Photo: SB Medien
Contrary to what the size and shape of the new MINI Clubman might inspire, the British are working on a John Cooper Works model as we speak. The spyshots posted below should be enough proof that things are getting serious.
Despite being the heaviest and the longest car the MINI brand ever made, the Clubman won’t be left out. The JCW badges will be applied to this model too and things will get back to normal once they do, there’s no need to be alarmed, the marketing machine is well oiled and in working order.
The clear giveaways of the fact that this is, in fact, a John Cooper Works car include the upgraded brakes as well as the modified front bumper. Unlike all other JCW alternatives in the range, the Clubman will have a different design up front, one that is a bit more elegant and stylish rather than aggressive and vulgar.
Under the hood the same 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine will be used, with its 231 HP and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque. Sources inside the Oxford plant also claim that the new JCW creation will be all-wheel drive only, the ALL4 system also receiving a makeover that will transform it. Basically, the car will be AWD all the time while in sport mode instead of disengaging as you go faster.
That should make for a rather interesting ride and a short acceleration time. Our estimate (considering the car’s weight, power and transmission) is that the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint will take around six seconds, or maybe even faster to be honest.
A quick example would be the Audi TT that has a 2-liter 230 HP engine under the hood, all-wheel-drive and a weight of just over 1.4 tons. The Clubman JCW will have similar specs and all-wheel drive just like the four-ringed car and it should be just as fast in a straight line. That means it could be able to accelerate to the benchmark speed in 5.3 seconds as well, but we’re not all that optimistic. Therefore, our prognosis of a little under 6 seconds stands.
Everything else should remain largely the same. The cabin will get some carefully placed JCW logos, as well as a new instrument cluster with checkered flag motifs all over the place, while the steering wheel will be one of the best in the field, as always.
As far as price tags go, though, things won’t be as “lovely” as the Brits would put it. Since the Clubman Cooper S starts at $24,100, the JCW version will be around $30,000 at the very least. Expect the new version of the Clubman to be unveiled next year, in the second quarter.
The clear giveaways of the fact that this is, in fact, a John Cooper Works car include the upgraded brakes as well as the modified front bumper. Unlike all other JCW alternatives in the range, the Clubman will have a different design up front, one that is a bit more elegant and stylish rather than aggressive and vulgar.
Under the hood the same 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine will be used, with its 231 HP and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque. Sources inside the Oxford plant also claim that the new JCW creation will be all-wheel drive only, the ALL4 system also receiving a makeover that will transform it. Basically, the car will be AWD all the time while in sport mode instead of disengaging as you go faster.
That should make for a rather interesting ride and a short acceleration time. Our estimate (considering the car’s weight, power and transmission) is that the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint will take around six seconds, or maybe even faster to be honest.
A quick example would be the Audi TT that has a 2-liter 230 HP engine under the hood, all-wheel-drive and a weight of just over 1.4 tons. The Clubman JCW will have similar specs and all-wheel drive just like the four-ringed car and it should be just as fast in a straight line. That means it could be able to accelerate to the benchmark speed in 5.3 seconds as well, but we’re not all that optimistic. Therefore, our prognosis of a little under 6 seconds stands.
Everything else should remain largely the same. The cabin will get some carefully placed JCW logos, as well as a new instrument cluster with checkered flag motifs all over the place, while the steering wheel will be one of the best in the field, as always.
As far as price tags go, though, things won’t be as “lovely” as the Brits would put it. Since the Clubman Cooper S starts at $24,100, the JCW version will be around $30,000 at the very least. Expect the new version of the Clubman to be unveiled next year, in the second quarter.
Google News