IT'S HAPPENED - JCW GOES EV, WILL DEBUT AT FOS SOON.
The partnership between John Cooper Works and Mini has been a longstanding and iconic one. John Cooper, a renowned British car designer and builder, was instrumental in developing Formula One cars that won championships during the 1950s and 1960s. His talent for creating small, agile, and powerful vehicles made him a perfect match for Mini. Initially, John Cooper teamed up with the British Motor Corporation (BMC) to produce a high-performance variant of the original Mini, known as the Mini Cooper. This new model boasted a more powerful engine, enhanced suspension, and various performance improvements. The Mini Cooper quickly gained international acclaim in rally racing, particularly for its triumphs at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965, and 1967. These victories solidified Mini Cooper's status as a formidable competitor, capable of outclassing much larger and more powerful cars, and the classic models from that period are highly valued today. In 1994, BMW acquired the Mini brand from Rover and initiated plans for its revival, which came to fruition around the turn of the century. The Mini Cooper was reintroduced in 2000/2001, and in 2002, BMW launched the John Cooper Works (JCW) tuning kits to enhance the power and handling of the new compact hatchbacks. A few years later, in 2008, fully JCW-tuned cars became available directly from the showroom. These models offered factory-tuned performance enhancements, making them some of the most potent and capable Minis ever produced. The JCW versions featured significant upgrades over standard Minis, including more powerful engines, improved suspensions, larger brakes, and unique styling elements. There was even a road-ready racecar variant, the John Cooper Works GP, introduced in 2006, with later versions in 2013 and 2020. These track-focused models had stripped-down interiors, aerodynamic enhancements, and substantial performance upgrades, though their association with the BMW brand also meant they came with a hefty price tag.
The legacy of John Cooper Works continues today with the latest iteration of these high-performance Minis - and now to keep up with the times, the iconic JCW goes electric. The latest release from the BMW media office tells us that the MINI John Cooper Works E PROtotype marks a significant milestone as the first-ever electric MINI John Cooper Works model. Featuring a striking design and advanced electric powertrain, this prototype embodies MINI's commitment to innovation and electromobility. Celebrating its world premiere later this year, the MINI John Cooper Works E represents a bold move in MINI's evolution, combining the brand's rich heritage with cutting-edge technology. The future John Cooper Works lineup will include both petrol and all-electric models. In a nod to MINI’s historic victory of the Mini Cooper S at the 1964 Rallye Monte Carlo 60 years ago, the racecar features a distinctive camouflage designed by the MINI Design Team, and the “37” logo, commemorating this milestone achievement. This emblem serves as a homage to MINI’s rich motorsport tradition. The dynamic premiere at the Goodwood Festival of Speed offers a glimpse of the future of high-performance electric vehicles, showcasing MINI's iconic design and engineering prowess. Fans and automotive enthusiasts alike can expect an unforgettable showcase of the MINI John Cooper Works E PROtotype’s capabilities as it tackles the challenging hill. While the Cooper JCW has always been more about handling than power, we have to wonder just how good the electric version will be thanks to having a higher weight from the necessary battery pack. Can you still chuck it around like a red-headed stepchild? That remains to be seen. One thing we do know for sure is that it won’t have that cool signature burble that the ICE powerplants have, but there are probably some sounds played through the speakers to mimic it.
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows off the all-new electric Mini Cooper. This will introduce you to the regular version, the JCW is yet to have proper content created for it, but you can see the new JCW version if you watch the Goodwood Festival of Speed live stream on the weekend of the 11th July: The New All-Electric MINI Cooper – Meet The New MINI Coming To A City Near You. | MINI
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