The wicked and worldly watermarkers at World Car Fans tracked down what they claim to be a prototype Mini Cooper S lapping the Ring that is Nurburg. Word-on-the-street says this will be a new, higher-output model for those who want more than the vanilla John Cooper Works R56. The new kit could be sporting a power increase to 215 hp for the 1.6-liter four-banger (from 192 hp) in addition to what appears to be a JCW exhaust, bigger brakes, new suspension, unique 18' JCW wheels and a new body kit. More details below...
Obvious differences between the stock JCW car and this prototype include the new front/rear fascias with a lower and wider grille, possibly to help cool the larger brakes, as well as new side skirts and the new wheels. Sources are saying the car seen here will bow at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2008 with production versions arriving in garages as early as Summer 2008 as 2009 models. [World Car Fans]