Mini became MINI after the BMW Group took control of the British automaker in 2000. The introduction of the R50-generation MINI Hatch in 2001 saw the company reinvent itself while staying true to its past, whereas the second paradigm shift followed suit in 2010 with the Countryman.
MINI also played a pivotal role in the development of the BMW i3, and come fall 2024, the brand will enter a new era with the introduction of the new John Cooper Works. Already previewed at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the go-faster model has been confirmed to come in gas and electric flavors.
MINI is no stranger to electric vehicles, but a zero-emission JCW is a completely new thing for the beloved marque. Our spy photographers have recently captured the John Cooper Works Convertible doing its thing at the Nurburgring, but as opposed to the class-winning hardtop, this fellow isn't racing against other cars. The BMW Group is fine-tuning the chassis for series production, but it's not clear if the soft-topped model will premiere alongside the hardtop sibling this coming fall.
Pictured on grippy tires and bi-tone wheels featuring a machine finish, the production-intent prototype further boasts a black top, black door handles, a round exhaust pipe à la the hardtop from the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the very same bumper, and the very same front grille. It's hardly surprising that the headlights are similar as well, and the same can be said about the side mirrors.
There are multiple reports claiming that MINI will offer a manual transmission, but said reports are in the wrong. The press release for the new John Cooper Works reads the following: "The second entry will be the beloved black MINI John Cooper Works #474 manual transmission, which showcased its prowess by securing a podium finish at last year's 24 Hours of Nurburgring." The vehicle in question is a JCW 1to6 Edition for the 2024 model year, a.k.a. a special edition of the previous-gen JCW.
Photo: SH Proshots
Back in September 2023, chief executive officer Stefanie Wurst made it clear that the manual transmission is on its way out, a decision that likely came from the BMW headquarters in Munich. That said, what's hiding under the skin of the MINI John Cooper Works?
Because it's joined at the hip to the previous generation, 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo is the first of two possible answers. The zero-emission John Cooper Works, on the other hand, is expected to feature a front-mounted electric motor and the platform developed by Spotlight Automotive for the battery-electric Cooper.
Spotlight Automotive is a joint venture between the BMW Group and Great Wall Motor. The agreement to form Spotlight Automotive was reached in November 2019, and for the time being, the all-electric MINI Cooper is produced in China exclusively. Due to new EU tariffs on Chinese automobiles, production will be expanded to the Oxford plant in the United Kingdom in 2026.
BMW decided on British production back in September 2023, when it confirmed investments of more than £600 million into the Oxford vehicle assembly plant and the Swindon body-pressing plant. By 2030, the Oxford complex will churn out electric vehicles only. That means prospective customers have no more than five years to get their hands on a new JCW with internal combustion.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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