2005 MINI Cooper S Works Preview

Should your budget allow for aesthetic improvements, the Works garage can cater to your whims with a variety of exterior and

Carbon fiber trim adds a sporty look to the well-built and unapologetically retro interior. (Photo: MINI Canada)

interior treatments. Additions include sports seats, available with two-toned leather and sculpted bolsters for front and rear passengers. If desired, carbon fiber trim can be added to the dashboard in lieu of the standard alloy-finish or lacquer patina. A chrome-trim delete, and grille-mounted fog lamps give the sporty MINI a tougher look, while the vast lineup of hood and roof decals is also available almost guaranteeing that each Cooper S Works will be unique.

The logistics of the Works kit has remained the same; it can be purchased and installed at your local MINI retailer. The Works package is also available as a kit for do-it-yourself types, and it takes roughly 10 hours to install. Regardless of which method is

Seriously sporty, the Works team offers optional sport seats. Even those in the rear get extra bolsters to hold them in place. (Photo: MINI Canada)

chosen, the kit is 100 percent compliant with the factory warranty. Despite the impressive array of new components included in the kit, MINI maintains that the price will not increase and has been announced as E4400 (the equivalent of $6,930 CAD, $5,400 USD) for its launch at the Paris Auto Show.

With a growing range and an ever-increasing demand for high-performance sport compacts, the Works upgrade is a logical choice for MINI. And now that the 2005 models are already on dealers' lots, the upgrade is an ideal booster shot to bolster the launch of the new vehicle.