AC Schnitzer is one of the oldest BMW-tuning names in the game, having worked closely with the German manufacturer for decades now. Once the Bavarians took over the MINI brand, the AC Schnitzer people decided to also take a look at what could be done on the British models and, today, they offer great packages for those looking for a bit more performance.
Their latest work with the MINI brand focused on what the John Cooper Works model had to offer. In standard guise, the JCW has 231 HP and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque coming out of its 2-liter 4-cylinder engine under the hood. Truth be told, that’s more than enough for a car this size but for bragging rights purposes, the guys from AC Schnitzer can take it up to 265 HP and 390 Nm (288 lb-ft) of torque, turning it into an ever more hardcore proposition.
In the video below we get to see it hop on a dyno and ‘sing’ for us with its new AC Schnitzer exhaust that’s also available now for those interested. And while some other tuners out there offer more power (like the Manhart Racing F300 with its 300 HP), the AC Schnitzer upgrade comes with extensive warranty and the peace of mind knowing that your engine is not pushed to the absolute limit.
If extra power’s not what you’re interested in, AC Schnitzer also has a new suspension setup in store for you, developed in house, that allows you to lower your car’s center of gravity by some 30 mm. You can also grab 19″ wheels with their traditional twin-spoke design in either an Anthracite or BiColor finish, the exhaust you hear in the video below or various aerodynamic components, individually. If it were up to us, we’d go for the complete kit but then again, to each his own. As for the acceleration improvements brought on by the engine upgrade, AC Schnitzer claims it will shave 0.3 seconds off the standard figure which would allow the drop top JCW to accelerate to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.2 seconds.
