The MINI Cooper S is a hot hatch lover’s dream. It is fast, nippy and takes corners as if it were on rails. It is also an attention grabber and will turn heads in an instant. Short of pulling up in a Ferrari or Lamborghini, there is arguably no better way to give your ego a big boost.
To most Cooper S owners, that is enough. But not for the proud owner of this particular Cooper S.
He was one of the first to take delivery of his turbocharged hot hatch. And after less than a year, the mod bug bit him badly – very badly.
With the help of BMW and MINI specialists JuzzForCars, his car embarked on an extensive (not to mention expensive) journey.
He wanted his Cooper S to look like no other. It looks like “Mission Accomplished” to us, as you will agree from looking at the pictures.
The JCW Aero body kit added a sizable dollop of style to the exterior. But it is the custom spray paint and decal job that have made this Cooper S stand out. It looks like none that I have ever come across.
The gorgeous metallic orange hues complemented the blacked-out details of the wheel arches and headlights, as well as the black go-fast stripes and bespoke grey Union Jack on the roof.
Throw in the equally black forged alloy wheels, Bilstein PSS10 coilovers and a Brembo Big Brake Kit, and this car would not look out of place on the starting grid of a race.
And speaking of racing, the turbocharged engine has been “boosted” with a few choice mods, which has upped the power and torque output to 200bhp and 280Nm respectively, from 175bhp and 240Nm.
These include an E-rom DME software upgrade that alters boost, ignition and fuelling, Hurricane air filter, Alta front-mount intercooler, and Alta blow-off valve block plate.
With these mods, the turbo spools up really quickly and the car never feels anything less than willing, pulling from any engine speed – even if you have a light right foot.
However, if you are brutal with the accelerator, max boost of 1.3 bar arrives in a firm “swoosh” and the car pulls with the force of a mini (pun intended) freight train!
Whether you’re pulling it away from a standstill or gunning the throttle with the car already on the move, this MINI makes an indelible impression with its Supersprint exhaust system blaring out loud and proud.
Rounding out the mod list is a pair of JCW Alcantara-clad bucket seats that keeps bodies firmly in place during the hardest of cornering. Helping to keep the car on the road at all times, while maximising traction, are a JCW front strut brace, along with rear anti-roll bars and rear lower adjustable control arms from Alta.
The factory sanctioned MINI John Cooper Works may have already been launched but this Cooper S owner has no intention of trading in his ride.
In his own words: “This is a very easy car to drive on a day-to-day basis, as it allows you to happily zip about all day – even in heavy city traffic. But show it a stretch of winding tarmac and I’ll bet not many cars can keep up with it!”
THE LIST
+ Exterior
> John Cooper Works aero bodykit
+ Engine/Electronics
> E-Rom DME software upgrade
> Supersprint full exhaust system
> Alta Front intercooler
> Hurricane open-pod air filter
> Tunekit power pedal
+ Suspension/Handling
> Bilstein PSS10 coilovers
> John Cooper Works front strut brace
> Alta 22mm rear anti-roll bars
> Alta Rear lower adjustable control arms
+ Wheels/Brakes
> Custom-made forged alloy wheels
> Brembo 4-Piston callipers & 320mm cross-drilled disc rotors (front)
> Brembo replacement cross-drilled disc rotors (rear)
> Goodridge steel-braided brake lines
+ Interior
> John Cooper Works Alcantara front seats
