Yahoo Autos Mini's 2-Door John Cooper Works Models Live On, But Without the Stick
We can only hope that John Cooper, namesake of the Mini Cooper, would be happy to hear that the John Cooper Works lineage continues on into 2025, as Mini launches its highest-performance version of the classic two-door Cooper for the new model year.
After revealing its latest Countryman and the fresh-platform Cooper S hatchback and convertible earlier this year, Mini is rounding out the lineup with the refreshed version of the hardtop and convertible John Cooper Works trims. Powered by the brand's 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, the JCW Cooper puts down 228 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, pushing it comfortably above the 201 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque of the previous version. (That said, its cousin, the JCW Countryman, still holds the horsepower crown in Mini's current range.)
The JCW Cooper in hardtop form manages a 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds, while the slightly heavier convertible version does it in 6.2 seconds. By comparison, the Cooper S hardtop does 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds. A top speed of 155 mph in hardtop form is nothing to balk at either.
Like its Cooper S sibling, the JCW Cooper funnels all of its power through the front wheels by way of a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. However, the hot-rod Cooper gets standard paddle shifters, the lack of which was a gripe we levied against the Cooper S for not offering manual shifting capability. Mini's commitment to the manual transmission is gone, sadly — and you'll have to bump up to the JCW trim level to enjoy paddle shifting, too.
Mini says there's been some suspension adjustments for the JCW version, though the brand's performance mode, labeled Go-Kart, remains standard. The body has been optimized to improve cooling for the engine and brakes, with additional air inlets cut into the front-end reflectors. A model-specific trunk spoiler and diffuser adorn the rear end while a centrally positioned tailpipe continues decades of Mini tradition. JCW Cooper buyers will have the option of 17-inch or 18-inch wheels, depending on their style preference.
Buying a Mini is all about fun, as exemplified by our time at the Mini Takes the States event earlier this year, and the color combinations available are plentiful. Mini says that 11 different base colors are available on the JCW, with two-tone roof paints and a convertible-specific hue joining the party. You can even get a Union Jack pattern convertible soft-top, which Mini says can be power retracted at speeds up to 18.6 mph.
Inside the JCW, Mini has added a few special touches, including a set of red-and-black sports seats. Beyond the classic color scheme, the interior of the JCW Mini — like other Coopers of this generation — features a 9.4-inch OLED circular infotainment screen and a knit-material dashboard. We're a fan of it in Countryman and Cooper S form, so we suspect the special color scheme will only add to our appreciation.
Now, there allegedly is an electric Mini Cooper JCW on the way, which was leaked in China earlier this year. It's not immediately clear if this 255-hp, battery-powered version will come Stateside, but we do know Mini's EV version of the non-JCW Cooper will be coming to the U.S. as well — though the timeline for production and delivery has been muddled by potential tariff issues related to its Chinese production.
Hardtop JCW Cooper units will start at $39,195, a price that includes a $995 destination and delivery fee. Drop-top JCW models are more expensive, starting at $44,695. Production is due to start in November, with Mini claiming the JCW version will hit U.S. streets by January 2025.
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