Mini Cooper S Works

The adage that how fast you want to go depends on how much you're willing to spend certainly applies to the John Cooper Works (JCW) tuning kit for the Mini Cooper S. The late John Cooper is the race driver who turned the original Mini into the hot-rod Cooper S.

What makes a Mini a "Works?" The package, developed in concert with the factory, centers on a higher-flowing cylinder head mated to a JCW exhaust system optimized for lower back pressure and a sportier sound. An Eaton-sourced JCW supercharger is included, along with specific engine calibration engineered to match the improved airflow. The obligatory chrome enamel badging, a numbered engine-bay plate, and special intercooler surround complete the package.

The result adds 37 extra horses to a Cooper S and 22 more pound-feet of torque for a total of 200 horsepower and 177 pound-feet. Along with the extra power, the mods eliminate the off-the-line bog we've experienced in our long-term Cooper S, offering better overall driveability. The Works hardware is available only by authorized Mini dealer installation. The package includes a two-year/unlimited-miles Mini Parts and Accessory Warranty or the balance of the Mini New Vehicle Warranty, whichever is greater--rare commodities in the realm of aftermarket modification.

How much to go fast? The JCW Works package costs approximately $5000 installed, on top of the cost of a Mini Cooper S. Not cheap, but well done, warrantied, and developed by the company that made the original Mini go fast in the first place.