Mini John Cooper Works 2021 UK test Car News

In recent years, there has been a nagging feeling that the adage “less is more” could have been invented for the Mini. With every extra dollop of power, every new exterior addition, and most importantly, every additional pound on price, the allure of this sleek and compact four-wheeled fashion accessory takes a bit of a dive.

The same goes for the latest John Cooper Works, which sits at the top of the go-fast pecking order (if you ignore the stripped-down and limited JCW GP, which in itself was a prime example of this theory, proving to be fine. less than the sum of its parts)? Like the rest of the Mini Hatching lineup, the JCW (as we’ll call it from now on) has received a facelift that coincides with the brand’s 20-year celebration of its launch of the first BMW-infused reinvention of The Creator. trends by Alec Issigonis in 1959.

As updates go on, this is a subtle question. In fact, that’s a tough spot on the JCW as its fenders and body kit are very similar to its predecessor. Still, the reshaped bumpers seen on other models are present and correct, as is the huge rear diffuser and LED headlights which are now framed in glossy black.

Inside, there’s the same refreshed infotainment system, which has crisp graphics and is a snap to use, even though the 8.8-inch screen looks a bit small. There’s also a rather nice new three-spoke steering wheel and a pair of high-back seats that offer great support, along with the usual handful of JCW logos.

Under an exterior that has always been so slightly different, the JCW remains largely unchanged, meaning it gets the same set of upgraded parts, meaning it’s more than the Cooper S with different badges and an ECU remapping. Brakes are larger Brembo elements (330mm discs and four pot calipers at the front), while reinforced springs and shock absorbers are used for the front suspension, as well as various components both here and in the The multi-link rear axles have been lightened and reinforced.

Our car, however, was not equipped with the new, simpler frequency-selective passive dampers which can quickly smooth the ride by opening an additional valve when the car rolls over a particularly aggressive bump, called intelligent adaptive damping, it replaces the old one. electronically selectable. bidirectional configuration and is a free option on the JCW. Mini claims the change was the result of research suggesting that drivers didn’t want to have to constantly switch modes in response to different surfaces, but it also smells of more than cost cutting.