31 October 2013

Jakarta. Today BMW Group Indonesia launched the complete range of the MINI John Cooper Works ultra – sporting family for the first time since MINI was introduced in Indonesia. The name John Cooper has been associated with racing and tuning expertise for more than 50 years. The engineering talent of him and his colleagues contributed to the unmistakable character of the legendary small British car. Racing expertise and John Cooper’s recognition of the potential inherent in the classic MINI were key elements in making the car a force to be reckoned with on the racetrack, and a joy to drive for ordinary motorists everywhere. Since the global brand introduction of the MINI in 2001, the John Cooper Garages have played a major role in tuning the new models. In 2008, the first MINI John Cooper Works model was officially launched, thereby signifying the complete integration of the John Cooper Works brand with the MINI model range.

Within the scope of the MINI sub-brand strategy, the product portfolio of John Cooper Works was expanded to offer more than just tuning products. This resulted in the production of sporty cars with their own independent character that combine the MINI experience with a passion for racing. Furthermore, technology developed for the race track was now available in passenger cars for drivers with a penchant for sporty performance.

“MINI was introduced to Indonesia around two years ago, and now Indonesia has become the second largest MINI market in South East Asia,” said Ramesh Divyanathan, President Director BMW Group Indonesia. Sales of MINI in Indonesia show a positive trend, with delivery of 257 units in total, an increase of more than 12% from 229 units in the same period last year. This growth was driven by the MINI Countryman (+28%). “MINI John Cooper Works is about unbeatable power, energetic and extreme go-kart feeling, and also an irresistibly emotional authentic design. We introduced the MINI John Cooper Works for the first time in Indonesia in 2011. This was followed by the launch of the MINI John Cooper Works GP and MINI John Cooper Works with automatic transmission in June 2013, and today we are very proud to present the MINI John Cooper Works models available for all MINI variants,” said Ramesh Divyanathan, President Director of BMW Group Indonesia. “MINI enthusiasts can now experience an adrenaline rush in a wide variety of MINI John Cooper Works models, ranging from the MINI John Cooper Works Hatch to the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman, which are designed for extreme driving excitement on any terrain,” added Ramesh.

Legendary racing pioneer John Cooper.

John Cooper was the man behind a revolutionary trend in the world of motor sports. It started with the classic Mini Cooper hitting the headlines for the first time at Monte Carlo in 1962. This small, but extremely nimble performer left a whole pack of far more powerful contenders in its wake. In 1964, the Mini Cooper S won first place in the Monte Carlo Rally, the small performer becoming a legend in motor sport virtually overnight. A year later it repeated the same triumph, reaching the finish line after thousands of kilometres as the only team without a single penalty point – and despite terrible weather conditions. It later gained a third victory in the Monte Carlo Rally.

The Mini was not only highly successful in rally racing, but also on street circuits, claiming numerous victories in the 1960s. Indeed, its long list of successes in motor sport competitions made the Mini the most outstanding racing car of the decade. It is worth noting that many spectacular racing careers began at the wheel of a Mini. Many racing drivers took part in their first hill-climb race at the wheel of a classic Mini. Some of them even went on to participate in the F1 world championship because of their experiences with Mini. The “Cooper” name had become synonymous worldwide with passionate driving pleasure in a Mini. The tuning kits developed by Cooper for standard production Minis generated huge demand in the years that followed.

The MINI John Cooper Works standout sporting potential for everyday use.

In August 2008, the MINI John Cooper Works was officially launched– the world’s first premium vehicle of its kind – and immediately set the market standard for driving pleasure in the subcompact segment. The car was equipped with a four-cylinder engine, twin-scroll turbo technology, direct fuel injection, and a host of technical features derived from auto racing for achieving a top performance of 211 hp. The current model-specific equipment of the MINI John Cooper Works includes a six-speed automatic engine transmission, plus brakes and suspension components precisely tuned to harmonise with the spirited power and acceleration of the vehicle.

