BMW is set to release its first new models under the Mini John Cooper Works badge, since it took over the aftermarket tuning company in January last year.
Launching at the Geneva Motor Show this month, the Mini hatch and Clubman get the full John Cooper Works (JCW)treatment.
John Cooper was the racing car constructor and tuner responsible for the first Mini Cooper.
The new cars' 1.6-litre four-cylinder engines with twin scroll turbocharger and petrol direct injection delivers 155kW, and develops maximum torque of 260Nm between 1850 and 5700rpm - or up to 280Nm with the overboost function. The JCW bolts to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds, while the Clubman is just 0.3 seconds behind.
The engine's air filter, air mass meter, induction system, exhaust system, catalyst, turbocharger, cylinder head, cylinder gasket, pistons, valves and valve seats have all been upgraded.
Both models are also fitted with exclusive light alloy rims, a new exhaust system, lightweight high-performance brakes and a modified six-speed manual transmission.
Sports suspension is standard. As an alternative, a sports chassis with harder damper characteristics and stronger stabilisers is available.
For a more extreme set-up, there is also a JCW chassis available in the accessory range. It includes a lowering of the suspension by 10mm, even harder damper characteristics and stabilisers with a diameter which is larger than those of the sports chassis.
The cars have both dynamic stability control (DSC) and dynamic traction control (DTC). DTC is a sub-function of DSC, which is available for the first time in a vehicle with front-drive, claims BMW. It enables controllable slip on drive wheels for loose surfaces or hard driving, where owners may want to explore handling limits.
In DSC-off mode, an electronically controlled lock function for the differential of the drive axle is activated.
The two cars are expected to arrive here in the second half of this year.
JCW Mini
JCW Mini close up