Latest news with #JohnCooperWorks
Business Times
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Times
Mini John Cooper Works Convertible review: Flawed, but fun
[SINGAPORE] Driving the Mini John Cooper Works Convertible reminded me that having an open-top car is a bit like being a dedicated marathon runner. Some prune-faced people will think you're a sucker for punishment, but most will admire you and quietly wish they could be more like you. But at the very least, owning the latest Mini Convertible is bound to mark you out as someone other people love to hang out with. It's essentially a heavy facelift of the model that came out in 2012, with freshened up looks and a redesigned dashboard that has a big OLED screen in the middle, all of which are intended to keep it feeling contemporary without losing the car's adorably sunny expression or cheeky proportions. It's still such an icon that Anna Wintour herself would approve, especially since the seemingly endless colour choices mean you could easily pair your Mini with your favourite pair of pumps. While the Mini practically supplies its own sunshine, convertibles do ask more of you when you use them as intended (which is something you can actually measure in this car, thanks to a quirky timer that keeps count of how much you drive it with the roof down). For obvious reasons, you're in for a sweaty time in one. You also give Aura, Greek goddess of the breeze, carte blanche to wreak havoc on your hairstyle. And sooner or later, a passing bird will score a bullseye on your scalp (ask me how I know). But really, what kind of grinch focuses on those instead of the many upsides? Between the wind in your hair, the sun on your face and all the smells and sounds swirling around you, driving a car with the roof down gives you the sense that the world isn't just something you're passing through, but something you're part of. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up The latest Mini Convertible is essentially a heavy facelift of the model that came out in 2012, with freshened up looks and a redesigned dashboard that has a big OLED screen in the middle. PHOTO: BIG FISH PUBLISHING Everything feels faster in an open-top car, too, simply because you're more exposed. Not that this particular Mini needs help feeling quick. The John Cooper Works, with 231 horsepower, bounds to 100 kmh in 6.4 seconds. The way the tailpipes pop and crackle, the car sounds like it's enjoying itself alongside you when you're giving it the beans. The handling is just as eager, but it isn't sharp or precise. Chopping the roof off a car always introduces compromises, and you can feel the chassis flex enough to subtract a degree of steering accuracy. That makes the less-powerful Cooper S version the better buy, if you ask me. It's only marginally slower, so you might as well save yourself S$20,000. Driving experience aside, there are packaging issues, too. The boot starts out small and gets tiny when the roof is stowed, shrinking from 215 litres to 160. The back seats are upright enough to be considered cruel and unusual punishment. And with the fabric top raised, rearward visibility is dire, so the 360-degree parking camera is less gimmick than necessity. Still, convertibles are inherently flawed creatures, so it's partly about whether Mini makes those flaws easy to live with, and partly about knowing what you're letting yourself in for – expecting an open-top car to be practical and sharp is like buying a fridge to heat up your food. Whatever the case, a convertible Mini is not something you buy because you need one, but because you want to live a little. Maybe you're young, carefree and can afford to drop S$312,888 on a tiny car, and you want the world to know it. Or maybe the kids have finally left the house for good, and you want them to know you didn't retire just to become the grandkids' chauffeur, so you're eyeing a fun toy to ride off into the sunset in. The setting sun looks way better when you have the roof down, after all. Mini John Cooper Works Convertible Engine 1,998 cc, in-line four turbocharged Power 231 hp from 5,000 to 6,000 rpm Torque 380 Nm from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm Gearbox 7-speed automatic 0-100 kmh 6.4 seconds Top speed 245 kmh Fuel efficiency 7.2 L/100 km Agent Eurokars Habitat Price S$312,888 with Certificate of Entitlement Available Now
The Drive
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
2025 Mini Cooper JCW Pros and Cons Review: Fun To Drive, Annoying To Live With
