www.autoblog.com Open in urlscan Pro
67.195.231.20 Public Scan

Back to summary

Submitted URL:
http://autoblog.com/2008/12/09/in-the-autoblog-garage-2009-mini-clubman-john-cooper-works/
Effective URL:
https://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/09/in-the-autoblog-garage-2009-mini-clubman-john-cooper-works/
Submission: On December 12 via api (December 12th 2023, 8:39:10 am UTC) from AU — Scanned from AU

Form analysis
3 forms found in the DOM

GET https://www.autoblog.com/redir/vehicle-hub/

<form id="research" action="https://www.autoblog.com/redir/vehicle-hub/" method="get">
  <div class="select2-container" id="s2id_autogen1">
    <a href="javascript:void(0)" class="select2-choice" tabindex="-1">   <span class="select2-chosen" id="select2-chosen-2">Make</span><abbr class="select2-search-choice-close"></abbr>   <span class="select2-arrow" role="presentation"><b role="presentation"></b></span></a><label
      for="s2id_autogen2" class="select2-offscreen"></label><input class="select2-focusser select2-offscreen" type="text" aria-haspopup="true" role="button" aria-labelledby="select2-chosen-2" id="s2id_autogen2">
    <div class="select2-drop select2-display-none menu-research select2-with-searchbox">
      <div class="select2-search"> <label for="s2id_autogen2_search" class="select2-offscreen"></label> <input type="text" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" autocapitalize="off" spellcheck="false" class="select2-input" role="combobox"
          aria-expanded="true" aria-autocomplete="list" aria-owns="select2-results-2" id="s2id_autogen2_search" placeholder=""> </div>
      <ul class="select2-results" role="listbox" id="select2-results-2"> </ul>
    </div>
  </div><select name="make" data-placeholder="Make" data-taxonomy="combined-makes" data-querykey="make" required="required" tabindex="-1" title="" style="display: none;">
    <option value="Make">Make</option>
    <optgroup label="Current Makes">
      <option value="Acura">Acura</option>
      <option value="Alfa Romeo">Alfa Romeo</option>
      <option value="Aston Martin">Aston Martin</option>
      <option value="Audi">Audi</option>
      <option value="Bentley">Bentley</option>
      <option value="BMW">BMW</option>
      <option value="Buick">Buick</option>
      <option value="Cadillac">Cadillac</option>
      <option value="Chevrolet">Chevrolet</option>
      <option value="Chrysler">Chrysler</option>
      <option value="Dodge">Dodge</option>
      <option value="Ferrari">Ferrari</option>
      <option value="FIAT">FIAT</option>
      <option value="Ford">Ford</option>
      <option value="Genesis">Genesis</option>
      <option value="GMC">GMC</option>
      <option value="Honda">Honda</option>
      <option value="Hyundai">Hyundai</option>
      <option value="INFINITI">INFINITI</option>
      <option value="Jaguar">Jaguar</option>
      <option value="Jeep">Jeep</option>
      <option value="Kia">Kia</option>
      <option value="Lamborghini">Lamborghini</option>
      <option value="Land Rover">Land Rover</option>
      <option value="Lexus">Lexus</option>
      <option value="Lincoln">Lincoln</option>
      <option value="Lordstown">Lordstown</option>
      <option value="Lotus">Lotus</option>
      <option value="Lucid">Lucid</option>
      <option value="Maserati">Maserati</option>
      <option value="Mazda">Mazda</option>
      <option value="McLaren">McLaren</option>
      <option value="Mercedes-Benz">Mercedes-Benz</option>
      <option value="MINI">MINI</option>
      <option value="Mitsubishi">Mitsubishi</option>
      <option value="Nissan">Nissan</option>
      <option value="Polestar">Polestar</option>
      <option value="Porsche">Porsche</option>
      <option value="RAM">RAM</option>
      <option value="Rivian">Rivian</option>
      <option value="Rolls-Royce">Rolls-Royce</option>
      <option value="Subaru">Subaru</option>
      <option value="Tesla">Tesla</option>
      <option value="Toyota">Toyota</option>
      <option value="Volkswagen">Volkswagen</option>
      <option value="Volvo">Volvo</option>
    </optgroup>
    <optgroup label="Other Makes">
      <option value="Bugatti">Bugatti</option>
      <option value="Daewoo">Daewoo</option>
      <option value="Fisker">Fisker</option>
      <option value="HUMMER">HUMMER</option>
      <option value="Isuzu">Isuzu</option>
      <option value="Maybach">Maybach</option>
      <option value="Mercury">Mercury</option>
      <option value="MISC">MISC</option>
      <option value="Morgan">Morgan</option>
      <option value="Oldsmobile">Oldsmobile</option>
      <option value="Plymouth">Plymouth</option>
      <option value="Pontiac">Pontiac</option>
      <option value="Saab">Saab</option>
      <option value="Saleen">Saleen</option>
      <option value="Saturn">Saturn</option>
      <option value="Scion">Scion</option>
      <option value="smart">smart</option>
      <option value="Spyker">Spyker</option>
      <option value="Suzuki">Suzuki</option>
      <option value="THINK">THINK</option>
    </optgroup>
  </select>
  <div class="select2-container select2-container-disabled" id="s2id_autogen3">
    <a href="javascript:void(0)" class="select2-choice" tabindex="-1">   <span class="select2-chosen" id="select2-chosen-4">Model</span><abbr class="select2-search-choice-close"></abbr>   <span class="select2-arrow" role="presentation"><b role="presentation"></b></span></a><label
      for="s2id_autogen4" class="select2-offscreen"></label><input class="select2-focusser select2-offscreen" type="text" aria-haspopup="true" role="button" aria-labelledby="select2-chosen-4" id="s2id_autogen4" disabled="">
    <div class="select2-drop select2-display-none select2-with-searchbox menu-research">
      <div class="select2-search"> <label for="s2id_autogen4_search" class="select2-offscreen"></label> <input type="text" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" autocapitalize="off" spellcheck="false" class="select2-input" role="combobox"
          aria-expanded="true" aria-autocomplete="list" aria-owns="select2-results-4" id="s2id_autogen4_search" placeholder=""> </div>
      <ul class="select2-results" role="listbox" id="select2-results-4"> </ul>
    </div>
  </div><select name="model" data-placeholder="Model" data-taxonomy="combined-models" data-requires="make" tabindex="-1" title="" style="display: none;" disabled="disabled">
    <option selected="selected" hidden="hidden">Model</option>
  </select>
  <button type="reset" name="researchcancel" data-submit="false" class="cancel ab-icon ab-close" data-ylk="elm:cancel;itc:1;pos:3;sec:mmresearch;" data-rapid_p="68" data-v9y="0">Cancel</button>
  <button type="submit" name="researchsubmit" data-submit="false" class="submit" data-ylk="elm:btn;itc:1;pos:3;sec:mmresearch;" data-rapid_p="69" data-v9y="1">Research</button>
</form>

