With a new age of electrification upon us, MINI’s enthusiast-favourite John Cooper Works line-up has received a tectonic shake-up. But worry not, combustion-power isn’t going out just yet! The new and updated John Cooper Works family, across the entire range, offers you the choice between 2 all-electric models, and 3 petrol-powered models. However, regardless of which one you go for, though, you can absolutely bet your money on the fact that they are all proper JCW models. Even from a distance, they definitely look like very fun, exciting, sharp-handling cars to drive! Speaking of, I’m sure the one most petrolheads are wary about is the EV JCW Minis.
Given that these are MINI’s first foray into electric performance cars, there’s a lot riding on the MINI JCW Electric and MINI JCW Aceman. Both of them feature an identical electric powertrain with a respectable 258hp and 350Nm of torque. And, they both even come with a neat electric boost function to briefly give you an extra 20kW of power in short bursts. As for range, you get up to 363km of range in the JCW Electric, while the JCW Aceman offers you up to 344km. They aren’t bad figures for small, plucky, urban-dwelling electric hot hatches. Of course, you’ll find a tonne of JCW-specific styling, aero tweaks, paint finishes, aero bits, and grippy sports tyres.
Whether It’s Electric Or Petrol Power, Take Your Pick!
Understandably, for all you old-school purists like me, MINI still keeps some petrol engines for this all-new and refreshed John Cooper Works line-up. In particular, you’ll find MINI’s tried and tested 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo inline-4 engine, putting out 231hp and 380Nm of torque. The MINI JCW and MINI JCW Convertible respectively manage a 0 to 100km/h sprint in 6.1 seconds and 6.4 seconds, before topping out at 250km/h and 245km/h. Alas, you might be sad to hear that you can’t get a manual gearbox anymore. On the bright side, at least a slick-shifting dual-clutch automatic is included in these ICE JCW models, which does sound nice to row gears with.
Plus, that aforementioned JCW Convertible even lets you enjoy a roof-down experience with a soft-top roof that fully retracts in just 18 seconds at speeds up to 30km/h. I’d also be remiss to not mention the MINI JCW Countryman ALL4, the biggest of the brand-new John Cooper Works models. The Countryman ALL4 comes with a more powerful 300hp and 400Nm engine, with its top speed capped at 250km/h. So, despite you getting a larger car, it’s just as speedy as its hot hatch siblings. Additionally, the Countryman ALL4 will feature MINI’s ALL4 all-wheel drive system, which should offer you at least some off-road capability, and some on-road traction.
An All-New Generation Of JCW Models For The Future
Of course, MINI isn’t just content with all those performance tweaks. To make sure you know that you’re driving a proper John Cooper Works car, the cabin gets a sportier treatment when compared to regular MINIs. Across all JCW models, you get a black sports steering wheel and unique spokes to make it more ergonomic. Aside from that, you’ll also find some JCW-specific sports seats, including a selection of posh, sporting material choices and upholstery. From the factory, you’ll even get a Harman Kardon audio system as standard. Speaking of tech, some of these JCW models could even be spec’d with semi-autonomous Level 2 driving, to boot.
Moreover, step inside, and you’ll even notice an exclusive driving mode for these JCW models – Go-Kart Mode! Turn this on, and it’ll tighten your steering response, as well as sharpening your throttle sensitivity. On the high-res OLED dashboard, it would also show you extra performance data, including your torque, power output, and G-forces. With the MINI Experience Modes that we’ve seen in some of their other cars, you could additionally personalise your ideal suspension settings and fine-tune your JCW for the occasion. All in all, it seems like this new JCW line-up is still primed and ready to deliver maximum smiles, excitement, and fun factor for enthusiasts!
