The 2020 Mini John Cooper Works GP has arrived with over 300 hp and a phenomenal rear wing.
This is the fastest, most powerful Mini ever made. The John Cooper Works model has always been the top of the line version of the Mini, but the GP takes it to an entirely different plane of existence.
First, there's the engine. The 2.0-L turbo 4-cylinder has been tuned to make 306 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque--that's 75 more than the previous John Cooper Works. Zero to sixty-two miles per hour (or 100 kph) is done in just 5.2 seconds, with an unlimited top speed of 165 mph.
Getting all that power involved quite a bit of work. A new oil system pumps lubrication to every nook and cranny while a new cooling system keeps it all from catching fire. A reinforced crankshaft with an enlarged main bearing keeps it from shattering under the weight of all those foot-pounds. A new exhaust and enlarged air intake manifold not only keep the beating heart of this John Cooper Works HP thrumming, but it also ensures the driver has a fantastic soundtrack with the windows rolled down.
Power is routed through an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with paddle shifters to the front wheels. An integrated mechanical front differential works with the car's traction and stability control to direct power to the wheel with better grip, ensuring that understeer and oversteer are prevented early during a turn.
The suspension is lowered almost half an inch over the regular John Cooper Works, and brand new "high-performance sport brakes" have 4-piston calipers in the front and a single floating caliper in the rear. Each 18-inch wheel is made of forged alloy and weighs just 20 lbs.
And of course, there's the mad exterior styling that looks straight out of a tuner garages wet dream. There's the carbon fiber wheel arches that make the Mini look like it has wings on each fender, and there's the roof spoiler that has its own unique bifurcated design. Everything about this car screams speed in a small package.
On the inside, the story is much the same, albeit far more... ovoid. Everything is made out of circles, from the 5-inch instrument display to the 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen. Vents, pedals, even the buttons on the wheel itself are all circular by design.
Mini plans to make 3,000 of this limited edition speedster with deliveries beginning in March of 2020. Each one starts at $44,900. Your first chance to see one in the flesh will be at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 22nd.