TARMAC TERRORIST
JOHN COOPER WORKS GP CONCEPT PREVIEWS MINI’S HOTTEST HATCH EVER
Mini has revealed yet another concept car in the run-in to the Frankfurt Auto Show next week. Hot on the heels of the Mini Electric Concept, the Mini John Cooper Works GP concept serves to convey Mini’s performance brand’s plans for an even more aggressive GP model than the first- and second-generation models launched in 2006 and 2013, respectively.
It’s arguably the most radical-looking Mini concept to appear since BMW purchased the British automaker in 1994, but Mini says that the new concept is inspired by the carmaker’s legendary triumphs in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1967, and serves to celebrate Mini’s long association with motorsports, not only in rallying, but circuit racing too.
"The MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept is all about the unfettered feeling of driving and levels of performance found in motor sport competition," says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad. "This is driving fun in its purest form.
The JCW GP concept is aggressive on the outside, featuring a large front splitter and a honeycomb mesh grille with red accents. There’s also widened front fenders, 19” alloy wheels with red and black accents, and carbon-fibre side skirts. But the biggest talking point will no doubt be the widened rear fenders that redirect airflow around the car. Other highlights include a massive rear wing and a trademark Mini centre-mounted performance exhaust system.
Since the concept was designed for racing, the interior has been stripped of all non-essential equipment. The interior is now pure ‘race spec’ with a tubular roll cage, fire-suppression system, and two racing seats with multi-point belts. Drivers will also find a digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, and 3D knitted accents.
Mini hasn’t revealed any information on the powertrain, but considering current JCW models are powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged motor producing 170kw, it’s not inconceivable that higher output version of this motor does duty in the GP. The new John Cooper Works GP is on course to be the most powerful Mini hatchback yet.
The third-generation Mini John Cooper Works GP, is apparently known internally under the code name of R59 GP3, and is apparently slated for launch toward the end of the existing hatchback’s model cycle in 2019. And much like the previous two Mini John Cooper Works GP models, the third-generation model is expected to be produced in extremely limited numbers.
Join In
Comments (0)