MINI is adding more power and sharper handling to two of its new electric cars, with the announcement of John Cooper Works packages for both the MINI Electric hatchback and the new Aceman crossover.
What kind of power are they packing?
Both cars get the same 54.2kWh battery pack, which allows the MINI Electric hatch to officially offer a range of up to 404km, while the Aceman can manage 391km. Both cars get a new front-mounted electric motor, which develops a robust 258hp, and combines that with up to 340Nm of torque.
That means the MINI Electric hatch can get to 100km/h from rest in 5.9 seconds, while the Aceman takes slightly longer, at 6.4 seconds. The battery can be charged at up to 11kW on AC outlets, and up to 95kW on DC rapid chargers. A 10-80 per cent charge takes 30 minutes in theory and the battery automatically conditions itself for fast-charging when a charging station is entered into the navigation.
These new John Cooper Works models both get a neat little boost function, which when you pull a paddle behind the steering wheel, gives you an extra 20kW of power (27hp) for a ten-second burst. It’s when this function is activated that both cars develop their maximum 258hp power output.
Can the cars’ chassis cope?
The suspension of both models has been modified too, and both the hatch and the Aceman are fitted with high-performance tyres. In styling terms, both cars get the red, white and black John Cooper Works logo (inspired by the chequered flag of motorsport), while gloss black exterior trim is standard across the lineup. Black side skirts, ‘aeroblades’ at C-pillar level and a rear spoiler optimise aerodynamics, while the rear lower bumpers get red vertical reflectors and aerodynamic diffusers.
There are new alloy wheel designs in black with red accents are available exclusively for the all-electric models, with 18-inch rims for the hatchback and 19-inch wheels for the Aceman. Red brake callipers and a red roof are also standard.
Inside, there are more JCW logos, as well as a black-and-red colour scheme for the knitted surface of the dashboard. The front seats get black synthetic leather with red stitching and fabric pads at the shoulders, while the 9.5-inch circular OLED touchscreen in the centre of the cabin allows access to the driving modes - Vivid, Core, Green, Timeless, Balance, Go Kart and Personal.
Both models come with all-round parking sensors and a 360-degree parking camera system, while there’s the option of remote parking, which allows you to shuffle the cars back and forth using your smartphone as a remote control. Your phone also acts as the car’s smart key and via the MINI app, you can control the charging and cabin heating too.
Who’s John Cooper anyway?
The John Cooper Works name comes, of course, from the great John Cooper - car tuner and manager of his own Formula One team (which took Jack Brabham to his first two F1 world titles in 1959 and 1960, the first for mid-engined cars).
John Cooper then went on to produce faster versions of the original Mini, which were so impressive that his expertise was brought in-house at the British Motor Corporation, which owned the Austin and Morris brands under which the Mini was sold. The original Mini Coopers were fast and fun road cars and were hugely successful in both circuit racing and rallying too, taking the Mini to legendary wins on the Monte Carlo rally.
When do the JCW twins launch in Ireland?
Following a world debut at the Paris motor show this week, order books open later this month, but first Irish deliveries won’t happen until April 2025 at the earliest.