Mini John Cooper Works World Championship 50

The BMW-owned Mini brand has unveiled a special edition Cooper S model in the United Kingdom with a stupidly long name. The Mini John Cooper Works World Championship 50 is supposed to evoke the birth of the brand and John Cooper’s Formula One title victory 50 years ago.

In the summer of 1959 Alec Issigonis presented his concept for a small car which, with its transverse-mounted front four-cylinder engine and space for four occupants plus luggage. That same year, sports car constructor John Cooper won his first Formula One World Championship title with Jack Brabham at the wheel. This Mini special edition was inspired by John Cooper’s son, Mike. His signature appears on the facia and on one of the bonnet stripes. It will have a limited production run of 250 units and was unveiled to the public at the 2009 MINI United Festival in Silverstone. The car is based on the Mini John Cooper Works and driven by a 211 hp 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. The special car features numerous exterior and interior details reflecting the racing pedigree of the brand.

The bodywork comes in a new Connaught Green colour, used on British race cars of the 1950s and 1960s. It is combined with the roof and bonnet stripes in Pepper White. Also included are a John Cooper Works aerodynamics package and CHALLENGE light-alloy wheels in Jet Black.

The interior colour comes in black overlaid by subtle red touches. The full leather sports seats come in black with red piping and the red theme is perpetuated with co-ordinating red knee-rolls, armrests and red stitching on the floor mats, gearshift & handbrake gaiters. Fascia, and door grip finishers continue the carbon-fibre theme, as does the John Cooper Works insert on the Sports Steering Wheel, which has an Alcantara rim.

The Mini John Cooper Works World Championship 50 can do the 0-100 kph acceleration run in 6.5 seconds, going on to a top speed of 238 kph.

This special edition will not be sold in the UAE, but the JCW upgrade package is still available in the GCC. Check out the Mini Cooper buyer guide.