| Supreme performance, impressive efficiency
The letters "GP" in the model designation rightly stand for "Grand Prix". "Creating this car, I wanted to honour my father's successful Grand Prix racing cars", states Mike Cooper, the Managing Director of John Cooper Works. "And this MINI is simply ideal for this purpose: a special model with more power, less weight, and even greater fun."
Indeed, it is most appropriate to state that these factors set the basis for a MINI destined to enter the books of history. For there has never been a production MINI with as much power and the same performance as the MINI Cooper S with its John Cooper Works GP Kit - neither on the road nor in motorsport. And this is certainly an outstanding achievement, considering that the 1.6-litre compressor engine featured in the MINI CHALLENGE racing cars is as such already an impressive power machine: This special engine also driving the road version of the MINI Cooper S develops 154 kW/210 hp with the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit and offers maximum torque of 245 Newton-metres or 181 lb-ft.
But even this was not enough for this very special limited addition model developed in cooperation with the John Cooper Works. So modifying the intercooler and the electronic engine management, the development specialists have now achieved an even higher level of power and performance. Supremacy of this kind is possible only in exclusive small series production and cannot be implemented in a conventional production process.
Benefiting from this kind of power, the MINI Cooper S with its John Cooper Works GP Kit outperforms the MINI CHALLENGE cars, as special as they may already be, on all major counts: Output is up to160 kW/218 hp, maximum torque is now 250 Newton-metres or 184 lb-ft, and top speed is 240 km/h or 149 mph. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h, in turn, comes in just 6.5 seconds.
At 8.6 litres/100 kilometres, equal to 32.8 mpg Imp, on the other hand, fuel consumption in the EU cycle is exactly the same as in the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit - again clear proof of the supreme efficiency of all the car's modifications and perfect tuning. And it almost goes without saying that the car meets the EU4 emission standard in full. Powered by the John Cooper Works GP Kit, the MINI Cooper S not only leaves all previous MINIs far behind in terms of its performance and dynamism, but even, in terms of engine power, outperforms the most thoroughbred sports cars: Output per litre of the compact compressor unit is exactly 100 kW or 136 hp, that is a level of power otherwise achieved, if at all, only by a genuine racing engine.
Formula for power: high-charge pressure and precise engine management
Right from the start, the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit uses an extremely effective concept to ensure optimum power and performance. And now the tuning specialists started out by replacing the compressor used in the "regular" MINI Cooper S by a new, special unit running at even higher speeds. The extra intake air required for this purpose is provided by an adapted air filter with an additional intake flap opening automatically as soon as engine speed reaches 4,500 rpm. The additional charge pressure built up in this way ensures optimised flow conditions in the cylinder head, where the outlet ducts have been modified to meet the new requirements. This, in turn, called for injection nozzles with higher throughput of fuel and air, while high-power spark plugs and the modified engine management ensure a precise combustion process and efficient utilisation of fuel. As an additional feature, the rear silencer has also been adjusted to the higher level of exhaust counter-pressure.
Now, creating the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit, the engineers have made the intercooler even more efficient. Counterpressure is down by approximately 40 per cent, ensuring significantly better air and gas throughput within the engine. Maximum permissible engine speed, in turn, is now 7,150 rpm, with an increase not only in peak output, but also in maximum torque.
The power unit featured in the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit develops maximum torque of 250 Newton-metres or 184 lb-ft at 4,600 rpm. Maximum output of 218 hp, in turn, comes at 7,100 rpm.
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