Living proof that "It ain't over 'til it's overdone", Japanese Mini tuning specialist DuelL AG, of Nagoya, has released what's termed "an aesthetic upgrade" package for the 2012 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works. I don't know the Japanese for "Fast and Furious" but it may be just the same, like "Le Rock 'n' Roll" in French.
The exterior kit includes a louvered hood, front bumper with LEDs, side skirts and rear diffuser. With luck, they'll be more durable than the JDM kits one sees damaged, or trailing behind Honda Civics. Maybe they don't have parking blocks, or steep curb entries to Safeway stores in Japan? The tuner also added a set of 17-inch OZ Racing rollers wrapped in high-performance Kumho Ecsta V710 radials.
DuelL doesn't detail what kind of upgrades it installed under the hood, but expect some forced-induction tweaks and an exhaust similar to the systems it offers for the other Minis in its arsenal. We do know that the tuner installed an uprated suspension system and high-performance brake kit with 13-inch rotors.
Duell offers a variety of other accessories like shift knobs, mirror covers and meters available through its web site. http://www.duell.jp/products/interior_parts/index.html How's your Japanese? It'll help if you can read it.––Paul Duchene
