New 230bhp Mini!

[Tommi]

Source: Auto express

Meet the first tuned version of the latest MINI hatch – which the maker claims will deliver up to 230bhp.

Designed by German firm AC Schnitzer, the Cooper S R56 has an aerodynamic bodykit with deep front spoiler, side skirts and a rear diffuser. It also gets lowered and stiffened suspension.

Tweaks to the 1.6-litre turbo have yet to be confirmed, but a spokesman said 230bhp was the ‘target’. A louder, chrome-trimmed tailpipe will give the MINI an aggressive exhaust note to match the improved pace. Prices have not been announced, but the car will arrive here later this year.

 

[Muzaffar]

Looks jaw dropping But i really prefer the John Cooper Works GP much better.They have more knowledge about MINI's more than any other tuner companies.But the bodykit on the AC Schnitzer MINI looks fantastic.

Here is how the JCW GP is compared:

 

[Bram Turismo]

Pity, for a second I thought it was the older Cooper that had 230 bhp, now that would be something...

 

[Tommi]

Looks jaw dropping But i really prefer the John Cooper Works GP much better.They have more knowledge about MINI's more than any other tuner companies.But the bodykit on the AC Schnitzer MINI looks fantastic.

Yep i would have to agree with you there, ever since i saw a GP ive loved them (even though ive only ever seen 3)👍

Pity, for a second I thought it was the older Cooper that had 230 bhp, now that would be something...

I agree with you Bram, before i saw picture's of the R56 i was hoping it was the old one, it would have been nice to see a hot old shape one, i'd rather have an old shape GP or S than this one anyway.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Isn't the hood scoop on the new Mini a fake?

So surely that should have gone when they introduced the aerodynamic body kit

 

[Kent]

I'm just interested in the price...
I know the current Cooper S isn't cheap and I doubt AC Schnitzer would provide all this stuff for anything close to what most of us would consider cheap. My feeling is that this car is going to be far too expensive for what is actually being purchased.
My bet: Maybe as much at 50,000.
(or close to that much)

 

[Tommi]

Isn't the hood scoop on the new Mini a fake?

So surely that should have gone when they introduced the aerodynamic body kit

You have a point there:idea:

I'm just interested in the price...
I know the current Cooper S isn't cheap and I doubt AC Schnitzer would provide all this stuff for anything close to what most of us would consider cheap. My feeling is that this car is going to be far too expensive for what is actually being purchased.
My bet: Maybe as much at 50,000.
(or close to that much)

And i bet your pretty much spot on!

 

[Muzaffar]

Isn't the hood scoop on the new Mini a fake?

So surely that should have gone when they introduced the aerodynamic body kit

Well actually there was a reason why they did that hood scoop.The MINI Cooper S was a supercharge or turbocharged (i'm not sure about that) and that they place the intercooler at the top of the engine (top mounted intercooler) as you can see in the link below (the photo is too large to fit here):

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Top_mount_intercooler.jpg

So the hood scoop was actually there for a reason and thats why it was only available in the MINI Cooper S.

 

[Tommi]

Well actually there was a reason why they did that hood scoop.The MINI Cooper S was a supercharge or turbocharged (i'm not sure about that)

The old one had a supercharger and the new one's got a Turbocharger(something i do know about coopers), i didn't know the intercooler was there!,(i hadn't ever see a cooper S under the bonnet before),that info was very helpful to me:tup: +rep

 

[YSSMAN]

Q1: How much?

Q2: Will we ever see them in the United States?

Q3: How am I supposed to find a good reason to select this over say the SRT-4, HHR SS, Lancer Ralliart, GTI, etc particularly when they will probably all be cheaper?

 

[Dave A]

They'll probably be half the price in the US, over here the price increase won't be as bad over it's performance rivals But I think with the Mini being a cult car and all that, there's people out there that will buy it over other cars simply because it's a Mini and they love them. That said, I can't think of a single reason to buy an SRT-4, at all. Not that I'll ever be faced with the choice of one or not.

 

[YSSMAN]

You may get the SRT-4 over there (since you've already got the Caliber), but it would probably be 150-200% the price of what it is here. Quite honestly, it wouldn't be worth it.

I love the Cooper to death (I saw my first '07 model the other day...), but the price is always the biggest turn-off. Of course, you guys have the cheaper options across the pond, which would be great if they offered them here (much less a reasonable dealer network), but they don't.

Oh well. Looks like its the GTI for me anyways.

 

[Kent]

Actually, I doubt the price will come down on this side of the lake.
In fact, I would even bet on it going up since Schnitzer does just about nothing other here other than tune BMWs.

I doubt this car will ever be in the states unless it is a after market mod kit in which case the cost will be much more reasonable since the owner of the mini will only be looking at the cost of the package and not the price of a fully built brand new car coming from Schnitzer.

Who knows though, maybe Schnitzer will keep the price in the low 40k range and manage to sell a few.
In any case, I doubt there is any real competition for a car like this... SRT4 for some reason doesn't seem like it would handle or go nearly as well as this tuner. Of course, I've been wrong before.

