Photo: MINI
Mini’s rallying involvement might be at jeopardy, but we thing the Countryman still has plenty of credentials, since it did win Dakar this year. So with both the Evo and the STI looking stranger by the day, this car just might be the only good rally-bready turbo with a manual gearbox.
But let’s not beat around the bosh here, and present the car! It’s called Countryman John Cooper Works (JCW) and it comes as standard with MINI’s AWD system, the ALL4, a manual gearbox and the most highly tuned production version of the 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbo with direct injection and a variable valve control system.
This puts out an impressive 218PS (215 bhp) and 280Nm (207 lb-ft) of peak torque or 300Nm (221 lb-ft) with in overboost. That’s enough for a 0 to 100km/h (62mph) sprint in 7.0 seconds and tops out at 225km/h (140mph). With the optional automatic, the car is just as quick to 62, but is 2 km/h slower.
European test cycles indicate average consumption is 7.2l/100km, equivalent to 39.2 mpg UK.
There are a few aftermarket exhausts and ECU remaps on the market for the regular Countryman Cooper S that can get you the same amount of power or even more. But the JCW model is special because it comes with a redesigned suspension that’s stiffer and lower by 10 mm. You also get the Works exhaust and a body kit that’s largely familiar, but the 18-inch lightweight alloy wheels are new. The interior is also festooned with red accents all over the place, and you also get a sport button that tweaks the throttle response and steering feel.
autoevolution will be attending the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, so stay tuned for some real up close and personal shots of the vehicles, as well as for first-hand details of the motorized contraptions presented at the event.
This puts out an impressive 218PS (215 bhp) and 280Nm (207 lb-ft) of peak torque or 300Nm (221 lb-ft) with in overboost. That’s enough for a 0 to 100km/h (62mph) sprint in 7.0 seconds and tops out at 225km/h (140mph). With the optional automatic, the car is just as quick to 62, but is 2 km/h slower.
European test cycles indicate average consumption is 7.2l/100km, equivalent to 39.2 mpg UK.
There are a few aftermarket exhausts and ECU remaps on the market for the regular Countryman Cooper S that can get you the same amount of power or even more. But the JCW model is special because it comes with a redesigned suspension that’s stiffer and lower by 10 mm. You also get the Works exhaust and a body kit that’s largely familiar, but the 18-inch lightweight alloy wheels are new. The interior is also festooned with red accents all over the place, and you also get a sport button that tweaks the throttle response and steering feel.
autoevolution will be attending the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, so stay tuned for some real up close and personal shots of the vehicles, as well as for first-hand details of the motorized contraptions presented at the event.
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