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First Spyshots of the 2017 MINI Countryman John Cooper Works on the Nürburgring

MINI is testing the John Cooper Works version of its second-generation Countryman SUV on the Nurburgring. Our friends at CarPix spotted the prototype while it was being driven hard on the “Green Hell,” considered the most demanding circuit in the world.
MINI Countryman JCW testing on Nurburgring 13 photos
Photo: CarPix
MINI Countryman JCW testing on NurburgringMINI Countryman JCW testing on NurburgringMINI Countryman JCW testing on NurburgringMINI Countryman JCW testing on NurburgringMINI Countryman JCW testing on NurburgringMINI Countryman JCW testing on NurburgringMINI Countryman JCW testing on NurburgringMINI Countryman JCW testing on NurburgringMINI Countryman JCW testing on NurburgringMINI Countryman JCW testing on NurburgringMINI Countryman JCW testing on NurburgringMINI Countryman JCW testing on Nurburgring
As usual, the black prototype was covered in a layer of deceiving camouflage, which is supposed to hide the shapes of the body.

Compared to the other prototypes of the 2017 Countryman, this model has a different front bumper, bigger alloy wheels, and red JCW brake calipers.

The exhaust pipes are larger, and our photographers said they have a sportier engine tone when compared to the regular Cooper S version. The front grille has a honeycomb design, while the additional air intakes integrated into the bumper are large and feature a different style of mesh. The interior graphics of the headlights are also visible.

The exterior package of the Countryman John Cooper Works is completed by a set of bigger side sills and a rear diffuser integrated into the bumper. A new design completes the allow rims, which may be the standard for this version of the performance SUV from MINI.

A brief look at the dash reveals a glass panel used by the head-up display system. Other elements of the interior are not visible in the gallery provided by our spy photographers.

However, we do notice that this vehicle has a transponder fixed to the front grille, so the engineers are also analyzing lap times on the Nurburgring. This fact reveals that MINI is serious about the John Cooper Works version of the Countryman, and these tests will continue as engineers struggle to improve the car.

Even though the vehicle is covered with camouflage, we can see that this prototype is in an advanced stage of development. Many concealed elements appear ready for production, and the car even has a set of roof racks, a part that isn't encountered that often on pre-production prototypes.

Most likely, the Nurburgring runs will be used for the final settings of the Countryman JCW. After all, engineers do not bring mules that are not advanced enough in development to test them on the most demanding track in the world.
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About the author: Sebastian Toma
Sebastian Toma profile photo

Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland.
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