2003 MINI Cooper S/John Cooper Works Edition

Performance is a sought-after attribute of the MINI Cooper S.

Rather than a separate model, the John Cooper Works (JCW) version is actually a tuning kit for the MINI Cooper S. In the era of the original British-built MINI, which was sold in the U.S. from 1960-67, John Cooper was the creator of a long string of masterful—and successful—little rally-racing machines. He'd also contributed to the development of the initial MINI, which remained in production for sale elsewhere in the world until the dawn of the 21st century.


When BMW introduced the modern-day MINI in 2002, they added Cooper's name as a model-designation suffix to honor his contributions. At Detroit's North American International Auto Show, the MINI Cooper was named 2003 North American Car of the Year. Late in May, a remake of the 1969 caper movie "The Italian Job" was released, starring a flock of MINIs.


In basic form, the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine in the MINI Cooper yields 115 horsepower. Supercharging sends the Cooper S to 163 hp. Officially called the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit, the new component group boosts output to an even 200, at 6,950 rpm. That kind of power promises quite a wallop. Because 44 percent of the MINIs sold during 2002 were supercharged Cooper S models, performance is clearly a sought-after attribute.

Point the wheel in the desired direction and this MINI joyfully follows your instructions.

Expect to pay $4,500 extra for the tuning kit, plus a charge for the 9-hour installation by a MINI dealer. For that price, you get a higher-speed supercharger compressor that contains abrasive-coated rotors for increased efficiency, a reconfigured cylinder head, and a parallel-flow sport exhaust system with a sound all its own. "John Cooper Works" badging is placed on the hatchback lid, and stamped into the twin exhaust outlets. Beneath the hood, the logo appears on the intercooler surround, next to an individually numbered valve-cover plaque. Not only is the kit available on brand-new MINIs, but it can also be retrofitted to any 2002-03 Cooper S.