China's Ministry of Industry and Trade revealed details about the fifth-generation three-door hatchback with John Cooper Works factory tuning. As expected, the MINI Cooper JCW became an electric car: there will be no gasoline version at all. Under the hood is a 258-horsepower engine, a lithium-ion battery between the axles. The new hot hatch will be able to reach a maximum speed of 200 km/h, but the ideology is different.
The original MINI Cooper JCW was a light and powerful hot hatch, and even in the last generation the three-door was “skinny”: the curb weight is about 1.25 tons. However, the transition to electric traction forced a change in the concept, because the new JCW weighs 1.67 tons! Probably, by default, the hatchback is equipped with a 49.2 kilowatt-hour battery, which means that the range will be more than 350 kilometers.
The controllability of the MINI Cooper JCW EV is an open question, but the special features of the “charged” version have been preserved. From the front, the top version can be recognized by the red inserts on the bumper, a single-tone imitation of the radiator grille, a different shape of the aerodynamic elements, enlarged brake calipers (in red) and 18-inch wheels. At the back, a pseudo-diffuser was added, and the sections of the reflectors became larger. Finally, the rear pillars, trunk lid and front bumper boast a new JCW label.
The world premiere of JCW in an electric vehicle format will take place in the fall. China is likely to be the key market, as supplies to Europe and the USA are complicated by anti-Chinese tariffs. In Great Britain, the MINI of the new generation will also be registered, but the prospects of assembly of the JCW are in question, because in the format of an electric car, the model can become even more niche.