MINI celebrated its reappearance on the rally scene in 2011. In its first year, the MINI Countryman entered selected rounds of the World Rally Championship (WRC). The MINI John Cooper Works WRC is powered by a close-to-series 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, which produces more than 300 hp in rallyspec guise. MINI got 2012 off to a particularly spectacular start at the Dakar Rally, with five MINI ALL4 Racing cars lining up at the start of the endurance event in South America. The world’s most demanding rally took the quintet over more than 8,000 kilometers. A MINI finished the event at the top of the overall standings and the four other MINI drivers finished in the top ten. This year, MINI crossed the finish line first in the Dakar Rally. MINI continues to take part in the World Rally Championship.

The full range of MINI John Cooper Works models.

As more models were added to the MINI family, each was soon offered in a John Cooper Works version. Today, the entire MINI model range is now available in a John Cooper Works edition, consisting of seven models - the MINI Hatch, MINI Clubman, MINI Cabrio, MINI Coupé, MINI Roadster, MINI Paceman, and MINI Countryman. The integrated production process addresses individual customer requirements and ensures efficient, high-quality assembly of the John Cooper Works models that complies with the extremely high standards laid down by the BMW Group.

The MINI John Cooper Works: Pure-bred sports car.

With a specific output ranging from 211 hp to 218 hp, the John Cooper Works models are advancing into the realm of the pure-bred sports car. The thrilling performance and the fascinating intensity of the hallmark MINI go-kart feeling is the result of the direct application of racing technologies to the vehicle’s powertrain and suspension elements. More than 50 years of experience in tapping into the sports potential of the MINI has enabled engineers to precision-tune the gearbox, steering, suspension and brakes to harmonise with the performance characteristics of the car’s engine. This is the secret behind the awesome power and agility that create an authentic racing feeling, making the MINI a true sports car in its own right. The latest generation of the turbocharged engine that powers the John Cooper Works models combines engineering details from the world of racing with innovations developed by the BMW Group. An example of this is the 1,598 cc four-cylinder engine, which features a cylinder block and bearing housing made of aluminium, with a reinforced cylinder head and pistons, plus a weight-optimised crankshaft. Two overhead camshafts, along with friction-optimised cam ollowers and hydraulic valve clearance compensation elements, control the four valves per cylinder. The outlet valves are filled with sodium to satisfy the increased cooling needs of a turbo engine. Efficient performance and lower fuel consumption are achieved with twin-scroll turbo technology, direct petrol injection and a variable valve control system based on the BMW Group’s VALVETRONIC technology. Based on the twin scroll principle, the spiral-shaped exhaust channels from every two cylinders are connected separately to the turbocharger.

This design reduces the exhaust gas back pressure, which results in an immediate and rising boost in torque. For two of The John Cooper Works flagship models – MINI Paceman and MINI Countryman, the engine produces its maximum output of 218 hp at 6,000 rpm, while peak torque of 280 Newton metres is on tap between 1,900 and 6,000 rpm. The overboost function allows this figure to be raised to 300 Newton meters for a short time between 2,100 and 4,500 rpm. The direct fuel injection system delivers petrol precisely to the high-pressure intake valves via a common stainless steel channel. A mechanically driven two-piston pump generates the maximum injection pressure of 120 bar. The MINI Hatch, MINI Clubman, MINI Cabrio, MINI Coupé, and MINI Roadster, the engine produces its maximum output of 211 hp at 6,000 rpm, while peak torque of 260 Newton metres is on tap between 1,750 and 5,500 rpm. The overboost function allows this figure to be raised to 280 Newton meters for a short time between 2,000 and 5,100 rpm.

The MINI John Cooper Works models come with the six-speed automatic transmission with Steptronic, which also supports an active driving style. The Steptronic function allows for manual shifting of the automatic transmission if desired. This can be done via the gearshift lever in the centre console or the paddles on the steering wheel. In addition to the basic program, the driver can select Sport and Sport+. If the gearshift lever is in DS mode, the Sport program noticeably shortens the shifting intervals. By pressing the Sport Button installed in all John Cooper Works models, the Sport+ program is activated. This shortens the shifting intervals even more for an intensive and sporty driving experience. The Sport Button also has an impact on the Electric Power Steering, the gas pedal and the sound of the engine. Higher steering torque and precision, along with audible engine responses to every movement of the accelerator, are further emanations of the agile character of the John Cooper Works series. The MacPherson spring strut suspension at the front and the central arm rear axle, which is unique in the subcompact car segment, contribute to the sporty and precise handling of the John Cooper Works models.

Sports suspension with lower ride height

The MINI John Cooper Works Countryman and MINI John Cooper Works Paceman are equipped as standard with a sports suspension lowered by 10 millimetres. A sports suspension with firmer shock absorbers and more robust stabilisers for the front and rear axles is available for other members of the John Cooper Works Family. The standard sport brake system guarantees short braking distances and is characterised by precise response and fine controllability. The four-piston fixed-calliper brakes have inner-vented discs at the front, taking their cue from car racing. The disc brakes are large and have aluminium callipers finished in red that bear the John Cooper Works emblem for easy recognition.

The MINI John Cooper Works with ALL4 all-wheel drive

The MINI John Cooper Works Countryman and MINI John Cooper Works Paceman are fitted with 19inch light-alloy wheels Cross Spoke Crusher, whereas the other John Cooper Works models have 17inch light-alloy wheels Cross Spoke Challenge. DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), including DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) mode, is also standard on all models. In the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman and MINI John Cooper Works Paceman, DSC is networked with the ALL4 all-wheel drive system. For example, when entering curves at dynamic speeds, the drive torque is precisely distributed for optimized stability and traction, without the need for active intervention from the DSC system. Moreover, in DSC Off mode, an electronically controlled lock function for the differential of the drive axle is activated on the front-wheel-drive John Cooper Works vehicles. This standard Electronic Differential Lock Control system supports a sporty and ambitious style of driving, especially when accelerating out of curves and hairpins. The electronically controlled lock function applies specific and appropriate brake force to a spinning drive wheel on tight curves. This enhances the forward propulsion of the vehicle without negatively affecting self-steering response. The corner can thus be taken more smoothly – and at greater speed.

High-quality services for enhanced comfort, functionality and individuality; innovative MINI Connected functions

The MINI John Cooper Works models come with Xenon Headlights with black headlight housing, Park Distance Control, multifunction buttons for the steering wheel (including cruise control), and an electrically operated tilting/sliding glass sunroof, except for The MINI Cabrio, MINI Roadster, and MINI Coupé. Among the features available to further enhance the car’s functionality are a storage package, a level load compartment floor with removable cover and a luggage compartment partition net. MINI Visual Boost, harman/kardon hi-fi loudspeaker system, radio MINI Visual Boost and MINI Bluetooth are on hand to take care of entertainment and communication requirements. MINI Connected also gives John Cooper Works owners access to a wide range of infotainment, communications and driving experience-related services, and allows full Apple iPhone integration. Specially developed apps enable numerous functions to be accessed inside the car, such as web radio, Facebook and Twitter usage, Dynamic Music, Driving Excitement, Mission Control and the MINIMALISM Analyser.

The complete range of the MINI John Cooper Works models are available at Maxindo, exclusive partner of MINI Indonesia. All MINI vehicles purchased from Maxindo come with MINI Service Inclusive, offering a five-year or up to 70,000 km free regular maintenance and two-year warranty without mileage limitation.

Additional information enclosed:

1. The MINI John Cooper Works model range price list.

2. The MINI John Cooper Works model range variants and specifications.

Information on MINI in Indonesia

Website : www.MINI.co.id

Facebook: MINI.Indonesia

Twitter : MINI_Indonesia

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Email : sales@nusantara-mini.co.id

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Alia Hadju

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