Munich. The name John Cooper, born 98 years ago
today, stands not only for great successes in Formula 1, but also for
the traditional sporting spirit of the MINI brand. 60 years ago, John
Cooper laid the foundations for a legendary racing victory in the
classic Mini. It was the beginning of the collaboration between MINI
and the Cooper Family that continues today. The shared tradition
stretches from the very first Mini Cooper, launched in September 1961,
to the sporty John Cooper Works models in the current model range.
To mark the anniversary, the British premium brand is presenting a
special edition of the MINI 3-door that combines a return to history
with state-of-the-art technology. The MINI Anniversary Edition is a
tribute to John Cooper, who passed away in 2000, and a testament to
how maximum driving pleasure is enjoyed in his name today, in the
premium small car segment.
Exclusive design and equipment features make the Anniversary Edition
an attractive proposition for MINI fans around the world who are
passionate about the brand’s sporting history, closely associated with
the John Cooper name. The special edition will be available as MINI
Cooper 3-door (fuel consumption combined: 6.1 – 5.5 l/100 km according
to WLTP, 5.5 – 5.3 l/100 km according to NEDC; CO2 emissions combined:
138 – 124 g/km according to WLTP, 127 – 120 g/km according to NEDC),
MINI Cooper S 3-door (fuel consumption combined: 6.7 – 6.2 l/100 km
according to WLTP, 6.5 – 6.2 l/100 km according to NEDC; CO2 emissions
combined: 151 – 140 g/km according to WLTP, 149 – 142 g/km according
to NEDC) and MINI John Cooper Works (fuel consumption combined: 7.1 –
6.8 l/100 km according to WLTP, 7.1 – 6.9 l/100 km according to NEDC;
CO2 emissions combined: 161 – 155 g/km according to WLTP, 163 – 158
g/km according to NEDC). Production is limited globally to just 740
units. The number of units available in this edition refers to the
starting number 74, which the classic Mini Cooper wore on its first
successful race track appearance.
John Cooper earned his status as a racing pioneer as early as the
1950s and with his mid-engine sports cars, he revolutionised Formula
1. His idea, which is still used today, of placing the engine behind
the driver instead of in front of him, helped Jack Brabham to secure
two world championship titles in 1959 and 1960 in Formula 1 Cooper
racing cars. With his penchant for unorthodox solutions, Cooper was
similar to his friend and fellow designer Alec Issigonis, who in turn
had caused a revolution in the small car segment with the classic
Mini. John Cooper immediately recognised the sporting potential of the
compact four-seater and initiated the construction of a small series
of vehicles with larger brakes and an increased engine output from 34
to 55 hp. The Mini Cooper was born and became an instant success. The
Cooper brand and the name lettering surrounded by a red ring now
became famous. Two years later, the even more powerful Mini Cooper S
followed, which laid the foundation for three overall victories at the
Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965 and 1967.
From then on, Cooper tuning kits for the brand’s production vehicles
enjoyed growing popularity. And even before the market launch of the
modern MINI in 2001, the John Cooper Works brand was created. With
this brand, John Michael “Mike” Cooper, the son of the
Formula 1 team boss, continued the cooperation with MINI.
Since 2008, John Cooper Works models have been at the top of the MINI
range as top athletes – now with up to 225 kW/306 hp and suspension
technology developed with racing know-how. The joint sporting career
of MINI and John Cooper Works has been obvious in recent times by six
overall successes in the Dakar Rally. In the latest generation,
Charlie Cooper contributes, as a racing driver and brand ambassador,
to continue the collaboration between his family and MINI.
Nuances of the shared history of MINI and the Cooper Family can be
found both on the exterior and in the interior of the new edition
vehicles. As early racing cars designed by John Cooper were
recognisable by their green paintwork with white accents, the MINI
Anniversary Editions are offered in British Racing Green metallic.
Alternatively, Midnight Black metallic variant is available, and for
MINI John Cooper Works the Rebel Green body colour is also offered.