https://www.autoblog.com/search

<form id="search" action="https://www.autoblog.com/search" itemprop="potentialAction" role="search" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://schema.org/SearchAction">
  <meta itemprop="target" content="https://www.autoblog.com/search/?q={q}">
  <input class="query" name="q" placeholder="Enter search here..." itemprop="query" required="required" data-rapid_p="72" data-v9y="0">
  <button type="reset" class="cancel ab-icon ab-close" data-ylk="elm:cancel;itc:1;sec:menu;" data-rapid_p="73" data-v9y="0">Cancel</button>
  <button type="submit" class="submit ab-icon ab-search" data-ylk="elm:search;itc:1;sec:menu;" data-rapid_p="74" data-v9y="1">Search</button>
</form>

POST https://www.autoblog.com/sso/displayname/

<form id="auth-displayname-form" action="https://www.autoblog.com/sso/displayname/" method="post">
  <div class="modal-header">
    <button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal" aria-hidden="true">×</button>
    <h3 class="modal-title">Choose a Display Name</h3>
  </div>
  <div class="modal-body clearfix">
    <p class="message text-lighten">Please enter a display name</p>
    <input id="auth-displayname-input" type="text" class="form-control" name="displayName" placeholder="Enter a name" value="">
  </div>
  <div class="modal-footer">
    <button type="button" class="btn btn-default" data-dismiss="modal">Cancel</button>
    <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary" id="auth-displayname-submit">Change Name</button>
  </div>
</form>

Text Content

* NEWS

* Truck News
* SUV News
* Luxury News
* Hybrid News
* Electric News
* Weird Car News
* Junkyard Gems
* Automotive History
* Auto Shows
* Podcasts
* Newsletters
* Photos
* Tech of the Year Award
* News by Category
* All News

