Dominating canyons and dirt roads for over half a century, the MINI has become an icon of British motoring history, thanks largely to legendary tuner John Cooper. Cooper’s endless passion for MINI homologation hasn’t faded––tuning company John Cooper Works has continued to extract maximum performance from MINIs to the present-day. And this past week, MINI announced that the newest John Cooper Works-spec MINI would hold an important distinction: the most powerful production MINI ever.
Sporting a heavily-revised 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the newest MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) uses BMW-inspired TwinPower Turbo technology to develop 228 horsepower and 236 lb.-ft. of low-end torque, meaning that 0-60 mph comes in an astonishing 5.9 seconds. Sporting direct injection, a turbocharger at the exhaust manifold, and BMW-inspired ValveTronic VVT, the JCW’s power delivery will be absolutely immediate. Just as important are the JCW’s high-performance brake calipers and rotors, developed in conjunction with Brembo.
Cosmetically, the JCW also receives a number of important upgrades over the standard Cooper S. The JCW aerodynamics kit includes a model-specific rear spoiler, John Cooper Works sports seats, and exclusive 17-inch John Cooper Works wheels. In keeping with hot MINI history, the JCW will wear a sports-tuned exhaust with twin center-justified tips, giving a deep burble at low RPM and a sporty wail higher in the rev range. Most importantly, the JCW will be available in either a 6-speed Steptronic or a purist 6-speed manual transmission with auto-rev matching.
The JCW is tech-laden, t0o. Optional active cruise control, pedestrian warning, park distance control, and head-up display aid with everyday driving, meaning that owners can enjoy the JCW’s capability without compromising safety. The new MINI JCW brings world-class performance in a classic British package, and it’ll surely be a hit when it arrives in showrooms later this year.
Please enjoy this TFLcar.com video review of the all-new 2015 MINI John Cooper Works.
