Although Mini is hard at work prepping its next-generation Cooper, it appears that the current model may have a few more tricks up its sleeve.

Here, we see what appears to be a top-shelf John Cooper Works hatchback with a different front bumper featuring larger air intakes, as well as a much larger diffuser out back. That diffuser, specifically, looks like the one used on the Mini JCW Challenge racers, meaning that this could be a prototype for some sort of special Challenge edition John Cooper Works car (or perhaps a modern interpretation of the hotter than hot Mini GP limited-edition model).

Whatever the case, sign us up. A Mini JCW with boosted performance (however slight) is in no way a bad thing.

Photos and commentary to be found at Autoblog...

 

Can someone enlighten me to the changes on the front bumper? It could be the camo, but it looks like the standard JCW aero kit bumper to me. The diffusers out back look nice, though.

 

Looks good, maybe we'll see a limited edition model available for the last year of the R56 run. I'm still waiting on the Next Gen but that would be a way to send out the R56 with a bang.......

 

no wheel gap yummy!

 

Maybe extra weight?

 

I like it

The front bumper has a splitter on it like the MINI Challenge race cars.

 

a special farewell....edition

 

Motoringfile says:

"So what does all this mean? We believe we’re seeing a special edition R56 JCW that will be a limited run sometime next year."

http://www.motoringfile.com/2011/06/...is-new-jcw-gp/