AC Schnitzer Leaves A Subtle Mark On The Mini

German aftermarket specialist AC Schnitzer has prepared new Minis (F56) to display at one of the biggest tuning shows in the world.

Essen is arguably one of the largest gatherings of modified automobiles in Europe (and the entire world), and AC Schnitzer will be present with subtly overhauled Mini Cooper variants. The tuner has shown its strength in the business countless of times, and now the company plans to play it chill and simple with a Mini models just went Max – at least according to AC Schnitzer, even though it’s not the case.

Thanks to a new front splitter (located under the standard front skirt) the car gains a little bit of style and aerodynamic enhancement, albeit not much else was changed visually. In fact, only the paint-matched rear apron and the massive 19 inch rims, developed specifically for the new automobile, are the other noticeable visual cues.

Even the engine was treated “on the safe side”, as the tuner focused on increasing its robustness rather than its maximum power. So, many of the performance upgrades were designed to increase the mill’s torque because AC Schnitzer says “torque is what you feel when for example you’re pressed back in the seat on pulling away”.

For the Cooper S variant the power upgrade bumped the total output from 189 hp and 280 Nm of torque to 233 hp and 350 Nm, while the more powerful JCW went from 228 hp and 320 Nm of torque to 261 hp and 390. Completing the technical spec sheet is AC Schnitzer’s own take on the Mini’s exhaust system, equipped with silencer/sound-pipe/racing-pipe and tail-trims.

Of course, a sport suspension setup couldn’t have missed from the entire project, as AC Schnitzer fitted the models with an in house suspension spring kit, which lowers the car by up to 30 mm, for improved agility and increased safety.