MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50: First Look

Motoring Staff - 03/December/2009

Australia - Set to become one of the most exclusive MINI models ever produced, and to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of Alec Issigonis transverse-mounted front four-cylinder engine small car concept we see the launch of a Special Edition.

This special edition MINI was inspired by John Cooper's son, Mike and will have a limited run of just 500 vehicles worldwide. MINI Australia hopes to secure a limited number of vehicles when the limited edition is released in the first quarter of 2010.

The car is based on the MINI John Cooper Works and will feature a 155kW four-cylinder engine with Twin-Scroll turbocharger and petrol direct injection. The car also features numerous exterior and interior details reflecting the racing heritage of the brand.

Boasting a custom colour called Connaught Green the MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 evokes thoughts of the once famous colour of British race cars of the 1950s and 60s era. The Connaught Green is combined with roof and bonnet stripes that are finished in Pepper White, this colour scheme mimics that of the Cooper F1 cars, further cementing its racing heritage.

Mike Cooper worked closely on this car guaranteeing its authenticity, his signature even appears on one bonnet stripe and on a facia plaque. 

The limited edition MINI features the John Cooper Works aerodynamics package, John Cooper Works Cross Spoke CHALLENGE light-alloy wheels finished Jet Black, bi-xenon headlights with special black interior surface, additional driving lights with black housings, carbon fibre bonnet scoop, rear diffuser, exterior mirror caps and tailgate handle.

A special numbering on the side scuttles finishers will identify each MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 as an individual entity of an exclusive limited series.

The Interior is kept strictly racing themed by using Carbon Black overlaid by subtle sporty red touches. Full leather sports seats come in black with red piping and the red theme is continued with matching red knee-rolls, armrests and red stitching on the floor mats, gearshift & handbrake gaiters. The carbon fibre theme is continued into the cabin with dash inserts, door grips and a John Cooper Works insert on the Sports Steering Wheel which has an Alcantara rim.

Powering this little beast is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that is based on the MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE race vehicles. It produces 155kW of power and 260Nm of torque, which can even be briefly increased to 280Nm thanks to an overboost feature.
The 1.6-litre is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox enabling the MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 238km/h.

Average fuel consumption is 6.9L/100km on the combined cycle while the CO2 figure stands at just 165g/km.

MINIs have always known for their superior handling and cornering capabilities, so it isn't any surprise that this limited edition features McPherson struts on the front axle and a central-arm rear axle. Electromechanical power steering (EPS) also helps guarantee precise handling. A Sport button on the centre console sharpens the steering even further  and also makes accelerator response even sportier. The large sports brake system with red aluminium callipers provides for stopping piece of mind.

Standard equipment on the MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 will include Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Hill Assist, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) Brake Assist and Electronic Differential Lock Control system.

Related Links:
- Mini Cooper S Chilli Cabrio (Road Test)
- Mini Cooper S: The Beatles' Tribute (2009)
- Mini Cooper Cabrio (2009)
- Mini E (2009)
- Mini Crossover Concept (2008)
- Mini John Cooper Works (2008)
- Mini Clubman (2008)
- New Mini (2007)
- Mini Concept Tokyo (concept)
- Mini Concept Frankfurt (concept)
- Mini Cooper Cabrio (2005)