Mini plans to conquer more with new ‘small-but-mighty’ Cooper JCW

A new Mini model, Cooper JCW GP, is underway as the company has teased about an electric GP model in its latest tweet.

The tweet did not say much, but the image revealed a bit more about a car described as small but mighty in a new report by roadshow.com.

“Aside from looking a bit like a 1980s boom box, when we fiddled with the photo in Photoshop, some more detail popped out. Specifically, a boxier version of the GP model’s side spats (or whatever you want to call them) became apparent,” says the report.

It notes that the prospect of an electric Cooper GP is exciting for several reasons, adding, “First, we haven’t really seen a properly small, fast production electric car since the Tesla Roadster, and technology has moved on significantly since then.

“Secondly, many of our gripes about the petrol-powered GP would be solved by a swap to an electric drivetrain — no more bummer automatic transmission or vaguely annoying engine note.

“We’re curious to see where Mini goes with this if it goes anywhere at all. We asked Mini representatives for more information but didn’t hear back in time for publication.”

Car and Driver notes that Mini’s limited-edition John Cooper Works GP, imbued with enough horsepower and attitude, is about the quickest front-wheel-drive car ever test-driven.

“The Mini Cooper JCW GP is certainly a novel idea. Replacing the regular John Cooper Works’ 228-hp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder is a tweaked 301-hp version of that engine,” it states.

Commenting on the performance of the 2021 model of the Mini JCW GP, roadandtrack.com says, “Mini doesn’t take half-measures with the JCW GP. Three-hundred and one horsepower from a BMW-sourced 2.0-litre turbo-four is sent to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox and a locking differential.”

It also states that Mini has replaced the back seats, and comes with new engine mounts and some solid mountings for the rear wishbones.

Giving other features, it states, “The GP sits 0.4 inches lower than the regular Mini JCW and comes from the factory with more negative camber. Front brakes are comically big, with 14-inch discs clamped down by four-piston calipers. They sit behind 18-inch forged wheels wrapped with 235/35 Hankook rubber.

“That increase in tyre and track width necessitated wider fenders.”