New Car: 2009 Mini Cooper S Works

Has MINI Worked another marvel? Take a look at the first official pictures of the MINI Cooper S Works – in both hatchback and Clubman form for the first time.With the John Cooper Works brand now brought in house, we can expect to see more JCW badged MINIs than ever, and it looks like enthusiasts will be far from disappointed.Set to make its debut at next week’s Geneva Motor Show, the pair of red hot MINIs promise to be the wildest pocket rockets on the road.Equipped with a 208bhp turbocharged engine, race-developed chassis and hi-tech limited-slip diff, the John Cooper Works is capable of keeping pace with performancecars which have twice its power.To set the Works variants apart from standard Cooper S models, the range toppers get 17-inch alloy wheels, while the rear is dominated by stainless steel exhausts. Subtle Works logos sit on the grille, the tailgate and the large, bright red front brake callipers. Many more beefy extras are available on the options list.Inside, there’s a tactile leather-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel and heavily bolstered sports seats. Deep Recaro buckets are optional.Powered by a thoroughly redeveloped version of the Cooper S’s 1.6-litre petrol engine from the Cooper S, the JCW models come with a new twin-scroll turbocharger, strengthened pistons, a bigger oil cooler and revised fuel injection system create 208bhp and 260Nm of torque. That rises to 280Nm with an overboost facility.In the hatchback the sprint from 0-60mph takes a thrilling 6.5 seconds – and the Clubman is only 0.3 seconds slower.What’s more, thanks to parent company BMW’s Efficient Dynamics technology the design of the engine means the hatchback will return 40.9mpg and emit 165g/km ofcarbon dioxide, while the Clubman achieves 40.4mpg and 167g/km.The MINI chassis has also been thoroughly reworked, and there’s also the optionof a 10mm lower ‘Extreme’ suspension pack. The ace up the MINI’s sleeve is the new Dynamic Traction Control differential. With three separate settings, drivers can tailor the set-up to suit the circumstances, from a full electronic safety net to race-readymode.The John Cooper Works will go on sale in the UK in July. Prices are expected to start at £20,500 for the hatchback, while the Clubman is estimated to cost £21,700.