It’s wild, it’s fast and only a few are coming to Australia – the MINI John Cooper Works GP model will debut at the Paris Motor Show.
The fastest MINI ever, the two-seat John Cooper Works GP is powered by a worked version of the turbocharged 1.6-litre, four-cylinder engine which delivers 160kW at a screaming 6000rpm and 260Nm of torque from 1750rpm (280Nm briefly on over-boost).
Performance is blistering – zero to 100km/h in 6.3 seconds, a top speed of 242km/h and a lap time at the Nurburgring of 8:23 minutes.
Just 2000 MINI John Cooper Works GP models are scheduled for production later this year and MINI Australia is slated to receive around 10 of them early next year. While prices have been announced it might be a good idea to register your interest.
Lots of motorsport technology has gone into the MINI John Cooper Works GP. Apart from the engine mods, weight has been pared to just 1160kgs, the suspension runs a coilover set-up and bigger brakes are fitted.
That coilover suspension is rather complex – it’s adjustable for changes at say different race circuits, ride height is reduced by 20mm, the front shock absorbers are mounted upside down in their tubes (for extra stiffness) and front camber is increased while toe-in is reduced. Gluing all of this to the road are special sports tyres mounted on 7.5 x 17-inch lightweight alloy wheels developed from Europe’s MINI Challenge race cars.
Technology-wise the MINI John Cooper Works GP runs stability and traction control systems which are not combined so that on track days the driver may choose to drive without stability control operational.
The MINI John Cooper Works GP comes in just one paint colour – ‘Thunder Grey Metallic’ – and features a massive rear wing, side skirts, front spoiler and rear diffuser. Combined, the rear wing and underbody diffuser cut rear axle lift by as much as 90 per-cent.
Inside are two Recaro sports seats, anthracite roof liner, a thick sports steering wheel and stylish piano black trim highlights.
