MINI John Cooper Works Rally primed ahead of Dakar

By CARSIFU | 18 November 2016


LONDON: MINI has premiered its new John Cooper Works Rally and it's undergone a slew of upgrades for the upcoming 2017 Dakar Rally event.

Based on the new MINI Countryman (F60), the cross-country rally car's development is all thanks to the collaboration of MINI and X-raid, which means it's not only longer, wider, taller and more powerful - but more capable as well.

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The cross-country MINI now has a wheelbase of 2,900mm (+230mm) and measures in at 4,350mm-long (+37mm), 1,999mm-wide (+178mm) and 2,000mm-tall (+443mm).

A 385-litre fuel tank will be feeding a 3.0-litre (2,993cc) six-cylinder turbo-diesel BMW engine with a FIA-mandated 38mm air-restrictor - producing 340bhp at 3,250rpm and 800Nm of torque from 1,850rpm.

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The ALL4 all-wheel drive system gets its spin from a six-speed SADEV sequential gearbox with an AP Racing clutch and has the ability to reach an estimated top speed of 184kph.

Stopping power will come from four six-piston callipers, each biting down on 320 x 32mm rotors, with the rear set uniquely cooled by both air and water, while a set of 16-inch wheels fitted with BF Goodrich 245/80 series tyres take on different terrains.

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According to MINI, the key areas that have been closely looked at were the aerodynamics, thermal management, weight distribution, lower centre of gravity, modified chassis frame design and new engine mapping for better fuel economy.

The 1,952.5kg (+306.5kg - Countryman Cooper S) SUV's tubular steel frame is hidden under its carbon fibre and Kevlar composite bodywork and a honeycomb mix of the same materials is used for an underside tier that houses two hydraulic jacks (operated from within the cabin) and three spare tyres for better weight distribution, high speed stability and a substantially lower centre-of-gravity.

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The suspension system is provided by specialists Reiger Racing Suspension, where each axle rides on four fully-adjustable suspension units (two per wheel) providing 250mm of wheel travel.

Lastly, an Akrapovic exhaust system and a lockable oil-cooled Xtrac front and rear differentials with a central SADEV unit have also been fitted.



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