- Mini has revealed the John Cooper Works performance variant for the 2025 Countryman subcompact luxury SUV.
- The JCW is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder churning out 312 hp, a 71-pony upgrade over the regular Countryman.
- Pricing starts at $47,895, with the Countryman JCW hitting dealerships in May of next year.
The third-generation Mini Countryman debuted this fall in two flavors—a fully electric model offering all-wheel drive and up to 308 horsepower, and a gas-powered model pushing 241 ponies to all four wheels. While both of these variants already have more pep in their step than the outgoing Countryman, Mini is now turning up the wick for fans of spirited driving. The performance-focused John Cooper Works model returns for 2025, packing a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four and all-wheel drive.
Mini says it revised the 2.0-liter’s pistons, connecting rods, and engine mounts, and with 312 horsepower, the turbocharged motor produces 71 horsepower more than the standard Countryman and is 11 hp more potent than the outgoing Countryman JCW. Torque, however, remains the same as the standard Countryman at 295 pound-feet and is down significantly from the outgoing JCW’s 331 pound-feet.
With standard all-wheel drive, Mini claims, that’s enough oomph to propel this chic crossover to 62 mph in 5.4 seconds, over a second clear of what Mini says the non-JCW Countryman is capable of. Still, the last JCW we tested sprinted to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. Mini boasts that the Countryman JCW has a slippery drag coefficient of 0.26 and says it will top out at 155 mph.
The 19.0- or 20.0-inch wheels are shod in 245-section-width tires, an upgrade from the outgoing car’s 225-section rubber. From the press photos, the tires appear to be Continental EcoContact 6Q tires, versus the previous iteration’s Pirelli Cinturato P7s. The crossover is fitted with a “high-performance braking system,” with Chili Red–painted brake calipers adding a bit of visual pop. Mini mentions a “characteristic sound” from the exhaust, with a “exclusive JCW sound extension” inside that “intensifies the soundscape with racing-inspired engine sounds.” Go-Kart mode puts the Countryman into its sportiest setting, which includes an artificially boosted engine note.
Visually, the John Cooper Works models is differentiated by red accents, a grille pattern that mimics a checkered flag, a restyled front bumper, and a new JCW logo that appears on the grille, hatchback, and C-pillar. The LEDs in the headlights are also tweaked, while the cabin is decked out in sporty red trim with an intricate design consisting of vertical lines on the dashboard, upholstered in a fabric made from recycled polyester.
The JCW is fitted with 12 ultrasonic sensors and four cameras which, when the car includes the optional Driving Assistant Professional package, allows the driver to remove their hands from the steering wheel at speeds up to 37 mph on “highway-like routes.” The assisted-driving feature will also detect gaps in traffic to execute lane changes. Mini emphasizes that the driver must remain attentive and ready to take over at a moment’s notice,
The Countryman John Cooper Works will start at $47,895 when it launches in the U.S. next year. Production begins in March 2024, with deliveries expected to begin in early May.
Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
