 2010 Mini Cooper S convertible JCW. Click image to enlarge |
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2010 Mini Cooper S convertible JCW
Mission, British Columbia – A half century ago, legendary British car designer and race engineer John Cooper discovered how well the Mini handled, and using a wealth of knowledge gleaned from his many years at the track (including success on the world stage of Formula 1) he reworked the tiny car into a motorsport dynamo, fittingly named the Mini Cooper.
When BMW needed a small car to complete its lineup it revived the Mini nameplate (a brand they had acquired through the purchase of Rover in 1994). In a clever effort to emphasize the long sporting heritage of the marque rather than being confused for just another economy car, BMW named the re-born car the Mini Cooper.
 2010 Mini Cooper S convertible JCW. Click image to enlarge |
After making speed components for the new generation of Minis under his father’s name (John Cooper Garages), John Cooper’s son Mike finally came to an agreement to sell the speed shop to BMW in 2005. BMW now had an in-house performance division for its thriving Mini models similar in concept to the M division that performs this task for BMW’s own cars, and JCW personnel could no doubt lean on the M Power staff when it came to further development of the car. The performance equipment offered by John Cooper Works would now be added on the assembly line rather than in a small shop after initial purchase of the car. To the consumer this was good news as it meant prices would likely come down, the performance gear would be part of their finance charges, and everything would carry a BMW warranty.
At the moment, the complete John Cooper Works upgrade (available in Canada since 2008) is available on both fixed-roof body styles – the two-door hatchback and the five-door Clubman – as well as the hair-tussling convertible. Styling cues include more aggressive front and rear fascias with unique grill inserts, Cross Spoke Challenge lightweight 17-inch alloys, subtle side skirts with rear brake cooling ducts, a large roof spoiler, and centre-mounted twin chrome exhaust tips. A full complement of JCW badges adds some flair, even to the bright red Brembo brake calipers.
 2010 Mini Cooper S convertible JCW. Click image to enlarge |
There are several styling cues shared with the sporty (but less exclusive) Cooper S. These include the aggressive air-inlet that resides on the hood, a black grille, white turn signal lenses, and a body-coloured tailgate handle. Flashes of chrome appear on the fuel filler door, side air inlets, and as is the case with all Mini models, along the window frame.
The inside is as roomy and luxurious as that of the standard “S” model and a whole host of luxury and comfort equipment can be ordered from the factory, but in a perfect world, I would want a stripped down version of this car so that I could maximize its performance potential. Having said that, the eight-way manually adjustable sport buckets are supportive, the instrumentation and controls are where they should be, and the pedals allow for heel-toe operation. Luxury appointments include Park Distance Control (albeit rear only), Bi-xenon headlights with integrated washers, and should this car be your four-season ride, both the side mirrors and windshield washer jets are equipped with heating elements.
  2010 Mini Cooper S convertible JCW. Click image to enlarge |
The three-spoke, thick rimmed steering wheel is very comfortable and benefits from just enough power assistance to keep the driver feeling in control. Secondary controls for the audio system and cruise control functions allow you to stay focused on the task at hand. The design team obviously had a penchant for circles, as the shape is in abundance throughout the interior. Everything from the door pulls and air vents is round, backed up by the typical supporting cast of audio speakers and gauge faces.
Retro touches like aviation-type toggle switches and oversized instruments hearken back to the equipment featured on early Mini models. Something not seen on previous Mini convertibles is the Openometer. This interesting gauge is mounted on the driver’s left, and is designed to monitor the amount of time you’ve spent with the top down. Sure, it seems like a novelty, but in reality, it may prevent a sun burn from creeping up on you.
 2010 Mini Cooper S convertible JCW. Click image to enlarge |
Rear seating is sculpted for two, and average sized adults will find the space comfortable as long as the front passengers don’t require their seats to be set in the rearmost position. I must admit however, that the wide rear buttresses of the cloth top and limited window access can make the rear compartment feel a bit claustrophobic when the roof is in place. On the other hand, when the roof is stowed, this is a very pleasant place to spend a sunny afternoon.
As a convertible design adds the need for extra passenger protection in the event of a rollover, the Mini is equipped with active roll bars which will deploy instantaneously if system sensors detect such a crash. The body structure has also been designed with extra reinforcement in the two door panels to help protect occupants in the event of a side impact. Passengers riding up front benefit from smart airbags as well as side head / thorax units.
