Mini JCW GP hatch to storm in from $63,900

MINI has unveiled the most performance-oriented variant in the British marque’s history in the form of the three-door JCW GP, which will land in Australia in mid-2020 priced from $63,900 plus on-road costs.

The GP commands a $13,500 premium over the three-door JCW, and will be the second-most expensive variant in Mini’s local range behind the $65,900 Countryman JCW small SUV.

Only 3000 examples of the JCW GP will be produced globally, with Mini Australia having secured an allotment of 65 units for local sale – all of which are expected to be spoken for well before the car lands here.

The JCW GP employs the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine found in the Clubman JCW and upcoming BMW M135i, punching out 225kW of power from 5000-6250rpm and 450Nm of torque at 1750rpm. It drives the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Currently, the regular JCW outputs 170kW/320Nm, marking a significant 55kW/130Nm step up in the GP.

The extra power helps the JCW GP sprint from standstill to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds, making it the fastest Mini production car in history, with top speed pegged at 265km/h.

Extracting extra power out of the engine was done thanks to the fitment of a new turbocharger which increases boost pressure, and the inclusion of new injectors and oil sump design.

Extensive cooling work has also been included, with two external coolant coolers, a model-specific expansion tank, coolant module storage system and larger electric fan helping to keep the engine temperature down even under high loads. The system can also be turned off when the engine is warming up.

A number of performance-enhancing features are included on the JCW GP, starting with a sports exhaust system developed specifically for the GP, which has been set up to offer a restrained note when driving at low engine speeds, up to a sonorous roar when the tachometer spikes.

The exhaust system also features straight pipe ducting, brushed stainless-steel tips and a petrol particulate filter.

A limited-slip differential is fitted on the front axle to help channel power and torque to the road, while the torque-converter auto has been tuned to optimise sporty driving with sharper brake downshifts and multiple downshifts when slamming on the loud pedal.

Body rigidity has increased, with a model-specific engine and transmission mount, and a rectangular strut frame on the car’s underbody which complements the fitment of a unique suspension set-up.

Following a rigorous test program at the Nurburgring in Germany, the model-specific suspension features a 10mm increase in track width and decrease in body height compared to the JCW, while springs, dampers and stabilisers have all been stiffened.

New swivel bearings increase camber on all four wheels for greater lateral agility, while the electromechanical power steering has been adapted to provide a sharper steering feel when cornering at speed and comfortable handling at low speeds.

Stopping power comes courtesy of four-piston fixed callipers and 360mm x 30mm ventilated discs at the front and single-pot grabbers at the rear.

A number of model-specific design elements have been included on the GP, such as the exclusive Racing Grey metallic paint hue, Melting Silver finish for the roof and side mirror caps, unique styling for the front and rear apron, Chili Red highlights for the front bumper, grille highlight and inside of the fixed rear spoiler, while Rosso Red matte paint is used for the side skirt decals, outer spoiler touches and GP badging.

To help reduce weight, carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) is used on the wheelarch trims to accommodate for the wider wheel track.

Weight-saving measures are also included inside, with the removal of the rear seats and reduced acoustic insulation, JCW sports seats with Dinamica/leather upholstery, exclusive leather-clad steering wheel and a cross brace fitted behind the front seats.

A digital instrument cluster features a specific GP design when starting the vehicle and activating GP mode in the DSC settings.