- Mini has released official "spy" photos of a prototype Countryman John Cooper Works.
- Mini plans the world debut of the Countryman JCW next March at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show.
- Look for the production model to arrive in the U.S. in the second half of 2012.
OXFORD, England — Mini has released official "spy" photos of a prototype Countryman John Cooper Works undergoing winter testing, ahead of the car's world debut next March at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show. Look for the production model to arrive in the U.S. in the second half of 2012.
A Mini spokesperson, in an e-mail Thursday to Inside Line, said, "There was an event where a camouflaged Mini JCW Countryman prototype was shown this past week. The production version will make its official debut at an auto show next year, and will go on sale in the second half of 2012 here in the U.S. market."
Although Mini hasn't released any details on the 2013 Countryman JCW, several Web sites have reported that the car will get the usual JCW makeover, including revised grille and bumpers and flared wheel arches.
Under the skin, the Countryman JCW will get a more potent version of the Cooper S Countryman's turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, with output bumped to around 210 horsepower and torque nudged to around 210 pound-feet. That should shave at least half a second off the 0-60 acceleration time, to around 7.0 seconds.
The JCW edition of the Countryman is expected to get the usual chassis mods as well, including larger stabilizer bars, stiffer springs, larger brakes and lower ride height.
Inside Line says: Looks like a potential GTI fighter.
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rpvitiello says:
03:20 AM, 12/18/2011
I still don't peoples obsession with HP in cars, while ignoring every other aspect of the cars dynamics. Some of these cars do WORSE on tracks when you put a bigger more powerful engine in, because the mess up the weight balance of the car! More power/bigger engine does NOT always make a car faster, especially on a track or in real world use (other than maybe drag racing.
dmpete says:
03:34 AM, 12/16/2011
I test drove a Mini Clubman JCW a couple of months back and it was very entertaining, It however was not a sports car, but you know it never really claimed to be one. Even the mini coupe isn't a sports car. The regular Mini JCW is an absolute blast to drive and handles like a go cart. Itself is more about the joy of driving verses going 0-60 in 2.3 sec. Not every car made has to have Bugatti numbers for it to be a good car, where I will admit BMW is stretching the Mini lineup to the breaking point. There is a stopping point, and I think they have reached it, whether or not they listen to me is still a mystery. If the car makes money, why not build it. I don't think BMW is losing money on Mini. But, compared to a BMW M3,with a JCW there is no comparison.
beermagazine says:
10:59 PM, 12/15/2011
Those who think every car should drive like a sports car are dreaming. In the category the car has good power (S version) and it's smaller, but more functional than a mini.
blueguydotcom says:
06:58 PM, 12/15/2011
210 hp is low for a performance minded vehicle that weighs over 3000 lbs.
wjtinatl says:
04:01 PM, 12/15/2011
I think Mini has officially "jumped the shark" There must be 25 different variations of the same car, all offering the same powertrain options and all way overpriced when you add some basic options. How much longer will BMW be able to milk the same formula without having to offer big incentives to move what is becoming a stale product?
garrym says:
03:01 PM, 12/15/2011
I drove a Countryman a few weeks ago for almost a week. My wife loved it. The car is poorly designed on the inside for real drivers and of course was lacking power. I had the FWD version with aggressive snow tires, but hardly any snow at the time. Its way over priced and clearly not for everyone.
200 horsepower should suffice, but even if it had 250 horsepower, it's not a driver's car.
compressor says:
02:37 PM, 12/15/2011
90in55,
This car is far from small and needs about 250 hp to compete with something like the VW R20 (which would be its competition - performance and $ wise)
As far as the N20 goes. It would technically fit, but the costs would likely be prohibitive. I could be wrong, but I'd guess the existing mini drivetrain cannot mate to this enine as they are a completely different configuration.
gtrguy2012 says:
12:15 PM, 12/15/2011
EW.
90in55 says:
11:43 AM, 12/15/2011
@blueguydotcom,
Would that powerplant you suggest even fit in the Mini's engine bay? Would it not also push the price of the car to a ludicrous sum? In my view, 210hp is more than adequate for a car this small. Certainly enough to keep things entertaining.
blueguydotcom says:
10:43 AM, 12/15/2011
Lame. 210 hp is chickenfeed. They need to put the N20 bumped to 300 HP from BMW in the JCW so the vehicle will have some gumption. We know from the WRC the Countryman can handle a beating and massive HP. So give it to us.