Earlier this year we hyped the news of the 300-horsepower John Cooper Works GP, the most powerful production Mini to date, and now it’s our duty – and pleasure, really – to report that both the JCW Clubman and Countryman models will get a similar boost in power and performance during their upcoming refreshes. Mini announced mid-May the hot hatches will come fitted with 2.0-litre inline-fours taken from the Countryman and Clubman S models and modified to produce 301 horsepower (up from 189) and 331 lb.-ft of torque. To achieve this, JCW tweaked the crankshaft and compression ratio, and upgraded bearings, pistons, turbocharger and connecting rods. That’s allegedly enough to get the JCW Clubman from zero to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, and the Countryman over the line in 5.1 seconds. JCW may have been benevolent with the power, but it did withhold a little when it came to the transmission. Both models will get an eight-speed auto (with paddle shifters, mind you) as standard for now, but optimists will have to reserve hope for later convertible or hardtop versions to include manual transmissions. All-wheel-drive with locking front differential is also standard, keeping the Mini in front-wheel-drive configuration until a loss of traction is detected.   To increase rigidity and remove weight, the vehicles’ chassis and axles were adjusted, with adaptive dampers made optional on both models. And to distinguish them as members of the JCW crew, the pair get a red bar across the front grille, badges up front and on the rear, red brake calipers and the option for a red roof and matching mirror caps. Nineteen-inch wheels are also available as an optional upgrade from the 18-inch wheels that come standard. The new JCW Clubman and Countryman will go on sale this summer. Prices have yet to be announced.
Origin: Mini gives the refreshed JCW Clubman and Countryman 300 horsepower