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The 2025 Mini Cooper JCW is one of the more interesting new cars you can buy in the $40,000 range right now. Despite ditching the optional manual transmission for 2025, I have to admit I enjoyed driving this new model even more than the previous one. However, as is often the problem with Minis, I really hated some of its quirks and poor tech experience. The car still runs a 2.0-liter, turbo-four, but the new model makes considerably more torque, and the six-speed manual and eight-speed auto transmissions have been replaced by a new seven-speed dual-clutch unit. Andrew P. Collins JCW, or John Cooper Works, is the high-performance model in the Mini lineup. John Cooper did not invent the Mini, but he prepped them for racing and made them cool back in the '60s. John Cooper Works, founded by his son, Michael Cooper, was established as an in-house tuner around the turn of the millennium when Mini was relaunched as a BMW brand. JCW itself was officially acquired by BMW later in 2006. Since then, there's been a JCW trim of every new Mini generation. Comments around this Mini are largely dismissive—mostly along the lines of, 'too expensive,' 'too slow,' 'no manual no care.' The car may not be exceptionally exciting on paper, but it's a hell of a lot of fun in real life. It has the lightweight, tossable, boosted feeling of a dialed-in tuner car, which is exactly what a JCW should be. I love rowing my own gears, but the dual-clutch is very satisfying to snap through with the paddle shifters. And it's very deft in fully automatic mode. 'Street-legal go-kart' is Mini's schtick, and I think the people who made this car did a surprisingly good job of baking a feeling of rowdiness into it without making it feel cheap—with the exception of the sound effects, which I'll come back to later. Andrew P. Collins The supportive sport seats keep your butt and torso firmly held in place while cornering hard, allowing you to focus on what your hands are doing with the steering wheel. I experienced a little torque-steer under aggressive acceleration in some instances, but didn't find it particularly bothersome or prevalent. Understeer, another annoying trait you often find in sporty front-drive cars, is more of a pain point when it happens, though you have to be pushing the car pretty hard to induce it. More importantly, you can have loads of fun without stepping too far into police-attention territory. Likewise, the brakes are great, solid stopping power but not overly eager to spill your coffee. Even with its cloth materials and lack of a normal gauge cluster, the Mini feels more upscale than the FWD-hot hatch icon Honda Civic Type R, and much more upscale than a Toyota GR Corolla. So if you're cross-shopping other sport compacts, the premium you pay for this comes with tangible benefits some people will appreciate. The car gained a little weight this year, yes, but it is still about 3,000 pounds before anybody climbs in. The torque increase for 2025 from 236 lb-ft to 280 lb-ft is definitely palpable. The car digs out of a slow roll much harder than the previous model. Bramble the dog was color-matched to this Mini. Andrew P. Collins The 2025 model also feels a little firmer than the 2024 I spent a week roaming around Wales in last year. But unlike an actual go-kart, the ride quality's damn good. You'll still want to avoid potholes, but I found the new Mini JCW quite comfortable for longer drives on okay roads of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The design is pretty much perfect—Mini hasn't really messed with the look of its core two-door Cooper models since the brand was re-launched over 20 years ago, and as far as I'm concerned, that's a good thing. A Mini coupe, like a Porsche 911 or Jeep Wrangler, has an iconic look that just feels right as-is. As for cargo and rear passenger space, well, it's limited but not terrible. I'm a scrawny six feet tall and could sit in the back no problem. I was able to take a weekend trip with my wife and dog and fit our two overnight bags behind the back seats. Much like the Mini's basic shape hasn't changed, neither has the luggage capacity. The exterior gets some cosmetic tweaks for 2025, but the cabin is where you'll really notice aesthetic changes. The circular infotainment screen, a Mini hallmark for some time, is now bigger than ever and loaded with more whimsy than Paddington Bear eating a marmalade sandwich in a hot air balloon. Besides ditching the manual transmission, however, Mini killed another feature I really liked: the steering column-mounted gauge cluster. Now you can only get vehicle information from the heads-up display (which is still projected on a small sub-screen, not the windshield), or the moon-sized circular infotainment screen, which is awful. When you first start the car, you're treated to an unbelievably long animation ceremony featuring a little cartoon bulldog who appears like Clippy in an old Microsoft Word document. Mercifully, you can deactivate this, but it sets the tone for what your experience with Mini's software is going to be like; lots of head-scratching at lights and colors that serve absolutely no purpose. The worst part is that the system's so busy dancing and singing that it kind of sucks at basic functionality. The interface has so much cheesy nonsense like transition animations, theme songs, and more. Aesthetically, it's quite customizable, except, for some reason, Mini puts arbitrary guardrails that really annoyed me. When you cycle through a bunch of different visual skins, which Mini calls 'Experiences,' you can set which one you want to be your default. I liked the Go-Kart experience most, but it wouldn't let me set it as a default—I had to pick something else. Even deeper in the customization menu, I found a display I liked even more—a simple speedometer. Not