Meet dory - Our F56 Cooper S!

13 February 2019

The demonstrator fleet here at Lohen has grown a lot since the company started in 2004. Beginning with a Gen 1 Cooper S known as Trouble and Neo the R50, we have since added 4 Gen 2’s; a Clubman Cooper D, Countryman SD and 2 Cooper S Hatches, but since the launch of the latest modern MINI in 2014, our fleet has been missing one thing … that is until now.

This F56 MINI Cooper S (aka Dory) has become the latest member of the Lohen fleet. Bought in December 2018, she has since made her first show debut at Autosport 2019. Modified as a fast road car we wanted to show off the best of the best, our team set out to add some of the best performance parts available on the MINI market to her.

Performance Upgrades

Ghost Spec

The aim with our entire demonstrator fleet is to create MINIs that inspire and importantly ones that you can come and drive to understand the differences these modifications and changes made.

With the focus strongly on performance we set out to install parts that would really show this F56 off, so we started by installing our Ghost Spec. This is a Gen 3 package that is inspired by the JCW Challenge Edition car, it brings together the best parts of this car and adds an exciting twist to produce a MINI that can run rings around other hot hatches on the market. Our Ghost Spec includes a Forge Intercooler, a set of Nitron R1 Coilovers, a Quaife ATB Differential and a Manic Motorsport Stage 1 ECU Tune. All these parts work together to improve the power and drivability of the MINI.

Induction

Improving your MINIs intake temperatures will help you to get the most out of your MINI. If your engine over heats then the ECU will reign back power, however the addition of an intake kit or intercooler can help reduce the temperatures within your engine bay and will keep your MINI working better for longer. We had already installed a Forge Front Mount Intercooler as part of the Ghost Spec, but we wanted to maximise the amount of cool air being sent into the engine, so we fitted an Arma Pipercross Intake Kit to Dory. This kit comes with a carbon fibre air box which not only helps to exclude hot air from the engine bay, but it also looks epic under this MINIs bonnet too.

Brakes

Once the Ghost Spec and the induction kit were installed, we fitted a Tarox Sport Big Brake Kit to Dory and opted for a gold caliper option to really make her pop. This brake kit uses a 6-pot caliper rather than the 4 piston OEM variety. This ensures a firm but modulated brake pedal feel and helps to ensure a high level of performance under both street and track conditions. The 2-piece 330 x 26 mm Tarox discs used in this big brake kit have a unique finish that provides an ultra-stable braking surface and unparalleled heat resistance which together provide the best possible drive to the MINI, which is another reason why they were chosen for our demo vehicle.

Exhaust

We wanted to combine performance and sound as well so turned to the Remus Exhaust valved cat back system to provide a wonderfully deep sport note. This exhaust system has been designed to help reduce back pressure and optimises the gas flow dynamics which help to increase both bhp and torque. Opting for the Carbon Fibre Tailpipes, this exhaust helps to really make this car stand out, so we now have an F56 that sounds great at the click of a button.

Styling it out!

When she was first purchased, Dory was a deep red colour, but as we already had Chilli, our red R56 Cooper S demonstrator so we didn’t want two of same colour MINIs, so we decided to wrap her. Completed in house, the colours chosen really make this MINI stand out from the crowd with an unintentional nod to the R53 Checkmate.

Wheels were a huge talking point in the office. They had to look good, but more importantly they had to be light weight and high performance to reduce unsprung and rotating masses … After much deliberation we choose the OZ Racing Hyper GT wheels, the 18” profile gave us good room for a big brake kit while at just over 8.5 Kg they’re not the lightest that OZ Racing produce but the HLT construction ensures they’re light and strong enough for road applications. We chose to pair these with the a set of Kumho Ecsta PS71 tyres for good quality grip on the road.

What’s next?

All these modifications work together to produce a fast road MINI that handles well and looks great. On our dyno Dory made 270 bhp and 435 Nm of torque, as a demonstrator vehicle, Dory will be used to develop and test new products and over the course of her life here at Lohen she’s bound to have more modifications made to her, but we will keep you updated with her progress. Dory, like all our demonstrator vehicles, is available to test drive, just ask our sales team when you arrive or prior to making your booking. You can keep up to date with all the work that goes on here at Lohen by following us on social media.