* REVIEWS

* New Car Reviews
* First Drives
* Road Tests
* Driveway Tests
* Long-term Car Reviews
* Editors' Picks
* Most Reliable Cars
* Buying Guides
* Videos
* All Reviews

* CAR BUYING

* Best Used Cars
* Best Cars
* Best SUVs
* Best EVs
* Best Deals
* Car Values
* Car Finder
* Compare Vehicles
* Dealers Near You
* Rebates & Incentives
* Car Buying Advice
* Car Insurance
* Repair Shops
* Recalls
* Ownership Resources
* All Buyer's Tools

* MAKES & MODELS

* Chevrolet
* Chrysler
* Dodge
* Ford
* GMC
* Honda
* Jeep
* Lexus
* Ram
* Subaru
* Toyota
* Volvo
* All Makes

* CARS FOR SALE

* New Cars for Sale
* Used Cars for Sale
* Sell Your Vehicle

* DEALS

* Cyber Monday 2023
* Best Garage Door Openers
* Best Dash Cams
* Best Car Wax
* Best Power Generators
* Best Car Vacuums
* All Deals & Guides
* Gas Prices Near You

* ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Make

MakeAcuraAlfa RomeoAston
MartinAudiBentleyBMWBuickCadillacChevroletChryslerDodgeFerrariFIATFordGenesisGMCHondaHyundaiINFINITIJaguarJeepKiaLamborghiniLand
RoverLexusLincolnLordstownLotusLucidMaseratiMazdaMcLarenMercedes-BenzMINIMitsubishiNissanPolestarPorscheRAMRivianRolls-RoyceSubaruTeslaToyotaVolkswagenVolvoBugattiDaewooFiskerHUMMERIsuzuMaybachMercuryMISCMorganOldsmobilePlymouthPontiacSaabSaleenSaturnScionsmartSpykerSuzukiTHINK
Model

Model Cancel Research
* Facebook
* Twitter

Cancel Search
1. Autoblog

REVIEW: 2009 MINI CLUBMAN JOHN COOPER WORKS

Sam Abuelsamid
Dec 9th 2008 at 12:01PM
* 0 Comments

2009 MINI Clubman John Cooper Works – Click above for high-res image gallery

The names MINI and John Cooper have been intertwined for more than 40 years and
now they are closer than ever. When British race car and engine builder Cooper
prepped the original MINIs for the Monte Carlo rally back in the 1960s, he
helped cement the iconic status of the little car. When the MINI was reborn as a
product of BMW earlier this decade, the Cooper model was a standard element of
the lineup. A semi-official tuned John Cooper works edition was also available
for the hard-core addicts. Earlier this year, BMW announced that the John Cooper
Works MINI would become an official factory product analogous to M models from
its parent company BMW.

The JCW edition is available on both the standard MINI hardtop and the
extra-length Clubman. Having a JCW MINI means you have opted for the fastest
factory MINI ever built. We spent a week with a John Cooper Works MINI Clubman
in the Autoblog Garage just as winter weather clamped down on Michigan. Find out
how this maximum fared in wintry Motown after the jump.

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

open fullscreen close fullscreen
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

At first glance the JCW Clubman doesn't look dramatically different from a
regular Cooper or Cooper S. A pair of small John Cooper Works badges grace the
lower right corners of the front grille and tail-gate. The most obvious visual
distinction for the JCW is the wheels. Back when Sir Alec Issignosis created the
original Austin Mini in the late 1950s it included a number of innovations like
newly developed 10-inch wheels. In 2008, such tiny footwear would be laughed off
the road, so the JCW gets 17-inch alloys wrapped in 205/45-17 Continental
rubber.

Remember that winter weather we mentioned? Those 17-inch tires were the biggest
issue with this MINI since the car came to us wearing a summer compound, totally
unsuited to snow and ice. Before I began writing about cars I spent 17 years as
an engineer working on electronic slip control systems like ABS, traction and
stability control. These systems can do amazing things to keep you out of
trouble and help prevent accidents. Unfortunately, as good as slip control can
be, it can only help a driver use the maximum amount of traction available. The
key there is available traction.

Here's where those tires play a bottle neck. If you run summer tires on snowy
roads, slip control can't make traction where there is no physical grip between
the tire and road. In my neighborhood, there is a long hill going up one of the
side streets. On my way home from the grocery store I decided to go up that road
and as I climbed the hill, the traction control light was flashing as the system
worked feverishly to keep wheel spin under control.

