RE: Mini updates John Cooper Works for 2021

RE: Mini updates John Cooper Works for 2021

Wednesday 14th April 2021

Mini updates John Cooper Works for 2021

New equipment and a fresh look for Mini's 231hp range-topper



Given how often hot hatches are a subject of discussion, it's notable that the Mini JCW is seldom talked about. Or so it seems, at least. Here's a car with more power and torque than a Ford Fiesta ST or a Hyundai i20 N, meaning it has genuine 155mph potential. It's lighter than the Fiesta, too, at just 1,205kg, which is even more of a surprise given its larger engine. And there's a standard manual gearbox. Keen to ensure the JCW remains at the front of buyers' minds, Mini has just updated the flagship hatchback.

Much is cosmetic, as per the recent Convertible revision. Note the Rebel Green paint seen here, offered alongside Chili Red, Island Blue and Rooftop Grey as new choice. There are now also LED lights and a hexagonal radiator grille, plus JCW-specific intakes for brake cooling. The rear is also redesigned, featuring a new diffuser and prominent 85mm exhausts. The wheels seen here are optional 18s in a new 'John Cooper Works Circuit Spoke' design. 17s are standard, and all JCWs get brakes developed with Brembo - not just a poseur's hot hatch, you see.

There's additional intrigue for the enthusiast in this new car, too, with a rework of the Adaptive Suspension on the extras list. Mini says it operates with more than 10 per cent greater damping force, keeping the wheels in contact with the road "during sporty driving" and with a better balance now between sportiness and ride comfort. Given some questioned the benefit of the optional dampers over the standard set up before - especially given the other decisions to be made on wheels and tyres - it'll be interesting to see how they perform this time around.


The rest of the mechanical package is unchanged, with 231hp and 236lb ft from the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo, plus a choice of six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmissions. Mini says the auto needs just 6.1 seconds to hit 62mph, making it almost as quick as the 300hp hot hatches in the segment above. Those chunky exhausts promise an "emotionally powerful" sound.

Finally, the latest refresh has seen the interior tweaked as well. There's a new 8.8-inch touchscreen as standard, and more options like a heated wheel, lane departure warning and 'colour worlds' for the dash displays. JCW or not, this is still a Mini, and customisation remains a big part of its appeal.

With the car only just revealed, there's isn't any information on UK spec or pricing just yet. Given the Mini's continued popularity, however, the new JCW is unlikely to be far away. Still, if you want one now, the classifieds is teeming with them: this manual JCW has a useful saving off list despite just 875 miles. It's just a few hundred quid more than the i20 N is likely to cost, in fact...










Author
Discussion

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

30,170 posts

179 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
I've recently sold my F56 Cooper S and it was fantastic fun for the 3.5 years I had it. I'd imagine this to be even better for sure. I'm a really big fan of how well these Mini's handle a nice back road. I'd have another one for definite.

MightyBadger

1,829 posts

49 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
Front and back just look fussier.

Mark-C

5,007 posts

204 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
When did an almost vertical slab of plastic with some chunky strakes in it become a "rear diffuser"?

I try not to get all grumpy about modern car design but that is a "trim panel" if ever there was one ...

blue al

922 posts

158 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
An example of trying far too hard to make the same car look better/different.

And failing miserably, it reminds me of the 1980’s when the last editions of most British cars had additional tat added to the run out models, to make them more “attractive”.

I run a fine example of a 2014 F56 SD, and can see nothing here that encourages me to upgrade, assuming that existing owners must be part of the target market, then getting into a new well optioned jcw will cost just too much without bring anything extra to the table.

Would rather see a “Gp-3 light” with say 275hp and a stick. The jcw power has climbed only a few percent since 2003, this car will soon be outgunned by even slightly warm hatches.

Holgate86

464 posts

39 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
Just sold my 2 year old F56 LCI Cooper S to make way for an incoming Toyota GR Yaris, the Cooper S just rolled too much and wasn't particularly pleasant to drive quickly on a twisty road.

On the other hand I had a test drive the F56 JCW and whilst it felt quicker, the car was plagued by torque steer, even in a straight line in the damp.

I don't really think the external upgrades do much for the car either.

Court_S

12,764 posts

176 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
It’s just not a great looking car.

I was never a fan of the stying of the S to start with and I didn’t think this has made it much better, especially the front.

jwhittaker

25 posts

123 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
I don’t think they have done too bad a job with this design wise but I don’t see any reason to upgrade.

We have an F56 Cooper S Works 210 edition which in my humble opinion drove and sounded way better than the JCW we test drove back to back with. It’s just what you want a mini to be.

Let’s hope Oliver and the design team keep that connection to the Mini design language in future years. I think Fiat have done a really good design job with the new 500

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

30,170 posts

179 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
Holgate86 said:
Just sold my 2 year old F56 LCI Cooper S to make way for an incoming Toyota GR Yaris, the Cooper S just rolled too much and wasn't particularly pleasant to drive quickly on a twisty road.

On the other hand I had a test drive the F56 JCW and whilst it felt quicker, the car was plagued by torque steer, even in a straight line in the damp.
I didn't notice any roll in my 2017 F56 Cooper S but then I've not had any other small hatches to compare it to though.

