MINI John Cooper Works (2008 - )  

Very quick and outrageous fun, yet still emits a reasonable 165g/km and has potential for 40mpg, available as hatch, convertible and Clubman.

Doesn't like uneven surfaces, money spent on expensive options not likely to be seen again.

Introduction

Latest Update 12-5-2012: MINI John Cooper Works GP announced to go on sale in late 2012, restricted in numbers to 2,000. Lapped Nürburgring's Nordschleife in 8 min. 23 sec, beating the previous R53 MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit, by almost 19 seconds.

Introduction (from R56 JCW road test):

On the launch in Spain back in 2006 I found the original pre-production R56 Cooper S a big antiseptic. We were promised go-kart handling and we got something with as much feel as a TV remote control.

So we said so, and MINI Project Leader Horst Radibojevic seemed to take it to heart.

He made sure the production cars were a lot more fun to drive. But now it's almost as if Herr Radibojevic has been losing sleep over our slurs. Because the 211PS John Cooper Works is a little monster.

 

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Last updated 12 May 2012
More at the MINI website  

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