Why not? I brought this up in another thread about the SRT4 but the Mini was developed as a entry level luxury sport-about. The JCW car is a nice upgrade but not in the class of the M series cars in terms of upgrade. Why not a 300 hp car from MINI with true performance spec out of the box with warranty ala STI, EVO etc?

 

FWD would never handle 300 hp properly. I'm sure there have been some tuner cars pushing that, but there's a reason why manufacturers have shied away from that. AWD would be a solution but not sure if it's something that MINI has ever even considered. The M series BMW's are all based on the 50/50 weight distribution rear wheel drive platform.

 

so? i have 300 hp MINI and the only thing you need to put the power down are drag radials?

 

Because noone wants to warranty a 300hp 4-cylinder. I don't blame them, as it would have to be tuned to the point that people would start destroying them fairly quickly trying to get more power out of them.

Regardless, the price would be rediculously high. Maybe I'm not a big enough mini fan, but I'll take my 300hp in an EVO.

Finally, the decision-makers at MINI are apparently idiots. I have to conclude this when out of ALL the engines on the planet, or that could have been designed and built for the mini, they picked the lump that they did. One that has to be supercharged to reach 170 BHP. That's sad. Sadder still is that they get a chance to fix their mistakes and they do the same thing all over again. We can always hope that the new engine will have a better head on it, and thus much better tunability, but I doubt it. An efficiently designed engine with a turbo on it that doesn't top 200 BHP is... yea... sad.

 

good points

 

it's not about the horsepower wars people, its the power to weight ratio wars..

 

Sounds like you're all about straightline performance (not that there's anything wrong with that:smile: ), but that's not what the M series of cars is all about. Pumping out 300 hp through the front wheels in a heavily front-weight biased car would never meet the handling/braking dynamics of the straight line acceleration.

 

Other car companies have built formidable powered FWD cars, i gove you:



The Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, 250hp, albiet a V-6 but its still 250 hp at the front wheels. If tuned could go much higher.

The MINI is a lot different, like someone said, 300hp out of a 4-cyl is dangerous, and scary. I would want to try that too often unless i had a team of mechanics waiting in the pits for me. But more power is possible...there are fours that pump out 200 hp...theyre just 2.0s. Bigger engine is key here. Im just pulling things out of my butt now, but just my 2 cents.

 

Can BMW please make a rwd M Mini? Please!!!

phil.

 

wasnt getrag testing an AWD MINI a while back?

 

actually power to weight ratio has alot to do with handling and braking.. i've owned a cooper cvt before my twincharged Vader and had a blast, i figured it was time for a change.. althought I do love drag racing, it's been a part of me since i was a little kid. I'm not all about straightline performance, trust me.. I'm more dynamic than that.

 

http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/06/..._mini_in-depth

Give a look at this article over at the motoringfile. The AWD MINI Getrag created was rear-wheel biased... power didn't go to the front until the rear began to lose traction.

The 'Twinster' MINI could handle 300hp and then some. That'd be M car material alright. It just needs to be twincharged... right Maximusmini?

 

Yes. http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/06/..._mini_in-depth

FWD might not be able to handle it. But it would be neat to try 300 hp in an AWD MINI.

 

aw, apparently I don't type fast enough. :smile:

 

Word! but after you rebuilt the engine with forged everything
Gotta crank the boost!

 

They already do, though it might not come here. The 1 series!

I wouldn't mind seeing MINI go into the World Rally Championship with a stretchd AWD MCS.

Perhaps that is why the 07 cars will be longer?

 

So lets see here...

First of all,EVO, STI's, and SRT-4s are ALL 4 cylinder engines, and ALL carry full factory warranties with 300hp available... it can be done.

Second, you can get a SRT-4 with 300hp with a few factory mods and it will lay the power down if you are a good driver. Albeit I wouldn't want that engine in THAT chassis, but its fun in a straight line.

Third, MINI was forced to use the current engine from Chrysler due to contractual obligations when the two companies were associated in the early 1990's. It was suppose to be the base engine for the new NEON before Chrysler changed direction with it.

Fourth, they did not make "the same mistake" with the new engine. They chose the right power for the size of the car, and the engine size was dictated by European tax-level costs. If the car has an engine greater than 1.6L than the taxes are a lot higher than a 2.0L engine. The engine technology was chosen for a combination of fuel-efficiency and power, not power alone. The new engine shares nothing with the old engine, other than displacement.

