Powerflex Mini V8 Review Shows M3 Power

The Powerflex Mini V8, codenamed Vini, is a car that shouldn’t exist. It’s a BMW M Power V8 stuffed into a Mini Cooper S—no bulges, no obvious modifications, just a slightly wider air intake and a 4.0-liter M Power V8 snarling beneath the hood. The result is a 414-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive hatchback.

Six Years of Madness

The project began in late 2018 when David Power, founder of Powerflex, approached Eliot Dunmore of EDM Engineering with a simple request: build a fast Mini. What started as a track-focused build quickly spiraled into something far more ambitious. Dunmore suggested rear-wheel drive, then a Subaru flat-four—but Power wanted something bigger. The conversation then shifted to a BMW S54 straight-six, which would’ve fit (just). But then Iain Litchfield—a BMW specialist—proposed the S65 V8, the same engine found in the E92 M3 GTS.

Covid-19 didn’t stop the project. Dunmore worked alone in his workshop, where the V8’s compact size (two cylinders shorter than the S54) actually made packaging easier. Power’s insistence on original-equipment-level fit and finish added complexity, but his industry connections—ATL—delivered custom parts tailored to the build. The result? A 90-liter F1-spec fuel tank and a Zircotec-coated exhaust.

The chassis was a hybrid of Mini, BMW, and Subaru components. Dunmore kept the standard sills and rails but reworked the engine bay, bulkheads, and transmission tunnel. A two-layer honeycomb floor and an eight-point welded roll cage turned the Mini’s bodyshell into a rigid, race-ready platform. Every CNC-machined part, from the firewall to the custom carbon-fiber door cards, was executed with precision.

A Mini That Doesn’t Sound Like a Mini

Driving Vini is like stepping into a time machine. The exterior looks like a dark green Cooper S, but the Braid rims, wide track, and rear-drive stance hint at something more. Inside, the Cobra seats, AIM shift lights, and paddleshifters scream BMW M3.

The moment the V8 fires up, all pretense is gone. The metallic snarl of the M Power unit fills the cabin, blending with the howling exhaust into a soundtrack that’s equal parts raw and musical. There’s no unpleasant NVH—just a deep, resonant growl that gets better with every rev. The Subaru Spec C diff and short gearing mean acceleration is addictive, and the 1,300kg curb weight keeps things manageable.

The steering feels precise but not twitchy, with just enough weight to feel connected. The brakes stop the car without hesitation, and the dampers balance stability and responsiveness.

Why This Matters (And Why It’s a One-Off)

Projects like Vini exist in a rare intersection of obsession and engineering skill. Most engine-swap builds either look like Frankenstein’s monster or compromise on performance. This one does neither. It’s road-legal, track-capable, and visually deceptive—a Mini that sounds like an M3 without any of the usual compromises.

Power won’t disclose the total cost, but given the bespoke components, fabrication work, and tuning expertise, it’s safe to assume it’s well into six figures. Yet for all its madness, Vini works. It’s not just a novelty—it’s a proof of concept for what can be achieved when precision engineering is applied.

There will be no production run. Vini is David Power’s personal masterpiece, a one-off that redefines what a Mini can be. And if you ever get to drive it, the only question you’ll have is: Why didn’t anyone think of this sooner?

The Powerflex Mini V8 specs: