2004 Mini Cooper Review

Specifications

Power to Match the Handling

I want it, I want it, I want it! OK, I dont usually regress into a childish tantrum for just anything, but the Cooper S is already such a fabulous car that I can only imagine how great a factory-tuned version could be.

Factory-tuned isnt quite accurate, being that the John Cooper Works Company, famous for its Monte Carlo winning Cooper rally cars of the 60s, is a separate facility from the MINI plant. Its more akin to Alpinas relationship with BMW.

But who cares, the new car has gobs of power and some trick visual enhancements to set it apart from the standard Cooper S, and whats more its fully covered by MINIs 4-year 50,000 mile comprehensive warrantee.

John Michael Cooper, who goes by Mike, is the son of John himself and currently runs John Cooper Works. He was on hand to unveil the new model in New York during the citys annual auto show in April, but it was Jack Pitney, general manager of MINI USA that summed the new model up best by saying, “MINIs regular specification cars are exhilarating to drive in themselves, but the addition of this unique package takes the MINI experience to a whole new level.”

And just what makes it so special? The Works team took all that Cooper S balance and poise and pumped up the 1.6-L 4-cylinder engine with a new Eaton supercharger, transforming 163-hp at 6,000 rpm into nothing short of 200-hp at 6,950 rpm.

While there are loads of plebian midsize family cars with an equivalent level of maximum output or more, the Works Cooper S has a distinct lack of mass on its side. With the standard Cooper S weighing in at a shade over 2,679 pounds, and the new model not expected to be that much heavier, it can put much more of its 177 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 22 lb-ft over the standard S, to the job of forward momentum. Peak torque remains attainable at a tractable 4,000 rpm, perfectly suited to its 6-speed manual transmission.

So how fast is it? The new model shaves 0.9 seconds off of a standstill sprint to 60 mph, the end number being 6.5 seconds instead of 7.4. Top speed is increased as well, from 135 to 140 mph.

The new supercharger isnt the only reason the JCW car is fast however. The Works team has modified the engines head to improve port flow, reprogrammed the ECU and added a parallel flow, low backpressure stainless steel exhaust system.

To identify a hopped up John Cooper Works car from a mere mortal Cooper S, the design team has added a chrome badge with the appropriate insignia on the rear decklid. Under the hood the intercooler gets the JCW signature too, while an individually numbered valve cover plaque commemorates its exclusivity.

And heres the best part. Even if you already own a Cooper S and the thought of an extra 37 horsepower seems intriguing, the kit can be applied to your car at a local MINI dealer, engine plaque and all.

Whether upgrading your current MINI or purchasing a turnkey John Cooper Works edition car, the new model should be well worth the money required. That figure mind you, is yet to be announced.