Judging by the sheer quantity of grilles, intakes and vents (some proper, some fake) covering the new Mini John Cooper Works, you'd hope it has some serious firepower to back up its mouthy bodykit. Well fear not, hot hatch-lover - this is the most powerful Mini of all time. Ever.
The JCW laughs in the face of the 189bhp Cooper S, boasting a full 228bhp from its tweaked 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. To save you the Top Trumps bother, that's a fraction more than the VW Golf GTI Performance Pack from a whole class above. The mighty Mini also matches the Audi S1 for poke - but does without all-wheel drive to smear its grunt onto the road.
Crikey. JCWs have always been unruly little tykes, and on paper we're in for more of the same here.
Equipped with the six-speed automatic gearbox, Mini claims the new JCW will hit 62mph from standstill in 6.1 seconds (the manual is two-tenths slower) and manage a respectable 49.5mpg and 133g/km of CO2. The manual lags behind eco-wise, with an official 42.2mpg and 155g/km, but both versions will hit 152mph flat out. In a Mini!
The new JCW serves up a wholesome 236lb ft from a lazy 1250rpm (the old Works offered just 208lb ft at a loftier 1850rpm). Small wonder the new car has slashed its 50-75mph haul by ten per cent, to 5.1 seconds. Still wondering why naturally aspirated hot hatches are a thing of the past? The JCW is treading the edge of the supermini oomph envelope.
New suspension settings, retuned power steering and Brembo brakes have been drafted to rein in the JCW's power, while the wheels are a new, lighter design inspired by the old Mini GP's rims. Mini has snubbed a proper mechanical front differential, instead putting its faith in an electronic slip-limiting tribute act.
Inside, Mini's followed The Big Book of Hot Hatch Upgrades to the letter. You get a perforated leather steering wheel, bucket seats, stainless-steel pedals and more red upholstery than you can shake a tail-happy hatchback at. It's nowhere near as restrained as a VW Polo GTI or RenaultSport Clio 200, but fits the Mini's hyperactive character to a tee.
What we're yet to discover is just how much the JCW will set you back. Its Cooper S sister asks £18,650, so we're expecting a figure north of £21k for its protein shake-swilling stablemate. More info will appear during the car's limelight moment at the 2015 Detroit motor show.
Reckon it'll be worth the extra wedge over the stellar Ford Fiesta ST? We await your comments below.
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