Monday 10th September 2012

MINI's £28k Golf GTI challenger

Another new MINI, another niche created

---

It seems to be a day for odd new MINI models as they have also revealed final UK information for the five-door four-wheel drive hot hatch it hopes will take on the Golf GTI. And, proving it’s nothing if not ambitious, it’s the now-on-sale list price of the John Cooper Works Countryman that raises eyebrows first of all: £28,595.

That’s £2360 more than a five-door Golf GTI. Bold, huh? Well, hang on, reckons MINI. This, see, is not only a 218hp hatch (with the 1.6-litre turbo four-pot beating the Golf GTI by 8hp), but it’s also a four-wheel drive one – and, in coming with ALL4 as standard, it becomes the brand’s first four-wheel drive JCW variant.

Want four-wheel drive in a hot Golf? Then you need to spend more than £32k on a 270hp Golf R. Which means you could argue the MINI slots directly into the gap between them.

The John Cooper Works Countryman is fast enough to match the GTI on performance, with 0-62mph taking 7.0 seconds and torque level-pegging the Golf on 207lb ft. The unashamedly retro-influenced shape (and, presumably, four-wheel drive drag) does see it top out 9mph down on the Golf though, at 140mph.

Suspension is 10mm lower than a Cooper S, with stiffer springs and dampers, while the anti-roll bars are also bigger. MINI’s painted the brake calipers red and also fitted “extra-lightweight” (forged?) 18-inch wheels as standard, with 19”s optional. Oh, and there’s an aero kit compromising new front and rear aprons plus bigger side skits, although as figures aren’t quoted, we can’t imagine it’s as effective as last week’s MINI John Cooper Works GP.

It certainly ‘aint as subtle as a Golf GTI, though. There are John Cooper Works badges on the grille and bootlid, red flashes for the indicator surrounds, optional sports stripes, even a unique red contrast paint finish for the roof. Seven colours are offered, with a choice of three clashing bonnet stripes if you wish.

Inside, you’re also in no doubt it’s a hot hatch MINI, with sports seats and steering wheel, Golf GTI-inspired black rooflining, tinted speedo and rev counter dials plus piano black strips for the dash.

Sports seats are optional: they come with Lounge Leather finished in, yes, ‘Carbon Black Championship Red’ with matching Chili Red interior trim strips. It does offer a choice of four- or five-seat rear bench though, and here’s the rub: in offering yet another JCW variant, MINI’s expanding the reach of the brand yet further, in an arguably more convincing way than the MINIs Coupe and Roadster. After all, where does the Cooper S and JCW hatch fan go when they have a family and need five doors plus some semblance of boot space? Why, probably a Golf GTI. Until now..?

[SSCooperS]

Simple - driving one of these you will look like a tt. In a golf, you won't.

[minimoog]

Makes the creations of Kourosh Mansory look sophisticated and understated. Vile.

[k-ink]

Christ that is ugly.

[Jw Vw]

Looks rather hideous IMO.

[Killboy]

Next will be the Mini Range Rover competitor. They have become rather large.

[andyps]

Why?

[X5TUU]

Bejesus they made the normal countryman look worse!! I figured that was impossible !!

[Prawnboy]

OW! My eyes.

[mat205125]

SSCooperS said:

Simple - driving one of these you will look like a tt. In a golf, you won't.

Is it deliberately styled like one of those old 1980's PVC Puma footballer's kit bags? I can see the same target demograph rocking up with the car and bag to their premium gyms to drink frapaccinos in their sportswear.

[Hugo a Gogo]

4 or 5 seat rear bench? wow, they are big

[Chicane-UK]

What a horror show. I couldn't fathom spending nearly 30k on that monster! :|

[JdmRacer]

What an ugly car I was already stuck at home for being sick but that just makes feel ten times worse they should have done the 4wheel drive system to the new cooper jcw and make a proper gti rival

[Earl'Dingleberry]

If anyone would need it:

[Hitch78]

I love it. Looks like a great fun all-rounder.

[Craiglamuffin]

Just 2 more new models and we could have an entire pub quiz photo round.

[blearyeyedboy]

As I think Jimmy Carr first said: "You can't polish a turd, but you can roll it in glitter."

[stolenink]

Please please please, no more bl00dy Mini's!!! Fatally bored now....

[anonymous-user]

Guy round the corner from me has a new countryman that is covered in some kind of fake race livery. I presume it must be an optional extra from Mini. I feel embarassed for him when I see it driving about

[Kong]

I don't have a problem with the regular Countryman - yes It's ugly but at least it's not boring like many cars in the sector and it has a great choice of engines and is a nice place to sit.

BUT...

£28,000 for a fast version? Unless you desperately needed the extra boot space you would need to have pencils sticking out of your ears to buy this rather than saving up £2000 and buying a M135i.

[SSCooperS]

Is it a white one with red graphics by any chance? According to the owner on a Mini forum, it looks really cool...