MINI brought out its John Cooper Works Hatch for the first time in Detroit, in the presence of an original model. We were not extremely impressed by how it was presented or what the performance chart showed. As a matter of fact, the JCW will have its work cut out as there is some serious competition to face in this segment.
However, looks can be deceiving and, even though, the 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine under its bonnet might seem in over its head, we might have a surprise. That’s because the chassis could turn out to be better than expected, keeping the famous ‘go-kart’ feel intact.
It’s also what the first commercial for it seems to suggest. Published today on the MINI UK Youtube channel, it portrays a JCW on the track with what looks like a professional behind the wheel.
At first, we’ll admit that we thought it was the Stig but our hopes were quickly dismissed once we got to see his helmet. The Stig would never keep his visor open, in case you didn’t get the hint.
Either way, the focus seems to have been on how the car drives and not on how fast it is in a straight line. That’s because here, the Audi S1 tramples over the MINI with a 5.8 second time to 100 km/h (62 mph).
Sure, the extra 50 Nm (32 lb-ft) and all-wheel drive setup help out here, and we have to keep that in mind. Nevertheless, the battle will be fierce in this segment, with other brands throwing their name in, with or without premium claims.
Since the JCW isn’t available for test drives and comparisons for now, we’ll just have to wait and see how this thing pans out. In the meantime, let’s enjoy this commercial.
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