2008 Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works Review and Performance Comparison

Mini Cooper Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 2008 Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works is a powered by a Petrol Straight 4. This variant of the Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out around 2008. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2008 Ariel Atom V8 500 and the 2008 SSC Ultimate Aero TT.

This particular Mini Cooper has a 1598cc Turbo Petrol powerplant driven by the Mini Front Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol Straight 4's include the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce

The Cooper shares its Petrol Straight 4 engine configuration with the likes of the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce and the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the Cooper's Front Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the earlier 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1130 kgs (2491 lbs) places the Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works in a similar weight category as the 2022 KTM X-Bow GT-XR 2.5 Turbo and the excellent 2020 Lotus Exige Sport 410 3.5 V6, give or take 50kg.

The Mini Cooper shares the same bhp with the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 250 ZX (201 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 1598cc 16 valve, Straight 4 engine produces around 189 bhp (140 kW) @ 6000 rpm which is comparable to the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 250 ZX (201 bhp) and also the 2020 Ford Puma ST 1.5 Turbo (197 bhp).

The Turbo Straight 4 throws out 199 lb-ft (269.8 Nm) @ 1750 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2020 Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged (184 lb-ft) or the 2020 Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged (184 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 2008 Mini Cooper in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 2014 BMW 2 Series M235i Cabriolet F23 (192.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Mini Cooper.

The Mini Cooper has a power to weight ratio of 167.2 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 2008 Cooper S John Cooper Works means you're competing with the 2014 BMW 2 Series M235i Cabriolet F23 (192.2 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 2015 BMW 3 Series 340i xDrive F30 LCI (192.2 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works generates around 176.1 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 1989 Jaguar XJ R-S 6.0 V12 (201.1 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 1958 Ford Thunderbird 352 Special Overdrive 2nd Gen. (201.0 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works can accelerate 0–60mph in 6.30 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 6.5 secs. Acceleration rivals to the Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works include the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (6.30 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (6.30 secs).

The Straight 4 engine of the Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (6.40 secs) and the 2016 Ford Fiesta ST 200 1.6 Turbo (6.40 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works and the Land-Rover Range Rover Sport 3.0 V6 Supercharged

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 2008 Mini Cooper can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.56 secs with a trap speed around 93.5 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the Land-Rover Range Rover Sport 3.0 V6 Supercharged (14.57 seconds @ 93.5 mph) and a close race between the Maserati Indy 4.7 V8 (14.57 seconds @ 93.5 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 2008 version of the Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works has a maximum speed of 145mph.

Top Speed of the 2008 Cooper equals the Ford Focus RS (144 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 2008 Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works then there's the slightly slower the Ford Focus RS (144 mph) or how about the impressive Ford Fiesta ST 1.5 Turbo 5 door (144 mph).

— AutoSnout

Figures & Specs Summary:

Related Links:

• 2008 Cooper Rivals List.
• 2008 Cooper: Full Review and Comparisons.
• A Brief History of Mini
• Compare the 2008 Mini Cooper