Geneva Preview: New 207 hp John Cooper Works MINI gets 34 mpg
Filed under: MPG, BMW, MINI, Geneva Motor Show
Click on the Mini above for more pictures of the 2008 John Cooper Works package
Update: The horsepowr figure was changed from 218 to 207.
The MINI brand from BMW proves that cars need not be ridiculously expensive to be stylish and desirable, and they don't need huge engines to be fun-to-drive. While we think that even the base-model MINI with its 1.6 liter naturally-aspirated engine strikes a great balance between power and fuel economy for a vehicle this size, those looking for some extra get-up-and-go can opt for the turbocharged Cooper S model. For those who are never satisfied, Mini will be revealing their new 2008 John Cooper Works package at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.
The Works package bumps power from 172 to 207 while achieving the same fuel mileage number of 34 miles per gallon on the highway. If you need a bit more room, the JCW package will also be offered on the Clubman, which is nearly as fuel efficient. Anytime power goes up without a detrimental effect on economy, we're all for it. See? Fun can be frugal.
[Source: MINI via Autoblog]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-25-2008 @ 7:18AM
smog said...
what's so great about burning 34 mpg on the highway ?
any high performance diesel cars in europe will do at least 50% better
Reply
2-25-2008 @ 11:58AM
pditty said...
Cooperworks is hellishly expensive stuff for what you get.. For just $45,000 you too can have a 1.6L car!
Reply
2-25-2008 @ 12:52PM
psarhjinian said...
@smog
I don't want to disregard your point, but there's a few things that need to be clarified:
* European MPG figures are not directly comparable to EPA or Transport Canada numbers. The test cycles are very different. These was an interesting post here a while back that said the Ford Kuga diesel got better mileage than the Prius, except that the poster compared European numbers for the Kuga (44mpg) to North American numbers (~41-45mpg) for the Prius; the UK number for the Prius is actually 65mpg.
* Diesels aren't a free ride. A lot of them are quite slow, and those that aren't are either comparatively dirty (ie, no chance of making CARB emissions targets) or very expensive.
* Is this car getting 34mpg under straight highway cruise, or when it's being flogged? Or is it being flogged _while_ cruising on the highway? This is important: a lot of Corvette fans like to champion the Vette's MPG numbers, all the while forgetting (sometimes deliberately) about the gearing tricks (tall overdrive, skip-shift, throttle tuning) that the Vette uses to dupe the EPA cycle. Drive a Corvette moderately hard and it's mileage plummets, far more than a four-cylinder car that's being worked harder in general (like, say, the S2000, which is revving like bonkers even in 6th).
I like the idea of the JCW Mini, but I'd really like to see some "real world" stats before passing judgement on it's economy numbers.
Reply
2-25-2008 @ 4:47PM
Carlos Ferreira said...
Come on! 1.6l turbo? What's green in that? OK, so it's the efficient dynamics, but in this baby, as in the M3, it's there for performance. No green thumbs-up for you, MINI!
Carlos Ferreira
http://www.greencarvalue.blogspot.com
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2-25-2008 @ 8:27PM
Robert said...
Great comment psarhjinian. I always appreciate when people provide the facts, not inaccurate hyperbole.
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