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Nice! The first GP3 sighting. Is that in/near NYC or upstate? I like the front grille/bumper a lot, and the wheels, the big plastic wheel arches not so much. I'd actually like to get the black plastic arches on my new JCW Clubman All4 painted body color but I don't know how to get that done in Arizona.
I took this picture of the front and realized that they got rid of the polished front bumper on it, which I like:
GP3 front bumper
I will say that the wheel arches were less noticeable in the garage where the car was. Not sure how they would look in the direct sunlight, but in person (in this well lit garage) it all blended together nicely.
And the wheels do look good:
GP3 massive front brakes!
Again, pictures do not do the car justice. In person, those brakes look huge, which they are. That caliper is probably close to being a foot long top to bottom and the rotor pad area is probably 4”. In pictures, it looks kind-of Ho-Hum
And the tires are proper size gum ***** for the car:
GP3’s 225-35x18 Gum *****
I still think the JCW Pro defuser looks better than what the put on this car. A minor comment, though.
I've always felt that the F56 JCW got short-changed when it came to tires! For a proper fitment the JCW "should have had" tires like or similar to these on the GP3. I do like the 18" cup spoke wheels for the JCW but (again) why are they only 7" wide? Grrrr...don't even get me started! lol! The GP3 looks nice indeed!
I've always felt that the F56 JCW got short-changed when it came to tires! For a proper fitment the JCW "should have had" tires like or similar to these on the GP3. I do like the 18" cup spoke wheels for the JCW but (again) why are they only 7" wide? Grrrr...don't even get me started! lol! The GP3 looks nice indeed!
I run for 5 years 225/40-17 on 8x17 on my F56. That MINI choose now another freak size in 18x8, is due to the bigger brakes, a safety cushion for their customers.
The major tweak on a MINI is wheels and suspension! The record hatches from Renault and VW both used 245/30-19 -Renault even on carbon wheels ( 6kg versus 9 kgs GP3 ). Alone this 3 kgs delta results in a plus of 36kgs rotating mass. in the latest issue of AMS where they discussed the GP3 positive, was also an article "The King lives" Christian Gebhardt test the record holder Megane RS Trophy-R - they call it the GT3 of FWD. His 7,55 is 6 seconds slower, what the paid FIA driver did with preheated tires - not bad. However this car costs 80.000 and looks like a high school hatch.
Unfortunately MINI never shows us videos of their record drives, but 7,56 is not bad, for a touring ***** !
Are the GP3 brakes the same ones that are on my new JCW Clubmen All4 (I think so)? I'm sure the dampers and springs are more beefed up and the car is 10mm lower right? I really like the looks of the car except for the wheel arches.
Are the GP3 brakes the same ones that are on my new JCW Clubmen All4 (I think so)? I'm sure the dampers and springs are more beefed up and the car is 10mm lower right? I really like the looks of the car except for the wheel arches.
If the brakes are the same, then that will likely open up the options for pads and rotors. Even better if they are also the same as any BMW model, which will further open up options. While the brakes on the GP2 are the same as one of the BMW models, the options for track pads for that car are harder to come by. Anyone taking a GP3 to the track will want options for track pads and the more models that are out there with those brakes will make it easier to find pads for it.
When I saw the GP3 at the dealer I specifically looked to see if the ride height is adjustable as it was on the GP2 and is on the JCW Pro suspension. It is not. So, it is fixed with a 10mm drop.
If the brakes are the same, then that will likely open up the options for pads and rotors. Even better if they are also the same as any BMW model, which will further open up options. While the brakes on the GP2 are the same as one of the BMW models, the options for track pads for that car are harder to come by. Anyone taking a GP3 to the track will want options for track pads and the more models that are out there with those brakes will make it easier to find pads for it.
When I saw the GP3 at the dealer I specifically looked to see if the ride height is adjustable as it was on the GP2 and is on the JCW Pro suspension. It is not. So, it is fixed with a 10mm drop.
