John Cooper Works is the British tuning garage that created the original ’61 Mini Cooper as a sportier version of the base model. So when BMW revived the MINI, they turned to the same garage, now headed by the founder’s son Mike, to create a hotter new MINI. And with the release of the newer new MINI, John Cooper Works has come out with a series of enhancements to make the hot little hatch even hotter.
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Buyers looking to raise the temperature on their new Cooper or Cooper S can opt for a wide array of extra bits. Up front there’s a more aerodynamic front bumper, blacked-out grilles and carbon fiber air-scoop for the hood. Other carbon fiber bits include the tailgate handle and side mirrors. Around the back, buyers can opt for a “diffuser-style” rear bumper and a raised wing spoiler off the back of the roof. In between there are lower side sills and 19″ rims in a variety of finishes, which join a polished-metal brace under the hood to improve handling and beefier brakes for added stopping power. Inside buyers can specify shift indicator lights, checkered-flag floormats, special sill plates and racing buckets.
All the parts are dealer-installed and come under the full factory warranty, so you don’t have to worry about voiding the papers like with other aftermarket bits. Unfortunately they won’t be available until 2008, a delay which would be expected from an independent aftermarket tuning house, but given the direct partnership with the manufacturer, you’d figure they’d have the parts ready closer to launch. [Auto Express]