I cured the torque steer on mine(17" wheels/none run flat) by ditching the crappy Michelin Primacy 3's that were on it for a set of Michelin PS4. They made a really big difference under heavy braking as well and they gave me much more confidence.

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

30,170 posts

179 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
Court_S said:
It’s just not a great looking car.

I was never a fan of the stying of the S to start with and I didn’t think this has made it much better, especially the front.
I also agree with this as well. I thoroughly enjoyed mine to drive but the looks never did anything for me though(even after I dechromed everything on it and it was in black too!).

I always got the impression that you just can't polish a turd with it sadly.

blue al

922 posts

158 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
Needs the mechanical diff that you got for free on the r53, or aftermarket quaife
And yes always better tyres...

tramart50

34 posts

40 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
Mark-C said:
When did an almost vertical slab of plastic with some chunky strakes in it become a "rear diffuser"?

I try not to get all grumpy about modern car design but that is a "trim panel" if ever there was one ...
I have a Clio 200 and the diffuser starts 2 feet forward of the rear of the car, maybe even before the rear axle line. It must be more effective than Minis 'image' of a diffuser!

Also those two ducts on the front look like something off a truck to help you get up to clean the windscreen. No attempt to make it look clean and aerodynamic.

blue al

922 posts

158 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
blue al said:
Needs the mechanical diff that you got for free on the r53, or aftermarket quaife
The dynamic dampers aren’t too shabby in the corners
And yes always better tyres...

Limpet

6,292 posts

160 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
Ours has just turned a year old and we like it. Apart from a cracked windscreen and having a tyre shredded by a pothole (neither were the car's fault), it's needed nothing but fuel and screenwash, has cost buttons to run, and goes very well indeed. It feels wieldy and nimble, with bags of grip and plenty of straight line performance. Very well suited to the Dorset lanes that we drive on daily.

The only thing I would do differently if I knew then what I know now is spec a manual transmission. The 8 speed Aisin auto isn't a patch on the ZF8 fitted to RWD BMWs, and does some very odd things sometimes. I also think a manual would suit the car better, but was overruled by the wife who, in fairness, uses it as her daily, and pays the finance smile



Edited by Limpet on Wednesday 14th April 15:52

Court_S

12,764 posts

176 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
Court_S said:
It’s just not a great looking car.

I was never a fan of the stying of the S to start with and I didn’t think this has made it much better, especially the front.
I also agree with this as well. I thoroughly enjoyed mine to drive but the looks never did anything for me though(even after I dechromed everything on it and it was in black too!).

I always got the impression that you just can't polish a turd with it sadly.
I think every new version has got that bit uglier. For me, they really nailed it with the first generation. I think they’ve aged really well; an R53 MCS to my eyes is a great looking little car still. Mine was a hoot to drive.

Of the four MINI’s I’ve owned, it was the F56 that I bonded with the least. It barely registered when it went.

novus

222 posts

159 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
blue al said:
Needs the mechanical diff that you got for free on the r53, or aftermarket quaife
And yes always better tyres...
Yes it does I had a new one of these a back in 2016 and had Lohen fit a diff ( first one they did the the f56 I believe back then) and it was considerably better . The coil overs Intercooler exhaust and 300 odd Bhp tune helped too though 🤣

Loplop

1,937 posts

184 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
SWMBO had a full kitted 17 plate JCW before some scrotes nicked it off the drive.

She loved it, loads of toys, was a nice place to be inside, but she doesn't drive fast.

Everytime I took it for a 'proper' drive, it fell to bits. Handling was 'okay' at best, the gearbox didn't like to be rushed (Manual), the brakes SHOULD have been brilliant, they're the same discs and calipers as on all of the ///M 40i cars but I had no confidence in it and the engine was the most boring 230bhp I've ever had a hold of. Ridiculous bottom end but it just felt flat and diesel like throughout the rev range. And the seats were naff, uncomfortable and not particularly supportive.

The optional Bluetooth exhaust was a laugh like.

The 308 GTi 270 that replaced it was a better car in every way (apart from running costs) and it was much better on fuel. I'm not convinced that new tyres and a diff would take it from a straight 6/10 car to the 8 or 9/10 that the 308 was and the 308 was cheaper...

Tim bo

1,956 posts

139 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
article said:
The rest of the mechanical package is unchanged, with 231hp and 236lb ft from the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
They really need to bring the hatch up to the same powertrain as the JCW Clubman and Countryman - ie 306bhp.

They have the GP3 with that powertrain, but it's fking gopping so no one will buy it.

Having the hatch, MINI and JCW's figurehead, with a significantly lower-powered engine than the rest of the JCW range is nonsensically idiotic.

aelord

337 posts

224 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
Hideous.

sticks090460

1,074 posts

157 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
It’s all a bit much, really.

MG7

101 posts

192 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all
Amazing how many inaccuracies are possible in such a short story. Rebel Green has been available on the F56 JCW since launch. Island Blue and Rooftop Grey are the new colours. The intelligent adaptive suspension is standard on JCW Hatch (as well as Cooper Sport and Cooper S Sport models) and customer deliveries have already commenced, so there is plenty of information on UK spec and pricing (given people are actually driving around in the cars).