Fifth, MINI HAS tested an AWD variant, and the very detailed report is available on the web (Google up Getrag AWD MINI and it should pop right up). From what I hear, there isn't much of a business case for AWD on a car at this price point. It would push the cost into EVO territory, and I don't think that's where MINI wants to be. They are probably going to stick with FWD and DCS for the forseeable future.

Sixth, if you really want 300hp from the MINI, then look up the BBR 300T conversion, which will give you reliable 300HP from an MCS. Albeit it will cost you almost $10K to do it, but its possible. There are also stroker kits to push it to 1.7, 1.8, and 2L which, when combined with a turbo or bigger supercharger, should give near 300hp. Its all a matter of $$$

Finally, I personally think the MINI is powerful enough... its a handling car, not a power car. If you feel like you need 300hp then go buy a Mustang or a 350Z or something. That's cheap power... but the handling will be less involving than in the MINI. I've seen MCS' with 250bhp stripped of their heavy interior bits fly around a racetrack, and trust me, 250 is just fine to run down 993's and M3's! And of course, a Lotus Elise is the best example of this philosophy, its only got 190hp and will run down Vipers and Vettes... Anyway, that's my rant.

RM2k5

 

Is that a statement of fact or a statement of your opinion?

Think what you want, however, I must interject, as others have in other threads, that the throttle pedel in the MINI Cooper is NOT an On/Off switch.

Again, each is entitled to an opinion, and I'll go happily thru the twisties in my 300hp+ front-wheel-drive MCS by pushing my proportional throttle pedal to the correct angle to achieve proper traction for the condition of the road.

Motor On!

 

Or you can go with the old adage that 'great minds think alike' There appears to have been 3 of us with similar thoughts at that moment. By the time I posted the link someone else had already mentioned it

Maximusmini: Forged internals f/s I'd want the fun to last a while & hopefully end without a bang & many lights lit on the speedo WORD

 

What he said! ^^ when it comes to this power range, it is all about the drivers ability to control and maintain the performance of the car moving..

 

Chrysler does use this engine in the European PT Cruser. The PT is nothing but a reskinned NEON. So... Technically they did put it in a NEON!

There is NO substutite for Cubic inches! Now we are talking! a stroker/Big Bore kit would take MIB into the 200hp easy. We don't need no stinkin' Turbo! Why Supercharge when you can bore and stroke?

The larger displacement would have been more logical considering the history of the Classic Mini! Turbo charging is more of BMW's past. And to a typical ricer, well a "SUPER" charger must be better than a turbo charger, It is "Super" after all.

Though I see it as the better choice because a small 1.6 liter 4 banger needs LOW END GRUNT. Turbo's are more of a high rpm, application. This is why I question BMW's logic for 2007.

 

Yeah, but have you heard what the automotive journalists have to say about the 1 series? Claim = not very fun to drive... detached sensations where there should be major feedback. Compared to the MINI the 1 series is definately more powerful, but not as much of a drivers car. Oh the irony... The ultimate driving machine indeed

 

The MINI I'd like to see would have the engine where the back seat is, driving the rear wheels. Mount an intake on the roof for cooling, and a few other mods, and you'd have an interesting one-off MINI to play with. Now if only I had the money, knowledge, and facility to do something like this...

 

I do agree a bit with the above opinion of 4 cyl supercharged motor at only 170hp is a bit dissabppointing.

300hp is possible and can be safely done. Before buying the Mini I come from the motorcycle world and still have a hand in it. 300hp out of a smaller motor is easily achievable with a turbo and no longevity problems.

I think a properly designed motor FOR the mini not a brazilean peice together would greatly increase the power plant performance of the mini.

Now the price wouldnt be hugh but noticable every year or two motorcycle manufacturers put out a completely new model of a previous model. and no real significant price increase. And Im sure mini cooper sells enough cars to have resources to accomidate such develpment.

But if they gave us the mest mini they could make day one we would never buy another mini right. So they have to keep us on the hook and make improvements over time.

Just my opinion.........
MiniMotoMan

 

Well....all the auto manufacturers of the world seem to agree. The only FWD cars out there approaching 300hp are heavy on the lux side (i.e. large Acura sedans) that don't attempt to dial in performance style handling. Torque steer and front weight bias are the FWD handling enemies. It is minimized in a lower hp/lower weight vehicle and LSD helps but dial up one of those factors and handling will suffer.