Need A Bit More Pounce In Your CUV? Mini Has A JCW For That

Engine: Turbo 1.6L I4
Power: 223 HP / 207 LB-FT
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
MSRP: $34,000 (est. base)

As part of the ongoing master plan at Mini to attract distinction-seeking buyers who still have some disposable income left, we present the Mini Countryman Cooper S All4 John Cooper Works: the Mini CUV with the mighty long name.

This latest Mini JCW will get its world premiere at this March's Geneva Motor Show, but we've just enjoyed a pre-holiday drive in the remote mountain lair of Kühtai, 6,600 feet up in the Austrian Alps. As you'd expect, there was snow and rocks and animal skin sweat lodges and hot wine, but the Countryman All4 JCW got us out of there and back to our families in the flatlands. Our drive consisted of a two-lane road loop with plenty of overtaking chances and a decently long off-road parcours etched into a local abandoned ski hill.

Thus far, Mini's strongest JCW model has been gifted with a 208-horsepower version of the BMW/PSA turbocharged 1.6-liter direct injection in-line four-cylinder, dubbed "N18" as it's assembled at Mini's Hams Hall UK factory. Head of chassis development for BMW Group, Heinz Kruche, tells Autoblog that the Countryman will get "around 15 more horses and the same for torque" to help deal with the Countryman's additional weight. Thus, this 3,200-something pound "Mini" should pack somewhere around 223 horses at 6,000 rpm and 207 pound-feet of torque between 1,850 and 5,600 rpm when it arrives Stateside this June. Good. But is it good enough?

More First Drive, photo gallery commentary at Autoblog...

 

While I'm happy for all you JCW fans, I'm not hard core enough for it. I have quite enough camera pics of Zaftig's rear end as is. I did find it interesting that they had to put 4 steel wheels and snow tires on it for the run. Why steel? And why no comment from them on the need to change tires? (I did leave a comment).

Sealy - Who also kind of likes the yellow psycho stripes on the red.

 

Yeah, they slipped Blizzaks onto all fours with this particular Countryman -- perhaps they haven't decided on a final design and size for alloys yet? And I'm guessing your standard issue JCW will have summer kicks, so changing over to winter boots are a necessity.

Yellow and black swirly vinyl treatment is typical of BMW/MINI for camouflaging their prototypes, not sure why they left it on as piecemeal stripes. You picking some up for yours? :D