I agree with the drop, on the setup size, I plan with KW CS, and some Millway parts like camber plate. The camber will be stiff, as we know it from BMW/MINI, 2.7-3.0 never reachable. -but first of all, we have to wait for the car. It's confirmed for production&delivery June. The car will do with his factory setup some quick laps with our wonder kid, to fix the benchmark.
Last edited by Clutch Wotan; May 28, 2020 at 05:13 AM.
Opps... I should clarify - Not Mine...
I was told these are the first in this country (true? Not sure) and that there is a second one coming in tomorrow. I am very excited for those 2 lucky people in my area who are going to take delivery of these. Actually I was very excited to just get the chance of seeing one in person.
I believe that is true. MINIUSA did a special event at Keeler where they delivered GP 0001 last Friday. Then they motored over to a nearby park, and did a film shoot with some cars from the local MINI club. Fun!
I believe that is true. MINIUSA did a special event at Keeler where they delivered GP 0001 last Friday. Then they motored over to a nearby park, and did a film shoot with some cars from the local MINI club. Fun!
I was at Keeler on Wednesday to pickup our ‘04 after getting some work done and the guy who checked me in mentioned something about it. But I didn’t fully understand with all of the late (closing time) confusion.
That is awesome that they got the privilege.
I was also told they were getting a couple more of them in.
Hey, do you know the name or web site of the MINI club? There was a group called the MPGs awhile back but they disbanded do to lack of interest.
So, owning 3 MINIs means one of will be in the shop at one time or another. This time it was the JCW to get rodent caused wiring damage fixed. An auspicious day it turned out to be. I pull into the dealership (Keeler) and a GP2 pulls in with me. I thought maybe it was coming in for service too. Nope, it just parked. After getting my JCW checked in for the work to be done, I walked out (I waited for the repairs) and there was a GP in the driveway along with the other dealer cars. Wait, that doesn’t look like a GP2???? Nope it is a GP3; number 0036 it turns out.
2021 MINI GP 3 0036
I will say it again... This is a great looking car in person. Pictures do it little justice. The wing, the flares - all work on the car. I want that dash, though. I could read the tach from 10 feet away (unlike the stupid thing in my JCW that I can’t read from a foot away)...
And a quote from a non-MINI onlooker “This car is gorgeous!” He even liked the fenders...
Seeing the GP2 and the GP3 together made me appreciate how much alike they are and, at the same time, how much different they are. It turned out that the owner of the GP2 is also the owner of a new GP3. Both cars went to their home together. I didn’t get a chance to find out if they also own a GP1.
I did talk to the dealer people about them getting the 0001 GP3. Turns out they won the lottery for which dealership would get to debut the 0001 car and Keeler won it.
It also turns out Keeler took 5 orders for GP3s. Go Them!
I just heard MINI is producing all GP’s for June production. So I should know something soon on your car. As soon as it shows up in our pipeline, I’ll let you know! So it might be here as early as August.
WHAAAAT?!?!?!? WOOOO But questions remained, so I replied with:
Just to clarify, does this mean they’re producing all the remaining GP’s in June, or that they started production of the June GP’s and July will have some and Aug will have some.
And he replied with
All of the remaining GP’s in June!
Hopefully that means at least all the US bound GP's will be made in June! I can finally get excited again!! But not too excited....
Yeah, it was posted on MPG - MINI Performance Group and Empire State Coopers on FB. Honestly not sure how much live action there is with either group - I’m more of a lurker and just happened to see the FB call for local MINIs that day.
There is a lot of info in this thread and it seems that others have a similar interest in the parts they put on this car. The part numbers for some if not all of the body panels are listed a few pages back.
Looks the same as the F56 bay, That plastic engine bay cover is big but may work with wiecher sport, ultra racing NM Eng...etc Did someone get a real pic of the GP3 USA car engine bay yet? Then we can put one side by side with the old F56 Cooper S.
