Description

Fans of the British-built Mini hadn?t seen one officially imported to the United States since 1967. In March 2002, a brand-new front-wheel-drive Mini arrived in America that capitalized on Mini?s heritage and also created a new brand, under BMW auspices. At the 2003 New York International Auto Show, Mini announced the John Cooper Works tuning kit. Priced at $4,500, plus an installation charge, the kit includes a higher-speed supercharger compressor with coated rotors for greater efficiency. A revised exhaust system produces suitably sporty sounds. With the kit installed, engine output rises from the usual 163 horsepower to a burly 200 hp. A Mini Cooper S Convertible will go on sale in September 2004 as a 2005 model.