Autoweek had a small blurb on the JCW Challenge car for Germany, but nothing noted for the USA... Anybody know if such an animal is going to be built/marketed for our side of the pond?

 

It's not currently available, but Motoringfile has an article saying they're attempting to gauge interest in selling it over he-ah.

 

"This past week MINI officially released the new JCW Challenge car for purchase to anyone with 41,930 Euros living outside the United States"

41,930.00 EUR = 59,836.41 USD

 

That mad crazy price might not be quite so mad crazy (probably merely crazy) if they did release the car over here. If you build a car with the UK configurator and then do the currency conversion the price is a metric arseload higher than a similarly specced car from the miniusa.com configurator. Then again it might be just as high since they probably wouldn't be selling very many here at all (and I'm assuming there's some sort of regulatory hurdle they'd have to clear [otherwise why sell it everywhere but the US?]).

 

 

It is if you consider the fact that the car will not be street legal in the US. You would basicly be getting a $60K track-day toy that you would have to trailer everywhere. I can think of a lot better track cars to buy for that kind of money.

 

Note that I still said it would be crazy. But it could potentially not be as high as $60k, as the prices in various markets differ, even taking currency rates into account. (US Minis cost less than UK Minis, I believe.)

 

If I take it to the track and get passed by street cars that would be very embarrassing.

 

Thanks for the pics and the info. I agree, the price may differ here, but as a track car, with some availability of parts it might be worth a try.