches all the way back to the 1960s. It was Cooper who turned a tiny family runabout into a Monte Carlo rally-winning sporting icon. Forty years later, when BMW reinvented the icon, John’s son Mike set about developing a ‘John Cooper Works’ tuning kit. This proved such a success that BMW bought the rights at the end of 2006.
Now, following the successful launch of the second generation of the second generation, BMW has unveiled its own ‘John Cooper Works’ Mini. It goes on sale this July priced from £20,995 with a Clubman version to follow next year.
On the outside
Customers for the John Cooper Works like their neighbours to know that they’ve spent the big bucks. BMW has even delayed the launch of the Clubman version until a body kit becomes available next year.
The standard Mini has already had a trip to the cosmetic surgeon. There’s a new front chin spoiler, side skirts, rear valance, twin exhaust pipes and some bespoke 17in wheels. Some elements are more successful than others – the rear-end treatment, for example, looks clumsy – but at least it’s distinctive.
On the inside>>>
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