MINI JCW GP

Fierce, but check your cover for chiro

- TOM FRASER

Rating 4.0

ENGINE 1998cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbo

POWER 225kW @ 5000-6250rpm

TORQUE 450Nm @ 1750-4500rpm 0-100km/h 5.2 sec

WEIGHT 1255kg

PRICE $63,990

LIKE: Grip; explosive performance; race car feel

DISLIKE: Laughable ride quality; underdone seats; auto only; conspicuous aero kit; price

HOT HATCHES are so-loved for their Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde duality, but the Mini Cooper JCW GP spits in the face of such nonsense. Practicality, comfort and convenience – what are those? They’re just distractions on the path to going really fast, in Mini’s view anyway.

Just as well, then, that the new Mini GP is the most powerful – and fastest – Mini ever made.

It’s also the third time Mini has created a hardcore, track-ready hero based upon the Mini John Cooper Works, not daring to deviate from the formula set by its 2006 GP1 and 2013 GP2 forebears.

That GP recipe is simple on the face of it; add more power, less weight and up the aero, in much the same way that the Porsche 911 GT3 goes above and beyond the regular 911.

But there’s a lot of nuance underneath the wild bodywork and eye-catching paint scheme.