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RPM TV Website | March 29, 2024

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Long Term Update: Mini Coupé JCW

Mini Coupé JCW Mini Coupé JCW Mini Coupé JCW Mini Coupé JCW
Adam Schoeman

I have been quite vocal on my thoughts regarding Mini’s constant barrage of ‘new’ models. New is not how I would describe them either, as it is more of a minor update in the direction of a different vehicle class – far from a full blown new vehicle.

Apart from the Cooper, which is still a Mini, the other variants feel like Mini’s attempt to capitalise on a market change. People are buying more SUVs? Well then we’d better make the Cooper a little bigger, add four-wheel drive and call it a SUV.

What’s that, smaller sleek SUVs are becoming more popular? Guess its time to chop off the rear doors of the Countryman and call it the Paceman.

And then there is the Mini Coupé. It too is from the new generation of Mini models, except that where the Countryman at least added four-wheel drive and some size in its pursuit of distinction, the Coupé simply lost a pair of seats and some height.

Mini Coupé JCW

 

Mini Coupé JCW

On paper the Coupé is no smaller than the Cooper in any dimension other than height, and actually adds an extra 29mm to the front overhang. It also weighs 15kg more than its Cooper equivalent, which is interesting since the defining feature of the Coupé is that it is a two-seater Mini.

That means that you have more luggage space compared to the Cooper, but unlike the Coupé the Cooper can simple fold down its rear seats, giving it double the carrying capacity of the Coupé.

So at this junction I am tempted to say that if you want a Mini that is less practical and heavier than the Cooper, then you should get the Coupé. But that is not the whole story, because the Coupé is also marginally faster than the Cooper in terms of maximum speed and acceleration.

And that is interesting because how does something that is heavier and longer outpace something that is smaller and lighter?

The answer is that the paper statistics betray the Coupé’s abilities. That extra weight, and the mass saved by binning the rear-seats have been massaged back into the chassis, strengthening it and improving the stiffness of the platform. The lower profile also means that the Coupé has less air resistance and a greater proportion of the cars weight is lower down, improving the centre of gravity.

All of this is apparent when you step into the cabin, turn on the engine and take it for a drive. There is no doubt that it is a Cooper, but it is different: more eager, and little more manic.

Mini Coupé JCW

Mini Coupé JCW

The turbocharged 1,6-litre engine producers 155 kW and 260Nm of torque and has enough power to never leave you wanting more. In gear acceleration is unmatched, and throttle response is crisp and not bogged down too much by the forced induction systems. The usable rev band is set quite low, and after 5000rpm you’d be better off shifting to the next cog instead of chasing the cars redline.

The Sport button adds an extra 20Nm of torque and a lot of weight to the steering rack. On the limit the steering has loads of feedback and feeling, but the extra weight can become tiresome for everyday driving. The extra torque extends the Coupé’s usable rev range closer to the top, and adds a fair amount of aggression to the entire acceleration process.

But it is the cornering that really sets the Coupé apart from the Cooper and when that weigh shuffle starts playing a role. The chassis is superb and has almost completely eliminated body roll from the cornering process. The front end will tuck nicely into a corner, but it is better to hold off on the accelerator till you are well into unwinding the steering wheel, unless you like the traction control lights eerie yellow glow.

On the subject of driver aids, they are my only real problem with the Coupé. The traction control is very aggressive, but with our road surface and the amount of torque on the front wheels this can be forgiven. A quick start off the line requires turning off TC and quelling the loss of grip with the accelerator, instead of relying on the computers.

But even in Sport mode and with TC disabled the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) will jump in and sap power from the wheels far before things become serious. Any hope of achieving lift-off oversteer will require holding in the traction control button for a few seconds and disabling all the driver aids.

The Mini JCW Coupé then is a Cooper with some of the changes that could never be made with the constraints of the Cooper body. And while it is not as practical as the Cooper, it also doesn’t feel like a Cooper. The two-seater layout makes the car feel like a focused sports car, and the loss of baggage and seats is a small price to pay for that honour.

In many regards, this is the chassis that the John Cooper Works engine has been crying for from the start, and together they make the ultimate go-fast go-kart.

Mini Coupé JCW

Mini Coupé JCW

Mini Coupé JCW

Standard List Price: R372,847.50

  • Spice Orange metallic: R1,850
  • Wired Package: R15,500
  • Visibility package: R3,250
  • Automatic anti-dazzle interior mirror: R1,550
  • Interior surface Fluid Silver: R1,100
  • Recaro sports seats: R15,400
  • Hi-fi Loudspeaker System Harman/Kardon: R6,000
  • Lighthouse Package: R4,000

Options (Total): R48,650.00

On Road Price: R421,497.50

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