All the while the car got slower and slower until it finally came to a complete
stop about two-thirds of the way up. Ultimately, the MINI just would not go
further. I ended up backing into a driveway, turning around and going back down
the hill and taking another route home. If you have a car with high performance
summer tires and you plan to drive it in winter weather, the first thing you
should do is go buy an extra set of rims and a proper set of winter tires – you
won't be sorry. Just swap the tires in November and March (or whenever the snow
melts away) and you'll be good to go.

Having said all that, within the limits of traction, the MINI's slip control
system worked great. Peddle pulsation during ABS was just enough to let you know
through your foot that the system was active without being annoying. The TCS/ESC
managed the speed of the individual wheels quietly without jerking the steering
wheel around or even the car.

One of the particularly welcome options on the JCW is the heated seat package,
which came in handy on a couple of 17-degree mornings. Regardless of whether the
thermal enhancement was active, the seats were comfortable although a bit more
thigh support would be welcome. The rest of the JCW interior is pretty standard
MINI, although many of the trim bits are now finished in a glossy piano black.
The center of the dash is dominated by the over sized speedometer, with the
smaller tach sitting in a pod on top of the steering column. The integrated
bluetooth connectivity worked well with our phones and the voice recognition was
easily able to take commands and dial for us.

Opting for the Clubman version of the MINI moves the rear axle three inches
further away from the front and stretches the overall length of the body by 9.6
inches. Any adult who has tried to climb into the back seat of a MINI hardtop
will find themselves in very confined space. That extra length in the Clubman
makes all the difference in the world. A pair of adults can sit in the second
row in relative comfort. Access to that space is enhanced by an extra
rear-hinged half door on the passenger side. In the back, the top-hinged hatch
is replaced by a pair of side-hinged vertically slit doors. Frankly, we'd rather
have the hatch and skip the thick central obstruction in the rear view mirror.

The heart of the John Cooper Works MINI lies under the hood where its 1.6L
engine has spent time at the gym. A twin scroll turbocharger and direct fuel
injection push the output to 208 horsepower and a mighty 192 lb-ft of torque,
making this the only gas-engined MINI to out-torque the diesel version. Best of
all, like other direct-injected turbos, this one has a nice fat torque curve
peaking all the way from 1,850 rpm to 5,600 rpm.

This is one sweet little powerplant and it never wants for thrust. On the few
occasions when dry pavement was available, a stab of the throttle brought
acceleration aplenty with no noticeable throttle lag. Even with all that torque
available, the combination of good suspension geometry and the slip control
system mean that even under maximum acceleration, the MINI goes exactly where
you point it. Like other MINIs, the JCW has great steering feedback as well.
Unlike so many cars with electric power steering, the MINI is one of the only
examples, along with the Honda Fit, that actually allows you to sense what is
happening at the front corners when you are changing direction.

On smooth, dry pavement those summer tires work well with the beefed up
suspension and steering to provide excellent ability to change direction on a
dime. When the pavement degrades as it so often does around these parts
(actually smooth pavement is more the exception than the rule), things can get a
bit jiggly. The ride quality of the JCW is noticeably harsher than lesser
models.

One of the nice things about even this most powerful of MINIs is decent fuel
economy. Over a week of driving in a mix of stop and go urban and highway
environments, the JCW went 27 miles for every gallon of petrol. It certainly
doesn't doesn't compete with the 47-mpg European spec MINI diesel we tried last
summer, but if you are looking for acceleration, the JCW is the choice.

The problem of winter traction is easily remedied with snow tires. Not so easily
corrected is the price tag. At a base price of $31,450 delivered ($29,200 for
the MINI hardtop) the JCW Clubman is not cheap. Is it worth the price? That
depends. A big part of the MINI's driving appeal is the wonderfully balanced
go-kart handling that is present on even a standard Cooper or Cooper S at much
lower price. The ultimate dry road grip isn't quite as high and they don't
accelerate as quick, but those lesser models are still a joy to drive. If you
live up one of the canyon roads in southern California, the extra performance of
the JCW might be worth it to you. Only those signing the check can decide. Just
don't forget the snow tires.

