What gives the game...
What gives the game away are the revised intakes at the front, designed to force air under the bonnet. These reveal the prototype"s true purpose - it"s being used to test a muscular new engine.
Brits are the biggest...
Brits are the biggest buyers, accounting for nearly 1,000 sales, but in many markets demand is outstripping supply. "We knew people wanted to enhance their MINI engines, but we didn"t anticipate the extent to which people crave power," said company MD Mike Cooper.
The kits feature a modified cylinder head with higher compression, uprated engine management system, special air filter and rear silencer. The result is a hike of 11bhp on the Cooper and 37bhp on the Cooper S. There has been similar success with the aftermarket tuning and accessories, with the sculpted Works seats and 18-inch alloys proving incredibly popular. What"s more, Mike Cooper has promised further innovation. "The launch of the new MINI has rewhetted our appetite, and the Works kits are only the first chapter," he added.