Photo: MINI
Whenever MINI slaps the John Cooper Works handle on a model, you know that car means business. The JCW Challenge, a limited edition model made for the UK, pushes the performance envelope even further.
Pop the hood and you’ll see a familiar 2.0 TwinPower Turbo engine with 228 horsepower (231 PS) and 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) of torque. The sizzling fury that lies under the hood is channeled to the front axle via a 6-speed stick shift, a transmission that can also be found on the regular MINI John Cooper Works. The Aisin-developed 6-speed automatic isn't available, sorry.
The thing is, the Challenge is inspired by a racing car. Hence, this pocket rocket boasts beefier wheel arches, 215/45 R17 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber, 17-inch lightweight wheels made by Team Dynamics Racing, carbon fiber for the air intake and side mirror caps, as well as the JCW Pro Aerokit.
Look closer and you’ll spot 330-mm brake rotors in the front, complemented by four-pot Brembo calipers and Mintex pads. The most important technical highlights, however, are the Quaife limited-slip diff and a seriously hardcore Nitron coilover suspension system. I don’t know why MINI bothered with it, but the JCW Pro exhaust can be controlled via Bluetooth, “offering a choice of Sport and Track sound levels.” LOL, what?
The moment you step inside, the 2016 MINI John Cooper Works Challenge greets you with Dinamica, cloth, and piano black trim. On the passenger side fascia, the track-oriented JCW Challenge wears its build number with pomp and circumstance. Speaking of which, 100 units will be made for the United Kingdom.
Care to guess how much this thing goes for? Nope, that’s far from it. Without further ado, here’s Johnny: £32,000 OTR. That’s a whopping £8,950 over the price of a 2016 MINI JCW three-door, but then again, this is an extremely special car with tons of attitude. The JCW Challenge will prove itself at Goodwood Festival of Speed, the place where Mercedes-AMG will also put the awe-inspiring GT R through its paces.
The thing is, the Challenge is inspired by a racing car. Hence, this pocket rocket boasts beefier wheel arches, 215/45 R17 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber, 17-inch lightweight wheels made by Team Dynamics Racing, carbon fiber for the air intake and side mirror caps, as well as the JCW Pro Aerokit.
Look closer and you’ll spot 330-mm brake rotors in the front, complemented by four-pot Brembo calipers and Mintex pads. The most important technical highlights, however, are the Quaife limited-slip diff and a seriously hardcore Nitron coilover suspension system. I don’t know why MINI bothered with it, but the JCW Pro exhaust can be controlled via Bluetooth, “offering a choice of Sport and Track sound levels.” LOL, what?
The moment you step inside, the 2016 MINI John Cooper Works Challenge greets you with Dinamica, cloth, and piano black trim. On the passenger side fascia, the track-oriented JCW Challenge wears its build number with pomp and circumstance. Speaking of which, 100 units will be made for the United Kingdom.
Care to guess how much this thing goes for? Nope, that’s far from it. Without further ado, here’s Johnny: £32,000 OTR. That’s a whopping £8,950 over the price of a 2016 MINI JCW three-door, but then again, this is an extremely special car with tons of attitude. The JCW Challenge will prove itself at Goodwood Festival of Speed, the place where Mercedes-AMG will also put the awe-inspiring GT R through its paces.
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