Superfast Mini John Cooper Works GP for 2020
Want something fast and small? The 2020 Mini John Cooper Works GP might just be for you.
Some things are just meant to be. The new BMW X2 M35i rolls on the same UKL2 platform as the Mini and has the B48 turbo four. No doubt Mini’s engineers and product planners took one look at that engine and said, “We’re having that.”
The press release is scant on details, the JCW GP will likely also roll with the X2’s all-wheel drive system. With 225kW (306PS) and 450Nm, the front wheels are going to be in a fair bit of trouble from the get-go.
The old JCW GP made do with 160kW (218PS), front-wheel drive and a 1.6.
The production car is based on the 2017 Mini JCW Concept which showcased various lightweight materials. And some pretty whacky aerodynamics, let’s be honest. Expect a toned-down version of the lower aero, but that wing will no doubt survive.
The previous JCW GPs were pretty gosh-darn amazing (I drove one in 2013). To heave weight, that car was missing the rear seats and, in its place, was a whopping brace. Given Mini’s constant push upwards, it will probably be carbon fibre in this one.
At the time of writing, the 2020 Mini John Cooper Works was supposedly about to start final “whole of vehicle” testing.
When and how much?
As ever, it’s a limited edition, with just 3000 available worldwide. Australia will probably get their hands on about 50 or 60 of them (the last one saw just 55), so either way, it will be a collectible machine, just like the last lot.