only can that not be a default, but if you want to use it every time you drive, you have to dig through multiple menus to find it. Why? Even some of the conceptually cooler features are hampered by manufactured digital drama. There's a Boost mode that Mini claims will crank up boost pressure to increase power by 10 percent for 10 seconds, which is a neat idea, but when you activate it, the screen shifts to an insanely distracting animated countdown from 10—every second, the background changes and moves. What the heck were they thinking? Finally, the Mini's most egregious try-hard feature: fake exhaust burbles played inside the cabin. Hearing it recorded through my phone and then played on your headphones won't capture the effect—you'll have to take my word for it that it's decidedly artificial sounding and quite cringey. Mini might call it some kind of enhancement, but it's a song played purely for entertainment. Outside, the car simply sounds like it's minding its own business. As much as I hated fiddling with Mini's misguided attempt to make a unique digital interface, I really enjoyed driving the car. I love that it's taut but comfortable, both in terms of the interior appointments and the way it rides. It feels quick and fun without being terrifying or taking you to Ticket Town every time you step on it. Visibility is good, driving posture and position are great, and if you travel with only one more person, there's plenty of room for cargo. Andrew P. Collins The Mini JCW isn't superior to its more high-end rivals, the $45,000 and up VW Golf R, Toyota GR Corolla, Honda Civic Type R, and Acura Integra Type S. However, I can understand why somebody would pick this over those. It looks great, feels good, and has a little more Euro aura than the other cars I just mentioned. Not everyone's going to have the patience to live with Mini's current interface, it'll be a deal-breaker for some people. But even without three pedals, the Mini Cooper JCW is one of my favorite cars this year so far. Maybe next time I'll just pull the fuse for that dumb fake exhaust sound. 2025 Mini Cooper JCW Specs Base Price (As Tested) $38,900 ($45,475) Powertrain 2.0 I4 Turbo | FWD | 7-Speed DCT Horsepower 228 Torque 280 lb-ft Seating Capacity 4 Cargo Volume 8.9 cubic feet Curb Weight 3,047 pounds 0-60 5.9 seconds Top Speed 155 mph EPA Fuel Economy 27 city | 37 highway | 30 combined Score 8/10 Great to drive, annoying to use. Still a uniquely charming option in this niche category of sports cars.
Forbes
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Living With The 2025 Mini Countryman John Cooper Works
Mini Countryman John Cooper Works Mini Countryman John Cooper Works: John Cooper Works (JCW) variants have been the apotheosis of performance Minis for eons now, and any Mini boasting a JCW badge should have you and your passengers laughing like deranged hyenas as you carve through a picturesque backroad in what's essentially a road-legal go-kart. And once all is said and done, you should arrive home with a half-shattered spine, one ruptured eardrum, and a sore face from grinning too much. Therefore, I've never quite understood the lofty Countryman JCW, and I hoped living with one for a week would have me saying, 'Oh, there it is. There's the reason you'd buy one." But it just didn't. Let's be clear, this is one bodacious vehicle, especially from the rear, and it draws attention, but a JCW is more plaything than family hauler. Life With The 2025 Mini Countryman John Cooper Works My press cars are dropped on a Wednesday and collected the next Wednesday, giving me one week with each car. This is usually more than enough time for me to conjure a conclusion, but the Mini Countryman JCW left me swaying right up until the last minute it was due to be collected. Like the previous Countryman JCW, the new model lives up to Mini's zesty brand character, and it's a bit like that one uncle who attends parties in vibrant clothing and laughs at his jokes. It can get annoying, but it's wholesome, and the same applies here. The Mini Countryman JCW's interior quirks never failed to cheer me up on the gloomiest of days. There's just so much color, and the little virtual dog, named Spike, who tells awful jokes like 'What noise does a witch's Mini make? Broom broom' injects further personality. My wife loved it. 2025 Mini Countryman JCW interior However, throughout the week, my dog, wife, and I were bounced around the Mini's cabin while driving my regular test route of towns, motorways and backroads. Its stiff suspension is a bugbear. Of course, it's a JCW and firm suspension is expected, but you feel almost every stone and rut under its 20-inch alloy wheels when driving through town—I often wondered 'Why not have trick dampers that soften via one of the Mini's many drive modes'. Even in the Green setting, where everything calms, the car's suspension attempted to break my behind at points. Something that quickly became tedious for everyone on board. Likewise, the throttle felt lethargic when pulling out of junctions in anything but Go Kart mode, which forced me to sink the throttle a bit more, causing the car to jolt forward. 