Mini has taken the covers off the quickest, most extreme model in its history, the 2020 John Cooper Works GP, the third in a 13-year line of track-oriented Coopers.
Under the bonnet of the hardcore hatchback is the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine employed by a range of FWD-based BMW and Mini products, developing 225kW of power and a chunky 450Nm of torque.
That’s 55kW and 130Nm up over the standard JCW, thanks to stronger internals, additional cooling, a freer-breathing exhaust, larger intake and updated turbocharger.
Torque is transferred to the front wheels via an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission – with no manual on offer, unlike past GPs – enabling a 5.2-second 0-100km/h time and a 265km/h top speed.
To help it hurl around its natural home, the racetrack, the Works’ body has been graced with a range of braces and chassis struts, complemented by stiffer springs and dampers, reworked suspension geometry, unique powertrain mounts, tweaked steering, locking front differential and a notable weight loss programme headlined by the loss of the rear seats.
Matching the newfound go is a healthy dose of show, present in the form of a carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) sports body kit consisting of red and black accents, large rear wing, aggressive rear diffuser and unconventional wheel-arch extensions, each decorated with the car’s individual build number out of the 3000-strong production run.
It rides on 18-inch, four-spoke lightweight alloy wheels, which hide sports brakes measuring 360mm up front.
Inside, a bespoke steering wheel, seats and gear selector have been fitted, while the level of sound insulation has been cut down over a regular JCW. The electric Cooper SE’s 5.0-inch digital instrument cluster has also made its way to the GP.
The 2020 Mini John Cooper Works GP will go on sale in Australia in 2020, priced from $63,900 plus on-road costs.
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