Friday 19th May 2023

Mini JCW 1to6 Edition salutes manual gearbox

Just 150 examples of likely run-out John Cooper Works cars will come to the UK - with a big price tag attached

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Somewhat ominously, Mini has been making quite a fuss of the manual gearbox recently. Not only did it increase the number of three-pedal models available in the US just last month, just last week it told us that it would compete (via Bulldog Racing) in the 51st running of the N24 using a Mini JCW with a six-speed manual. And it doubled down on the retro theme by enlisting Charlie Cooper - grandson of the legendary John Cooper - to drive the thing (among others, of course). 

This sudden affection for changing gear the old-fashioned way is somewhat satisfying when you consider that not so very long ago, Mini had unceremoniously thrown the manual gearbox under the bus, citing supply chain issues for its expulsion from the lineup. Well, apparently those days are over (or at least postponed until the next generation of combustion Mini arrives next year) because now the manufacturer has chosen to celebrate the pleasure of pushing down a clutch pedal with this, the Mini John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition.

A silly name, you say? Well, perhaps - but needless to say it's associated with that N24-bound Bulldog Racing machine, which will take to the grid with start number #126. Or at least we assume it is because the production car gets its world premiere at the Nurburgring this weekend. And it's definitely the sort of motorsport-aligned marketing wheeze that Mini would come up with. 

So what do you get? Well, here things get a tiny bit murkier because, despite being limited to 999 units globally, the JCW 1to6 Edition is not exactly fizzing with novelty. Being offered exclusively with a six-speed manual is potentially worthy enough on its own - but only if it is exclusive in the sense of not being able to get one with a standard JCW. And despite publicly turning off the production taps a year ago, the Mini configurator suggests it might have been turned back on in the meantime - meaning you can just pay £32,755 and simply not tick the box marked 'Sport Automatic Transmission with Gearshift Paddles', and hey presto. 

If that's not the case (newsflash: configurator wrong!) then the presence of three pedals really is the main attraction here because upfront you get the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo pumping out 231hp, which means the same 6.3 second 0-62mph time. Equipment? Well, yes it has some of that: the 1to6 Edition comes with the Premium Plus Pack, normally available as a £3,350 option on the JCW. That means you get extras such as wireless charging, a head-up display and a panoramic glass sunroof. Which all sounds marvellous until you alight upon the fact that the special edition car costs £39,600 on the road, while the combination of standard JCW (£32,755) and option pack (£3,350) comes to a much more sensible £36,105.

Assuming the manual 'box has fallen by the wayside elsewhere - and that wouldn't be a surprise, frankly - the £3,495 premium is doubtless based on the relative appeal of capturing one of the last few (actually very decent) JCWs before Mini ushers the F55 from the stage. So if this really is the last manual JCW, it does cast the huge asking price in a slightly different light. Assuming you prefer the idea of exclusivity - just 150 examples are destined for the UK - over the prospect of simply buying a used manual JCW, of which there are many. Oh and you'll need to be happy with black. With black and more black. The only non-black bits are the dark greyish (very nearly black) bonnet and roof stripe, the red calipers and red stitching inside. Classic Mini. 

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• Mini JCW and GP2 (R56) used buying guide
• Mini Copper S (F56) used buying guide

[SR]

The price doesn't seem so outrageous when you see the new Polo GTI at £35,000 elsewhere on PH.

Edited by SR on Wednesday 17th May 23:40

[Phooey]

I like JCW's but makes you realise what great value that Yaris GR was

[Mikebentley]

Where are these made? 150 coming to the UK from where? Thought they were built in UK still.

[anonymous-user]

SR said:

The price doesn't seem so outrageous when you see the new Polo GTI at £35,000 elsewhere on PH.

Edited by SR on Wednesday 17th May 23:40

You do know that €35000 equals £30000 don’t you?

[Andy83n]

Mikebentley said:

Where are these made? 150 coming to the UK from where? Thought they were built in UK still.

Coming to the UK Market, I assume

[Tom4398cc]

Manual gearbox - yay! Compulsory panoramic roof - wtf? It’s no GP1 or GP2

[Phooey]

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/united-kingdom/arti...