2025 Mini Countryman JCW Smooth tarmac is where I expected the Countryman JCW to buck up, and it did to some degree, but it felt out of sorts. Sure, engaging Go Kart mode and nailing the throttle is a hoot; you're met with all sorts of synthesised exhaust and engine sounds, and the car feels like it's ready to jet off because of the enhanced throttle response, but this is ruined by tramlining as it claws its way down the road. Then there's the sharp but hyperactive steering, which makes the car difficult to place, forcing mid-corner corrections. And finally, there's its weight—all 1,735kg of it. Any JCW product should dance effortlessly around corners, but this felt like more of a wrestle. That's not to say you can't have fun with it. The more you drive it enthusiastically, the more its niggles become tolerable. Author's dog in car But there were positives, too. Being a lofty crossover SUV, we never once struggled for legroom or headroom, and the dual-height 460-liter trunk never had me wanting more. Similarly, the Countryman JCW returned a 36mpg average at week's end. And here's my verdict. The Mini Countryman JCW, priced from £42,520 ($46,900), is too firm to be enjoyable, and isn't as fast as its predecessor. That said, it has excellent mid-range pull (30-70mph in 4.7 seconds), is packed with quirk and is good fun on the right road. But we'd save cash and buy the entry-level Mini Countryman instead. You might not get the same performance, but it's sweeter to drive than the JCW, and your family and behind will thank you for it.
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Is MINI John Cooper Works the Most Fun Electric Car?
Mini has electrified its most iconic performance car — the John Cooper Works. But is the fun still there? Steve Fowler takes it for a spin to find out. In this episode of Drive Smart, Steve Fowler tests the all-new Mini John Cooper Works EV — a modern electric twist on a British motoring classic. He takes the JCW out explore its design, performance, and personality. His review? "Woohooooo!" Is this the most fun you can have in an EV? Watch more from Drive Smart on Independent TV.
Miami Herald
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
2026 Mini Countryman Holds Price Despite Tariffs And Rivals' Hikes
Mini's largest SUV is keeping its cool - at least when it comes to pricing. Despite intensifying tariff pressure on European imports, the 2026 Mini Countryman will carry over its pricing from 2025, according to newly released order guide Countryman S ALL4 starts at $38,900, while the performance-oriented John Cooper Works version holds steady at $46,900. Those figures don't include destination, but they do send a clear message: Mini isn't passing on tariff pain. At least, not yet. No Hike, No Problem - For Now Mini assembles the Countryman in Leipzig, Germany, making it one of the European-built models potentially affected by the Trump administration's 25% tariff hike on imported EVs and components. Analysts have warned that foreign-built cars, particularly from the EU, may see thousands tacked onto their MSRPs - depending on how automakers choose to for instance, is raising prices by up to $2,500 across several 2026 models starting this month. That makes Mini's decision to hold the line on the Countryman's pricing even more notable - and more competitive. How Mini Pulled It Off The answer likely lies in strategic price protections. According to early dealer reports, Mini USA secured a window of builds unaffected by the new tariffs - meaning customers who order their Countryman before summer's end may avoid price increases altogether. It's not clear how long this will last, though. Once the protected inventory runs dry, later-production models could be subject to the full cost in Mini's 2026 lineup, only one model now starts under $30,000, with most Coopers and convertibles climbing into the mid-$30Ks. The Countryman, already positioned as the brand's largest and most versatile model, appears to be staying put - for now. More Than Just A Sticker The 2026 Countryman isn't phoning it in, either. All trims come standard with a 9.4-inch circular OLED display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, wireless phone charging, and satellite radio. The S trim delivers 241 hp from a turbocharged four-cylinder, while the JCW jumps to 312 hp with all-wheel drive as recent review of the Countryman SE ALL4 praised Mini's ability to blend fun, function, and refinement in a segment that's becoming increasingly cookie-cutter. It's not just about quirky design anymore - these are capable, well-rounded small SUVs. The Tariff Storm Is Still Coming It's important to remember that Mini's price stability isn't permanent. With trade tensions still rising, particularly around European components and raw materials, future builds may not be immune. Trump's most recent tariff proposals threaten to raise prices even further - with potential hikes on foreign copper and aluminum that would affect everything from wiring harnesses to buyers looking at a Mini, the current pricing may represent a rare window of value before things shift again. Order now, and you might skate by under the tariff radar. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
