Photo: Guido Ten Brink/SB-Medien
MINI did not bring any new models at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, but it did come with a pair of concepts that couldn't be more different if they tried. Well, maybe they could if the JCW GP Concept had a 20-year-old diesel engine, but other than that...
On the one hand, you have the light-silver with lime green accents MINI Electric Concept, a vehicle that stands for the brand's future with its zero emissions electric powertrain; on the other, there's this dark gray with red accents MINI JCW GP Concept, a performance version of the tiny hatchback with roots into the brand's past. Ying and Yang. Jekyll and Hyde.
The JCW GP Concept is a tribute to the legendary Monte Carlo Rally triumphs of the British brand 50 years ago, and it is supposed to embody the "undiluted dynamic flair and the ultimate in driving fun." Well, just by looking at it - which is probably all we'll ever get to do - we can say it definitely is all that.
All MINIs, regardless of the power developed by their engine are known for their sublime handling, so why should one with crazy aero elements and a stripped down interior be any different? The super aggressive spoilers and wings have an almost comedic effect when juxtaposed with the calm and friendly demeanor specific to any MINI.
However, that's just part of the all-out fun this car promises to offer, and if that makes you giggle, prepare to laugh-out-loud after the first corner taken in this car. The trademark stiff MINI suspensions and the steering wheel feedback are two things you don't find on any other car in this segment, and something tells us they are only going to be amplified in the JCW GP Concept.
Sadly, MINI did not say anything about the Concept's powertrain, which suggests it's the same one as in the regular John Cooper Works version. That means 231 HP and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque, which is great for the occasional hooning, but it won't break any lap records on the circuit.
The stripped down interior is bound to shave a few pounds off the vehicle's weight, as does the use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the bodywork bits. But while the heavy stuff on the inside is gone, the JCW GP Concept still has plenty of tech on board, including a touchscreen in the central instrument and a head-up display to keep the driver focused on the road. Or track.
As different as they are, we love both MINI concepts equally and would be very happy to see them on the road one day. But while an electric MINI is a certainty - even though it might look different - nobody really knows whether the John Cooper Works GP Concept will ever enter production one way or another. Giving it another look, we think it would sell like crazy if it did.
The JCW GP Concept is a tribute to the legendary Monte Carlo Rally triumphs of the British brand 50 years ago, and it is supposed to embody the "undiluted dynamic flair and the ultimate in driving fun." Well, just by looking at it - which is probably all we'll ever get to do - we can say it definitely is all that.
All MINIs, regardless of the power developed by their engine are known for their sublime handling, so why should one with crazy aero elements and a stripped down interior be any different? The super aggressive spoilers and wings have an almost comedic effect when juxtaposed with the calm and friendly demeanor specific to any MINI.
However, that's just part of the all-out fun this car promises to offer, and if that makes you giggle, prepare to laugh-out-loud after the first corner taken in this car. The trademark stiff MINI suspensions and the steering wheel feedback are two things you don't find on any other car in this segment, and something tells us they are only going to be amplified in the JCW GP Concept.
Sadly, MINI did not say anything about the Concept's powertrain, which suggests it's the same one as in the regular John Cooper Works version. That means 231 HP and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque, which is great for the occasional hooning, but it won't break any lap records on the circuit.
The stripped down interior is bound to shave a few pounds off the vehicle's weight, as does the use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the bodywork bits. But while the heavy stuff on the inside is gone, the JCW GP Concept still has plenty of tech on board, including a touchscreen in the central instrument and a head-up display to keep the driver focused on the road. Or track.
As different as they are, we love both MINI concepts equally and would be very happy to see them on the road one day. But while an electric MINI is a certainty - even though it might look different - nobody really knows whether the John Cooper Works GP Concept will ever enter production one way or another. Giving it another look, we think it would sell like crazy if it did.
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