John Cooper Works Tuning Kits: Ultimate MINI approved 200bhp MINI Cooper S

John Cooper Works, the original British company behind the legendary Mini
Cooper has developed two new aftermarket and retrofit tuning kits, for the new
MINI. The MINI Cooper 'Works' and MINI Cooper S 'Works' will make their world
premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on March 4 2003. The kits will be available
from both the John Cooper Works organisation and all official MINI Dealers from
April 2003. Uniquely, having obtained full approval and endorsement from the
BMW Group, vehicle warranty and MINI tlc* remain unaffected providing the kit
is fitted by an official MINI dealer or by John Cooper Works. Prices of the
'Works' kits will be announced closer to launch.

A brief history
The Cooper name has been inextricably linked with Mini since the Mini Cooper
was launched in 1961. The Cooper name originates from John Cooper, an
engineering legend in British motor sports history. With the introduction of
new MINI in 2001, the Cooper name was given a fresh lease of life, and though
John Cooper sadly died in December 2000, through his son Mike, a new generation
of MINI tuning kits have been developed at the original John Cooper premises in
East Preston, West Sussex.

MINI Cooper 'Works'
Including features such as a modified cylinder head with higher compression,
modified engine electronics, a special air filter and rear silencer the MINI
Cooper Works generates a maximum output of 126bhp at 5,750rpm. This is an
increase of 11bhp over the standard car. Maximum torque is increased to 155Nm
from149Nm and is available at 4,700rpm. This power hike gives the MINI Cooper
'Works' a top speed of 128mph and a 0-62mph sprint of just 8.9 seconds.
50-75mph in fourth gear takes only 10.1 seconds.

MINI Cooper S 'Works'
By installing an even more powerful and higher revving compressor, the MINI
Cooper S 'Works' has become the ultimate officially approved performance MINI.
With 200bhp at 6950rpm (an increase of 37bhp over the standard car) and a top
speed of 141mph, the MINI Cooper S 'Works' adds up to an impressive package.
The generous torque of 240Nm available at 4,000rpm catapults the Cooper S
'Works' from 0-62mph in just 6.7 seconds and 50-75mph in 5.6 seconds.

John Cooper Works accessories
Specially designed sports seats and a 'Works' 18-inch alloy wheel are available
for John Cooper Works cars although can be retrofitted to all MINIs. The
18-inch wheel is a star design featuring five widening spokes giving the car a
sporty and powerful look. It fits tyre sizes 250/40 R18 with runflat system.

The sports seats have been designed to offer superb grip. With a reinforced
shoulder area and adjustable thigh support for added comfort, they can also be
ordered with seat heating (provided the car being converted was purchased with
this option). The 'Works' sports seats are available in the same range of
colours as the standard range of MINI seats. Both the sports seats and the
18-inch wheel will be available from all official MINI dealers from April 2003.
Prices will be announced closer to launch.

John Cooper - a history
The history of John Cooper's company began at the end of the 1940's when
motorsport pioneer John Cooper and his father Charles founded the Cooper Car
Company and began producing small, competitive racing cars. The Cooper 500 set
the tone and made possible a new world of affordable motor racing. Early
customers of John Cooper included no less than Stirling Moss and five times
world champion Juan Manuel Fangio, who sat behind the wheel of the first
Formula 2 racing car by Cooper.

At the end of the 1950's the first Cooper rear-engined Formula 1 car challenged
the big guns such as Ferrari, Maserati and BRM who still raced with front
engines. In 1958 Stirling Moss drove the Cooper Climax T43 to victory, making
it the first rear-engined racing car to win a world championship race - just
like all the F1 cars today. In 1959 Jack Brabham won the first of two Formula 1
constructors and drivers world championships for Cooper in a Cooper Climax.

However, John Cooper was not only active in Formula racing. In the 1960?s he
achieved success with the Mini Cooper on the racetrack and in rallies as well.
The Mini Cooper famously won the Monte Carlo Rally three times between 1964 and
1967, and only hotly disputed disqualification over a technicality in 1966
prevented complete domination.

Despite the Mini Cooper's success and popularity, production was stopped by BMC
in 1971 after 150,000 units had been produced. John Cooper however kept the
Mini Cooper brand name alive. In order to meet the growing demand for Cooper
cars he produced tuning kits and accessories in the 1980's to convert Minis
into Mini Coopers.

In 1990 the Mini Cooper was brought back to life and John Coopers continued to
produce numerous special models of the sporty Cooper S.

At his garages in East Preston, West Sussex the John Cooper Works business
continues to manufacture engine and chassis tuning kits for the classic Mini.
The sharp engines and the legendary handling of his tuned Minis hugely
influenced the sporty image of the MINI Cooper to this day.

-ends-
Editor's notes:
*MINI tlc is a servicing package which offers service cover for five years /
50,000 miles for a single payment of just £100.