 

[Sakiale]

So does this one at least have a real-looking side vent? The current one is just a chunk of hard black plastic without even any holes in it, just strakes.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Well actually there was a reason why they did that hood scoop.The MINI Cooper S was a supercharge or turbocharged (i'm not sure about that) and that they place the intercooler at the top of the engine (top mounted intercooler) as you can see in the link below (the photo is too large to fit here):

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Top_mount_intercooler.jpg

So the hood scoop was actually there for a reason and thats why it was only available in the MINI Cooper S.

Yes, the old new Mini Cooper S had a superchager and the IC was placed on top of the engine, so the scoop was required.

However the new new Mini Cooper S is turbo charged and IIRC the IC is no longer positioned on top of the engine. This now means the scoop is purely aesthetic.

[EDIT]

The Cooper S retains the bonnet scoop in order to keep an association with the outgoing model - although the relocation of the intercooler to the front of the engine means that the scoop is now purely decorative.

 

[Tornado]

I thought so.

 

[Kent]

Now, I'm not saying this warrants the price but...
I really like the body kit and I get the impression that AC Schnitzer will produce a great suspension setup for this car.
Again, I don't think the price will be acceptable but I do feel like this will be one of the best Minis you can buy. I'd even go so far as to say this could be one of the best Minis you can find.

 

[Philly]

Looks-wise, the body kit is pretty sweet, but the design of the new car totally kills it for me.

However, what Schnitzer will do to the rest seems pretty sweet. 230 hp sounds like a good amount for the car and with proper suspension tuning, this thing would be a rocket.

 

[Muzaffar]

Yes, the old new Mini Cooper S had a superchager and the IC was placed on top of the engine, so the scoop was required.

However the new new Mini Cooper S is turbo charged and IIRC the IC is no longer positioned on top of the engine. This now means the scoop is purely aesthetic.

[EDIT]

Ok,i didn't know that either so that has to suck ain't it?But the tuned version is supposed to have an intercooler just like the GP right?

 

[Venari]

Old Mini Cooper S, ditch blower, add turbo = 300hp.

http://www.morego.co.uk/bbr-gti/minit.php

 

[Race Idiot]

Old Mini Cooper S, ditch blower, add turbo = 300hp.

http://www.morego.co.uk/bbr-gti/minit.php

Tis a bit more than just slap on a turbo though, they've ported the head and added a more agressive cam. Also it says they stripped the engine, but I dunno if that means they replaced any of the internals because they dont mention it. Also they added a slip diff coilovers and a big brake kit.

Man I was trying to say well yeah thats expenive blah blah but after reading about it thats a realy awesome mini, but tbh all that work is gonna cost a bundle.

As for the mini in the first post, the body kit looks ugly, the wheels look ugly and it still looks worse than the 1st new mini no matter how hard you try.

 

[harrytuttle]

Q3: How am I supposed to find a good reason to select this over say the SRT-4, HHR SS, Lancer Ralliart, GTI, etc particularly when they will probably all be cheaper?

You can't be serious. The only real competition in that list is the GTI. The SRT-4's a metrosexual SUV, the HHR is a van, and Lancer's are only good in Evo trim.

But compared to the GTI, I'd say it would end up coming down to personal taste...and maybe price.

 

[YSSMAN]

It was a question meant to bring about discussion, although I think the performance of the HHR SS and SRT-4 will be quite good. We'll find out sooner than later I suppose, but even then, I think even the new Lancer Ralliart should hold a lot of promise (given how good its predecessor was). I would throw the new WRX in there, but given how ugly it is, and furthermore how they have (as C/D has said) "Done a Toyota," its a no-go.

I love the Mini, I really do, but the price is what kills it every single time. The GTI is probably the value/performance winner there, which would overall be my pick anyway. I love the GTI and all of its awesome goodness.

...If being so awesome was a war crime, the GTI would be Göring...

 

[harrytuttle]

It was a question meant to bring about discussion, although I think the performance of the HHR SS and SRT-4 will be quite good. We'll find out sooner than later I suppose, but even then, I think even the new Lancer Ralliart should hold a lot of promise (given how good its predecessor was). I would throw the new WRX in there, but given how ugly it is, and furthermore how they have (as C/D has said) "Done a Toyota," its a no-go.

As disappointed as I am with the new Impreza, I'd toss it against the HHR et. al.. But the Mini and Golf are clearly a class above (assuming price is not an issue). When I compare cars, I hardly look at price. Unless there's a $10,000(or >25%) difference, everything else about the car is important, not the bill of sale.

...If being so awesome was a war crime, the GTI would be Göring...

Yeah, kinda.

 

[YSSMAN]

I was worried people wouldn't get that one...

 

[harrytuttle]

I was worried people wouldn't get that one...

Knowledge of history is the most important knowledge-based asset anyone can have. Now if only we could get car companies and governments to believe that....