"Priced at £39,600 OTR with 999 units available globally but limited to just 150 in the UK, the MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition is available to order from retailers now and will world premiere at the Nürburgring 24-hour race on May 20, 2023."

[cerb4.5lee]

This makes me miss my old manual F56 Cooper S, and I had a great 3.5 years in it. I enjoyed every drive I had in it for sure.

[jay-kay-em]

Mikebentley said:

Where are these made? 150 coming to the UK from where? Thought they were built in UK still.

Some are built at the old DAF factory (NEDCAR) in Born, Netherlands.

[rodericb]

that's cool - they've put a theft deterrent sticker on the back of it:




which is a slightly subtler version of:

[spikyone]

Article said:

A silly name, you say? Well, perhaps - but needless to say it's associated with that N24-bound Bulldog Racing machine, which will take to the grid with start number #126. Or at least we assume it is because the production car gets its world premiere at the Nurburgring this weekend. And it's definitely the sort of motorsport-aligned marketing wheeze that Mini would come up with.

I think you've got this arse about face. It's (probably) called the 1to6 because it has a 6 speed manual gearbox, and you -the driver - get to pick any of those numbers that you want, or upshift all the way from 1 to 6. I would bet that the N24 number was selected based on the car, not the other way round, because 126 is not exactly iconic - it's hardly Gilles Villeneuve's 27, or Mansell's Red 5, is it?

[Bobby Lee]

rodericb said:

that's cool - they've put a theft deterrent sticker on the back of it:




which is a slightly subtler version of:

You know nearly all millennials turned 18 in the 2000s right? And plenty are now over 40? It’d be a rare exception who didn’t learn in a manual.

[M3_Simon_Fr]

That gear lever seem reaaaally long, or is it me?

[Snubs]

I've had a couple of Cooper S Minis from BMW as courtesy cars of late and what's stood out to me is the petrol engine. At lows revs you don't hear it at all and at high revs it sounds like it's in a room and long way off and what little you do hear sounds thrashy; it's not nice at all. I hope they sort that out with these top of the line models. I didn't think much of the that little digital dashboard either. I've no problem with digital dashboards, but that one just didn't work for me.

[Wab1974uk]

3 peddles seams to be a novelty these days.

[manracer]

Bobby Lee said:

rodericb said:

that's cool - they've put a theft deterrent sticker on the back of it:




which is a slightly subtler version of:

You know nearly all millennials turned 18 in the 2000s right? And plenty are now over 40? It’d be a rare exception who didn’t learn in a manual.

Yup, that would be me - turned 41 just last month. My first 13 years of driving were exclusively in manuals (2001-2014).

Mind you 2014-2023 have been exclusively auto (DSG or ZF 8 speed).

[murphyaj]

Bobby Lee said:

rodericb said:

that's cool - they've put a theft deterrent sticker on the back of it:




which is a slightly subtler version of:

You know nearly all millennials turned 18 in the 2000s right? And plenty are now over 40? It’d be a rare exception who didn’t learn in a manual.

Might make sense if it said gen-z
A lot of millennials have long since taught their children to drive.

[wpa1975]

I think for the money, a GR Yaris would make more sense.

[Turbobanana]

spikyone said:

Article said:

A silly name, you say? Well, perhaps - but needless to say it's associated with that N24-bound Bulldog Racing machine, which will take to the grid with start number #126. Or at least we assume it is because the production car gets its world premiere at the Nurburgring this weekend. And it's definitely the sort of motorsport-aligned marketing wheeze that Mini would come up with.

I think you've got this arse about face. It's (probably) called the 1to6 because it has a 6 speed manual gearbox, and you -the driver - get to pick any of those numbers that you want, or upshift all the way from 1 to 6. I would bet that the N24 number was selected based on the car, not the other way round, because 126 is not exactly iconic - it's hardly Gilles Villeneuve's 27, or Mansell's Red 5, is it?

It's all been done before:

[fantheman80]

M3_Simon_Fr said:

That gear lever seem reaaaally long, or is it me?

yes! Reminded me of an old Leyland mini bus my school had, my old teacher changing gears like a pole vaulter

Seriously, have we got to sticking 'this cars a manual' decals on motors now and charging a premium for it.....