MINI is on the verge of unveiling the all-new, limited-edition John Cooper Works GP hot hatch. The official reveal will take place at this month’s Los Angeles Auto Show. The new MINI John Cooper Works GP is going to be the fastest and most powerful MINI ever to be produced by the iconic, 60-year old British brand. It builds on the rich experience of the JCW division in mastering pinnacle motoring masterpieces and is directly inspired by the homonymous concept car showcased in September 2017 at the IAA Frankfurt.
The new high-performance MINI hatch will be powered by the BMW B48 4-cylinder, in-line turbocharged engine, which also equips the newly launched M Performance compact models such as the M135i xDrive, the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe and the X2 M35i.
Like its Bavarian siblings, the new MINI John Cooper Works GP boasts a massive output of 225 kW / 306 PS (302 hp). It also sports aerodynamically optimized body parts which improve the air flow and the overall performance. A good example is the hallmark, impressively-sized rear spoiler which improves the rear axle downforce and features the distinctive “GP” logo on its side parts.
Recently, the new MINI JCW GP was put to trial on the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany and it was able to cover the whole 20.8 kilometers of the sinuous track in amazing time of under 8 minutes.
After the new MINI John Cooper Works GP celebrates its world premiere at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show this November, it will be assembled in a limited run of 3,000 units at the MINI production facility in Oxford, United Kingdom.
In Germany, the high-performance MINI will be marketed at a starting price of 45,000 euros, including VAT and other taxes, which accounts for roughly $50,300. Market launch is scheduled for the first part of 2020.
