Mini’s recent JCW range proves lightweight thrills aren’t dead within the EV age

Mini has launched its most comprehensive JCW range so far, featuring every little thing from smoking-hot petrol-powered hatchbacks to stylish convertibles and, for the primary time ever, all-electric variants.

And yes, they’ve never looked higher, while still offering the BMW-owned small automobile brand’s trademark go-kart handling.

For so long as I can remember, the Mini Cooper S was the one to have – the spirited, tightly wound hot hatch that would out-hustle a Porsche 911 on a decent ribbon of tarmac from Monte Carlo to Mayfair.

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However the game modified in 2002 when BMW, which purchased the enduring British brand in 1994, introduced the primary JCW tuning kit for the R50-series Mini Cooper.

Born from motorsport pedigree and crafted by John Cooper’s son, Mike Cooper, the JCW sub-brand evolved quickly from official aftermarket upgrade to full factory performance hero.

In 2006 – the identical 12 months Alborz Fallah and I founded CarAdvice – I got behind the wheel of the primary factory-built JCW: the Mini Cooper S JCW GP (R53).

It was stripped out, supercharged, and stuck to the road like epoxy. Limited to only 2000 units globally, it had no rear seats and no apologies. It was brutal and good.

We missed a drive within the turbocharged GP2 but were there on the Nurburgring – alongside Charlie Cooper, the grandson of John Cooper and son of Mike – for the reveal of the GP3 in 2019.

Charlie, now shaping the longer term of JCW with an eye fixed toward electrification, stays a correct enthusiast, as evidenced by a message he sent me not way back.

“The brand new range of JCWs truly embodies what John Cooper Works is all about: razor-sharp handling, a correct go-kart feel that leaves a smile in your face.

“The three-door hatch, with its racing pedigree, has proven itself at the toughest race on the planet, securing a category victory ultimately 12 months’s Nürburgring 24 Hours with Bulldog Racing. It’s not only for the road – it’s born for the track.”

Mini Australia hasn’t confirmed whether a GP4 is within the works, however the highlight is now squarely on the all-new JCW lineup, which is head-turning, sharp-edged, and now officially electrified.

Enter the all-electric Mini JCW (JCW E) – a automobile I drove on a decent gymkhana course on the RACQ Mobility Centre in Queensland recently. It might be electric, however it has all of the hallmarks of Mini’s go-kart DNA, together with arguably essentially the most desirable design in the present JCW stable.

Finished in Midnight Black II, with body-coloured roof and subtle red accents (no stripes), it looks fast just standing still. From the pronounced diffuser and motorsport-style spoiler to the vertical air curtains and chequered-flag tailgate, it’s unashamedly racy.

Inside, a 9.4-inch circular OLED display anchors the dash, doubling as each infotainment hub and digital instrument cluster. The steering wheel, trimmed in vegan leather with retro vibes and modern functions, feels unbelievable within the hands.

Bronze metallic accents, race-style red straps, and subtle Easter eggs bring texture, tactility and curiosity to a cabin that genuinely punches above its weight by way of premium feel.

The JCW-specific seats in black vegan leather trim with contrast stitching are equal parts comfortable and supportive, even when pushing the bounds.

Under the skin, a 190kW front-mounted motor and 54.2kWh lithium-ion battery send 350Nm to the front wheels. The Mini JCW is claimed to hit 100km/h in 5.9 seconds on its option to a top speed of 200km/h, while offering a WLTP range of as much as 371km. DC fast-charging at 95kW gives you 80 per cent of battery capability in half-hour.

In Go-Kart mode, throttle response sharpens, the steering tightens, and the display glows red. A lift paddle on the wheel delivers an additional 20kW while you need it and synthesised cabin sounds (borrowed from BMW’s i4 M50 playbook) add one other layer of theatre.

Despite being nearly 400kg heavier than the petrol JCW hatch, the electrical version feels tight, responsive, and impressively agile. Revised suspension and steering calibration tame the heft. It is a real driver’s automobile.

I also sampled the JCW Countryman on the identical course. Built on BMW’s FAAR platform that’s shared with the X1, it feels every bit the muscular crossover.

With 233kW and 400Nm from its 2.0-litre turbo-four, it’s essentially the most powerful Mini ever. And the quickest – with a 0-100km/h claim of 5.4 seconds.

It hauls. It corners. And it stops on a dime because of JCW Performance brakes and adaptive dampers.

And it does all of it while offering space for five and as much as 1660 litres of boot capability. If there’s a more complete compact performance crossover on the market that appears this good and goes with equal flair, I haven’t met it.

Sure, the three-door JCW hatch stays the purist’s pick – light, compact, and surgically precise. But as a day by day weapon with all-weather confidence and punch, the Countryman has found its way onto my personal wish list.

In a world of increasingly soulless EVs and anonymous electric SUVs, the 2025 Mini JCW lineup is a masterclass in tips on how to stay fun, fast, and relevant.

The badge is likely to be small, however the experience lives large.