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

open fullscreen close fullscreen
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
* MINI
* mini clubman

* facebook
* twitter
* email
* reddit
* linkedin
* pinterest
* License License

Start the Conversation
* facebook
* twitter
* email
* reddit
* linkedin
* pinterest
* License License

POPULAR NOW

Tesla Cybertruck's stiff structure, sharp design 'alarm' auto safety experts

Megazilla 7.3-liter V8 crate engine with 615-hp starts at $22,995

EV sales slowed this year, but U.S. still bought record numbers of them

Top tech YouTuber breaks down the Tesla Cybertruck's 'ridiculous' windshield
wiper, tricky door handles

Mobile EV chargers aim to fill public charging gaps

Junkyard Gem: 2005 Suzuki Verona

* Facebook Share
* Twitter Share
* Tumblr Share
* Twitch Share
* Flipboard Share
* Instagram Share
* Newsletter Share
* Youtube Share
* Feeds Share

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RESEARCH

MSRP: $43,070 - $53,545

MSRP: $22,400 - $28,600

MSRP: $57,625 - $78,845

MSRP: $37,090 - $83,790
View More

POPULAR VEHICLES

* POPULAR NEW VEHICLES

* 2023 Toyota Camry
* 2023 Toyota Tacoma
* 2023 Ford Bronco
* 2023 Ford F-150
* 2023 Toyota 4Runner
* 2023 Jeep Wrangler
* 2023 Honda Civic
* 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe
* 2023 Ford Bronco Sport
* 2023 Toyota Tundra

* POPULAR USED VEHICLES

* 2020 Honda Civic
* 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
* 2021 Toyota Tundra
* 2017 Honda Accord
* 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
* 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
* 2014 Honda Civic
* 2014 Volkswagen Jetta
* 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee
* 2015 Honda Civic

* POPULAR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

* 2023 Tesla Model 3
* 2023 GMC HUMMER EV Pickup
* 2023 Tesla Model S
* 2023 Rivian R1T
* 2023 Hyundai IONIQ 6
* 2023 BMW i4
* 2022 GMC HUMMER EV
* 2017 Tesla Model S
* 2022 Rivian R1T
* 2016 Tesla Model S

* POPULAR TRUCK VEHICLES

* 2023 Toyota Tacoma
* 2023 Ford F-150
* 2023 Toyota Tundra
* 2022 Ford F-150
* 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
* 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
* 2022 Toyota Tacoma
* 2023 RAM 1500
* 2021 Toyota Tundra
* 2023 RAM 2500

* POPULAR CROSSOVER VEHICLES

* 2023 Toyota RAV4
* 2024 Toyota RAV4
* 2024 Chevrolet Trax
* 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
* 2023 Subaru Forester
* 2024 Honda CR-V
* 2023 Toyota Highlander
* 2024 Buick Envista
* 2024 Chevrolet Equinox
* 2023 Kia Sportage

* POPULAR LUXURY VEHICLES

* 2024 Porsche 911
* 2023 Tesla Model Y
* 2023 Porsche 911
* 2023 Land Rover Range Rover
* 2024 Lexus RX 350
* 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350
* 2023 Land Rover Defender
* 2023 Tesla Model X
* 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
* 2023 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

* POPULAR HYBRID VEHICLES

* 2023 Ford F-150
* 2023 Ford Explorer
* 2022 Ford F-150
* 2023 Toyota Sienna
* 2022 Ford Explorer
* 2024 Toyota Tundra Hybrid
* 2024 Toyota Prius
* 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
* 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
* 2024 Toyota Sienna

* POPULAR MAKES

* Honda
* RAM
* Dodge
* Hyundai
* Cadillac
* Chevrolet
* Jeep
* Rivian
* GMC
* Ford

* FEATURED MAKES

* Volvo
* Lexus
* Subaru

* PRODUCT GUIDES

* The Best Electric Bikes
* The Best Car Covers
* The Best Portable Air Compressors
* The Best Car GPS Trackers

* HELP

* Sitemap
* About Us
* Add Us To Home Screen

* CONTACT

* Feedback / Tip Us
* Licensing

* PODCASTS

* Audio
* On iTunes
* Archives

* ADVERTISING

* About Ads
* Advertise With Us
* Privacy Dashboard

* LEGAL

* Terms of Service
* Privacy Policy
* Trademarks

* Facebook Share
* Twitter Share
* Tumblr Share
* Twitch Share
* Flipboard Share
* Instagram Share
* Newsletter Share
* Youtube Share
* RSS Share

WE OBSESSIVELY COVER THE AUTO INDUSTRY

CHOOSE A DISPLAY NAME

Please enter a display name

Cancel Change Name
Share This Photo X
* Facebook
* Twitter
* Email

* Reddit
* Linkedin
* Pinterest

* Sign in to post

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Continue