All paint finishes are combined with a roof, exterior mirror caps,
door handles and surrounds for the headlights and rear lights in
white. Other exterior trim elements are offered in Piano Black high gloss.
These exterior features are complemented by white bonnet stripes and
a red accent line, a number 74 on the bonnet and doors of the edition
vehicles, is reminiscent of the start of a sporting career, as the
classic Mini Cooper once wore the starting number 74 when it won its
first class on the racetrack.
The MINI Anniversary Edition combines the contents of the John Cooper
Works Trim with model exclusive features that emphasise the sporty
character and the awareness of the historical roots. For example, the
suspension with frequency-selective damping is supplemented by 18-inch
John Cooper Works light-alloy wheels in Circuit Spoke 2-tone design.
The “COOPER” name logo can be found on the door sill trims,
on the side scuttles, on the C-pillars and on the center spoke of the
Nappa sports leather steering wheel.
The interior equipment of the edition includes John Cooper Works
sports seats in Dinamica/leather Carbon Black finish, an
anthracite-coloured headliner, stainless steel pedal set and interior
trim in Piano Black high-gloss. The red ring from the original John
Cooper logo adorns the luggage compartment lid and the interior
surface on the passenger side. On the driver’s side, the interior
surface features the signatures of John, Mike and Charlie Cooper. As a
further indication of the exclusive character of the edition, the
inside of the driver’s door frame features an emblem with John
Cooper’s signature, the handwritten note “1 of 740” and the
words “60 YEARS OF MINI COOPER – THE UNEXPECTED UNDERDOG”.
The exclusive and sporty look of the edition vehicles can be rounded
off with selected retrofit options from the Original MINI Accessories
range. The MINI Waistline Finisher in Piano Black completes the
attractive contrast between black and white trim elements on the
exterior. Other options include a MINI Sport aerial and tailpipe trims
in carbon finish. Punched and slotted John Cooper Works brake discs
are also available for the MINI John Cooper Works in the Anniversary Edition.
In case of queries, please contact:
Corporate Communications
Julian Kisch, Press Spokesperson Product
Communication MINI
Tel.: +49-89-382-38072
E-mail: julian.kisch@mini.com
Andreas Lampka, Head of Communication MINI
Tel.:
+49-89-382-23662
E-mail: andreas.lampka@mini.com
Jennifer Treiber-Ruckenbrod, Head of Communication MINI and BMW
Motorrad
Tel.: +49-89-382-35108
E-mail: jennifer.ruckenbrod@bmwgroup.com
Fuel consumption, CO2 emission figures and power consumption were
measured using the methods required according to Regulation VO (EC)
2007/715 as amended. They refer to vehicles on the automotive market
in Germany. For ranges, the NEDC figures take into account
differences in the selected wheel and tyre size, while the WLTP
figures take into account the effects of any optional equipment.
All figures are already calculated on the basis of the new WLTP
test cycle. NEDC values listed have been calculated back to the NEDC
measurement procedure where applicable. WLTP values are used as a
basis for the definition of taxes and other vehicle-related levies
that are (also) based on CO2 emissions and, where applicable, for
the purposes of vehicle-specific subsidies. Further information on
the WLTP and NEDC measurement procedures is also available at www.bmw.de/wltp can be found.
For further details of the official fuel consumption figures and
official specific CO2 emissions of new cars, please refer to the
“Manual on the fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and power consumption
of new cars”, available at sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil
Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760
Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at https://www.dat.de/co2/.
The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW
Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and
motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services.
The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly
facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries.
In 2020, the BMW Group sold over 2.3 million passenger vehicles and
more than 169,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the
financial year 2020 was € 5.222 billion on revenues amounting to €
98.990 billion. As of 31 December 2020, the BMW Group had a workforce
of 120,726 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the
future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and
efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from
the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.
www.bmwgroup.com
www.press.bmwgroup.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/BMWGroup
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/MINI
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/mini.news
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/