Mini Cooper John Cooper Works

The purest expression of the original sporting Mini formula in contemporary guise. Does the F66 JCW live up to its predecessors?

- 

In just 20 years, the John Cooper Works badge has become a byword for fast, focused, and largely uncompromising performance offerings from the Mini brand. Named for the tuner and racecar builder John Cooper, who first fettled Alec Issigonis' original Mini to produce the famed Cooper and Cooper S models, the JCW outfit started working on modifications on the relaunched brand's R50, R52 and R53 models in 2002 before it was absorbed by BMW in 2005.

Since then, there have been JCW versions of every single Mini model, though the Cooper's more balanced formula remains our favourite. And the Cooper iterations that have been given the JCW treatment have each brought with them a new blend of driving thrills, slotting in just underneath the ultimate JCW GP halo version with 225 kW on tap.

Launched just last year, the F66- generation Cooper is the second Mini to feature an electric model in its lineup with the SE bolstering the internal combustion engine variants in the Cooper C that we're currently running as a long-termer, the Cooper S, and the JCW here.

Although it takes a trained eye to spot the differences between the S and C, the JCW is a significantly more extroverted model. It sets itself apart by way of a model-specific grille and apron up front, diamond-cut 18-inch alloys (an R11 000 option over The standard 17-inch rims) along its profile, and a roof spoiler and single exhaust tailpipe unique to this model. The JCW looks especially resplendent in British Racing Green IV (R8 800) topped off with the red-capped mirrors and red roof finish.