From 2030, the MINI brand aims to sell exclusively battery-electric vehicles. Until then, potential customers will be offered the choice between three- or four-cylinder turbos and, of course, electric drive.
For the next-generation John Cooper Works, the BMW-owned brand has confirmed both internal combustion and electric drive. According to MINI, both will be revealed in the fall of 2024. Nurburg-based Bulldog Racing is helping MINI develop the John Cooper Works, which will likely hit dealer showrooms as a 2025 model.
Based on the three-door Cooper hatchback, the John Cooper Works will surprise no one with its BMW-sourced combustion engine. In the case of the Countryman JCW, BMW uses the B48 in two specifications.
In the U.S., the numbers are 312 metric horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. As for the European-spec model, the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four is rated at 300 metric horsepower and the same peak torque, albeit expressed as 300 lb-ft.
A dual-clutch transmission with seven forward gears will have to do, and we're almost certain that will be the case for the John Cooper Works hatchback and convertible. Stefanie Wurst, before stepping down as CEO after just two years in the role, made it clear that next-generation cars and crossovers will not have a manual transmission.
Photo: MINI
Since driver connection has always been a calling card for the British automaker, ditching the manual seems a little odd. On the other hand, remember that BMW's M division also intends to do away with the three-pedal shifter in favor of ZF's eight-speed automatic.
As for the zero-emission John Cooper Works, don't expect a dual-motor setup. A single motor will do, with said electric motor powering the front wheels instead of the rear. The camouflaged prototypes in the featured gallery show minimal styling differences at the front between the Electric vehicle AND ICE models, even though they are very different under the skin. The question is: how different?
As it happens, the battery-electric Cooper is built in China on a different architecture than the internal combustion Cooper. The BMW Group has formed a joint venture with Great Wall Motor in preparation for the battery-electric Cooper, with Spotlight Automotive building the zero-emission sedan in Zhangjiagang for the world.
With the Cooper SE capable of producing up to 218 hp (215 PS) and 330 Newton metres (243 pound-feet) of torque, the John Cooper Works E is likely to get very close to the 300 km/h mark. With a bit of luck, it could even reach 300 km/h.
Capable of charging at 95 kilowatts of direct current, the Cooper SE offers up to 249 miles (400 kilometers) in WLTP Procedure combined test cycle with a usable capacity of 49.2 kilowatts hours. If the John Cooper Works E were to use the same high-voltage battery, expect a slightly worse WLTP driving range.