Say hello to the new MINI John Cooper Works GP, the fastest model of the British brand that has ever been approved for road use.
Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine making 306 hp and 450 Nm of torque, the MINI JCW GP accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds, and is able to clock a top speed of 265 km/h.
Paired to the engine is an 8-speed Steptronic sports transmission with integrated mechanical differential lock for the front wheels, and further complementing the whole package are goodies like a newly developed turbocharger, model-specific oil supply and cooling system, custom exhaust system, a distinctive chassis design and set-up, suspension lowered by 10 mm compared to the MINI JCW Cooper, and high-performance brakes.
Presented to the public for the first time last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, only 3,000 units of the JCW GP will be made at the MINI plant in Oxford. Delivery around the globe will get underway in March 2020.
On the exterior, the MINI John Cooper Works GP has model-specific design features such as the large roof spoiler with double wing contours, a front apron surround known as the Blackband, a front spoiler lip, large air intakes, a roof spoiler which extends far beyond the side line, as well as large flared wheel arch trims made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP).
The new MINI John Cooper Works GP is also the BMW Group's first production vehicle to feature an exposed matt CFRP coating.
The individual numbering with the numbers “0001” to “3000” is applied to the surfaces of the front wheel arch panels by means of a newly developed paint transfer process.
In terms of colour, only the exclusive finish Racing Grey metallic is available for the exterior paintwork. Meanwhile, the roof and exterior mirror caps are finished in the contrasting colour of Melting Silver metallic.
Another key exterior feature are the black inlays on the headlamps and the maximally darkened Union Jack rear light units, which emphasise the sporty flair of the JCW GP.
Inside, standard equipment includes JCW sports seats in Dinamica/leather combination with silver side edges, red accentuation seams, a GP badge underneath the integrated headrests and red belt straps.
The interior trim on the passenger side bears the numbering of the respective vehicle. This is produced individually for each one of the 3,000 extreme athletes by means of 3D printing.
The model-specific JCW leather steering wheel also acquires its exclusive character from accentuations produced using the 3D printing process.
In addition to red accentuation seams, the steering wheel rim made of soft Nappa leather also features a metal centre marking for the 12 o'clock position created using the additive manufacturing process.
The shift paddles on the steering wheel are likewise 3D-printed in metal. In addition to the GP logo, a characteristic honeycomb structure can be seen on the paddle surfaces.
Colour accentuations in the otherwise dark cockpit are provided by the red GP logos on the floor mats, matching double stripes on the gear selector and the Chili Red painted aluminium cross-brace behind the seats.
This also serves as a shield to prevent luggage items from slipping forward in the event of sudden braking.
The Connected Media system comes as standard, displaying model-specific information on the 6.5-inch screen in the central instrument panel.
The standard trim also includes a digital instrument cluster on the steering column. The high-resolution 5-inch colour screen shows the road speed both numerically and on a scale. The model-specific display includes temporary feedback and permanent display after activation of GP mode.
Keyword: The 2020 John Cooper Works GP Is Possibly The Most Brutal MINI Ever Made