MINI's Latest JCW Hot Hatch Will Race in the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring Next Week

The automaker, which is part of the BMW Group, has announced that two cars will take on the endurance race on June 1-2. The #317 will be put through its paces by Bulldog Racing in the SP 3T category, and #474, which features a manual transmission, will attack the VT-2 category.

To build up the hype, MINI has released images of the so-called John Cooper Works PRO, a production-ready prototype that Bulldog Racing will unleash at the event. The vehicle features a special camouflage that mixes red and white and is a tribute to the brand's racers from the '60s, with the '37' stickers being a nod to the Cooper S' victorious run at the 1964 Rallye Monte Carlo.

Mind you, as much as some enthusiasts would like to see some of the special features equipping this car making their way to the production version, they won't. As a result, you shouldn't wait for stuff such as the quick-release hood pins or the centrally-mounted exhaust pipe. The white alloys that measure 17 inches in diameter and have a white look, wrapped in Pirelli P Zero slicks, won't transition to the production model either.

Compared to its predecessor, the 2025 MINI JCW, which is a mid-cycle refresh of the outgoing subcompact hot hatch, features new headlamps and a significantly larger grille with a fresh pattern. The model has redesigned side vents in the front bumper and an entirely new lower section. It also sports glossy black cladding around the wheel arches, on the side skirts, and on other elements, and comes with new taillamps, a different tailgate spoiler, and a sizeable diffuser.

Powering it will be a Twin-Power Turbo lump that's likely a re-tuned version of the unit powering the existing model. MINI hasn't released the magic numbers yet, though it may be a bit punchier. The outgoing hot hatch enjoys 228 horsepower (231 ps/170 kW) and puts 236 pound-foot (320 Nm) of torque under the driver's right foot. As a result, the new one could be some 10-20 horsepower more vigorous, and will feature both manual and automatic transmissions.

Now, despite celebrating its dynamic debut during the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring next week, the upcoming MINI JCW will premiere this fall. The first copies will likely arrive at dealers in the United States of America for the 2025MY, and we wouldn't be surprised to learn that it is a bit pricier. The current one kicks off at $35,400. Deliveries will probably commence before the year's end in Europe and in early 2025 in our market.