 2010 Mini Cooper S convertible JCW. Click image to enlarge |
Enthusiast drivers will appreciate the very stiff, racetrack-oriented, fully independent suspension system, larger brakes (ventilated front discs are a significant 316 mm in diameter), and unique, lightweight 17-inch alloy wheels, but it’s the work done to the 1.6-litre engine that brings the magic. Engine internals were reworked to better withstand abuse, as were the pistons and cylinder head. A large, twin-scroll turbocharger with direct injection abolishes turbo lag, while a larger air intake and less restrictive exhaust system helps the peppy engine breathe. Blessed with 208-horsepower and 192-lb-ft of torque (36 hp and 15 lb-ft more than a Cooper S), the JCW has the jam to hustle this lightweight machine wherever you point it.
These horsepower and torque numbers may not seem impressive at first as there are a host of sporty cars packing substantially more clout under the hood – but don’t forget, the Mini JCW is a diminutive package, and the bulk of that torque is available at low r.p.m. (1,850 – 5,600) due to the efficiency of the turbocharger, the direct injection, and a slick over-boost function that delivers an extra 15 lb-ft of torque. The official 0 – 100 km/h time is just 6.5 seconds.
  2010 Mini Cooper S convertible JCW. Click image to enlarge |
At first I was surprised by the light action of the clutch, but I soon remembered that this car might be called on to perform every day transportation duties. Rowing through the six-speed, close ratio manual gearbox was a delight, as was the precision operation of the lightly assisted steering and other controls. Activating “Sport” mode via the touch of a simple button located near the shift lever sharpens the car’s handling as both the steering and throttle are recalibrated to react quicker to driver inputs.
The short wheelbase makes the car very tossable, and the wide stance and low centre of gravity help keep G-forces working on the side of the driver. Getting power to the ground requires some finesse, as under hard acceleration there’s plenty of torque-steer, but if a hard edged driving experience is not on your want list, Mini offers the more docile Cooper ‘S.’ I make this statement with a wink as the Cooper ‘S’ offers its own unique thrill ride, and the driving experience delivered by its capable package has landed it in the garage of many enthusiast drivers.
Structural rigidity is impressive on this little pocket-rocket – I only noticed a slight cowl shake while bisecting a series of train tracks during one of my test loops. The car feels solid, and its dynamic handling and obvious ability to carve corners with aplomb makes it one of the automotive world’s big smile-factor cars. Having a bad day? Drop the top and find some serpentine back roads and I guarantee your mood will improve ten-fold.
The trickledown effect has brought many of BMW’s safety minded technologies to the JCW, including Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) which is effectively an umbrella of various traction controls that works in partnership with the car’s advanced ABS brake system to help maintain traction so that the car keeps moving as intended and the driver maintains full control. In “Sport” mode these systems are switched off, but an Electronic Differential Lock Control steps in to inhibit inside wheel lock during hard cornering.
Fuel economy is not this car’s forte, but under regular civilized driving conditions the car is capable of respectable numbers (7.8 L/100km City; 5.7 L/100 km Highway). A heavy throttle and spirited driving will obliterate these figures, but having to spend a little more time and money at your local gas station is a small price to pay for the huge fun-factor this smile-generating machine delivers when you choose to play.
  2010 Mini Cooper S convertible JCW. Click image to enlarge |
Sensory wise, the top down experience transforms this car into a whole different vehicle, as you’re bombarded by the sounds of the car and the world around you as well as the buffeting of wind and the warmth of the sun. The novel top design allows the front section to be retracted like a large sunroof should a shortage of time or need for security keep you from retracting the car’s roof structure completely. Full deployment is a one- touch operation and happens in short order.
On the downside, the car’s compact size left designers no place to hide the top, so an accordion of canvas remains stacked on the rear deck like over-sized shoulder pads on a peewee football player. This also creates a significant blind-spot that hindered even my vision rearward, and I stand six-foot-two inches tall! Unfortunately, visibility to the rear is poor with the top in place as well, as the fabric rear pillars are enormous, and the rear window is miniscule.
If you are in the market for a compact car that is equally at home commuting to the city as it is tearing up the track, then look no further than the fastest Mini ever produced, the Mini Cooper John Cooper Works. Buyers choosing the convertible unit like my test car will likely develop frown lines from all the smiling this car induces, but your social life will undoubtedly improve.
As an added bonus, pricing has been adjusted for 2010, resulting in a significant $1,900 reduction in the car’s MSRP, helped in part by revising the ordering process to permit items like metallic paint, the sport suspension and the aerodynamic package to be offered as stand-alone options.
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Pricing: 2010 Mini Cooper S Convertible John Cooper Works
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