At the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, Mini is showcasing the brand’s most powerful and fastest model ever, the John Cooper Works GP. As you might have guessed, it’s a limited edition model capped at 3,000 units.
The highlight is, of course, its design. The car is finished in an exclusive Racing Grey metallic, with Chili Red accents. Grabbing half of the attention is a large roof spoiler with double wing contours, while the 18-inch lightweight forged wheels command the other half of the attention. The wheels weigh less than 9 kg and are shod with high-performance 225/35 tyres.
The wheel arch panels are made of a combination of a thermoplastic substructure and an outer shell made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). The raw material for the outer shells is a recycled one that comes from the production of the BMW i3 and the i8.
Stopping power comes from a high-performance sports brake system with the front discs measuring 360 × 30 mm. The front calipers are made of aluminium and are finished in Chili Red with the John Cooper Works logo. Thanks to the specific suspension setup, the GP sits 10 mm lower compared to the regular Mini JCW.
The interior too gets a sports car flair with the standard equipment including John Cooper Works sports seats in Dinamica/leather combination with silver side edges, red contrast stitching, a GP badge underneath the integrated headrests and red belt straps. The model-specific JCW leather steering wheel features a metal 12 o’clock centre marking that is created using the additive manufacturing process. The shift paddles on the steering wheel are 3D-printed in metal.
Also, notice the passenger side trim on the dashboard featuring the numbering of the vehicle. This is produced via 3D printing.
A digital instrument cluster is included as standard. Optional features for the new John Cooper Works GP include automatic climate control, and the Connected Navigation Plus package, which also includes telephony with wireless charging, and an alarm system.
A 2.0-litre 4-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol engine powers the GP, producing 225 kW (306 hp, 75 hp more than the regular JCW) between 5,000 – 6,250 rpm and 450 Nm of torque between 1,750 – 4,500 rpm. An 8-speed Steptronic sports transmission sends power to the front wheels. There’s a mechanical differential lock to ensure the drive torque is distributed between the right and left front wheels for better traction during dynamic cornering.
A 0 – 100 km/h acceleration is claimed to happen in 5.2 seconds and the top speed is 265 km/h (not limited).
The stiffer engine mounts are specifically developed for the John Cooper Works GP. There are stiffer rubber bearings in the support bearings of the front and rear axles. The four wishbones on the rear axle are fitted on the outside with clearance-free metal ball sleeve joints instead of rubber mounts, while on the inside there are rigid rubber mounts. The strut in the engine compartment is bolted directly to the support bearings of the front axle.
Deliveries will commence in March 2020.
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