Overview

MINI rolled out its 2025 John Cooper Works (JCW) line-up in Brisbane recently, giving us an up-close look at the expanded range – including time on a race track.

The line-up includes updated three-door JCW, JCW Convertible and five-door Countryman models, as well as – for the first time ever – two electric JCW models.

An all-electric three-door JCW E is now available, alongside the JCW Aceman E – a hotter version of the brand's all-electric model – taking the standard EV models and applying the Cooper Works treatment.

The poster children for the range are of course the JCW (available from $57,990) and JCW Convertible (from $64,990), which have been further honed – likely benefiting from Mini’s renewed motorsport involvement – and they’re sharper than ever.

Both models use the same powertrain, which consists of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 170kW/380Nm, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

While the power output remains the same, torque gets a serious bump, jumping from 320Nm up to 380Nm – and you feel it.

This equates to a 0-100km/h time of 6.1 seconds for the standard model and 6.4 seconds for the rag-top variant, on their way to top speeds of 250km/h and 245km/h respectively.

If you prefer to shift gears for yourself, you’ll be forced to use the flappy paddles because Mini Australia confirmed manuals are out, reiterating that they only accounted for “about three per cent” of total sales in recent times.

Mini Australia outlined handling-related improvements for the new three-door models, achieved through suspension changes, increased front axle camber, tweaks to the rear sway bar and revised bushings in the rear cradle.

The most expensive JCW model is the now larger Countryman ALL4, priced from $70,990, which shares its underpinnings with the BMW X1 putting it on the larger end of the small SUV category.

It’s also the most powerful JCW model, courtesy of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 233kW/400Nm, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic driving all four wheels.

This, Mini Australia claims, makes the Country ALL4 capable of dispatching 100km/h in 5.4 seconds, making it the quickest JCW model, too.

Moving onto the new electric models, which are a first for the JCW sub-brand, the JCW E and JCW Aceman E use the same 54.2kWh battery and single motor as their non-JCW siblings.

However, the JCW-fettled models score 190kW of power (up 30kW) and 350Nm of torque in Go-Kart mode – or 170kW/350Nm in standard drive modes.

This equates to a 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds for the three-door and 6.4 seconds for the Aceman, with both models capable of winding out to 200km/h.

With the bump in performance comes a slight drop in driving range compared with the standard models, with the three-door JCW E capable of travelling 371km (down 30km) and the JCW Aceman E able to go 355km (down 50km) before plugging in.

The JCW E is priced from $63,990 and the JCW Aceman E from $65,990, representing a fairly modest price bump over the standard models that are priced from $53,990 (Cooper E) and $51,990 (Aceman) – considering the sizeable increase in performance.

Visually, the new models score plenty of JCW badging, black and red ascents, spoilers and diffusers, and exclusive wheel designs across the board. Of course, the Aceman and Countryman look discernibly less aggressive, mainly due to their height and SUV silhouettes.

The electric models are best distinguished by their flush door handles and front grille (or lack thereof), but otherwise look very similar – particularly the three-door JCW.

Inside, the models receive Mini’s latest 240mm round display and a red ‘boost’ button mounted to the steering wheel that flicks the drive selector to its most aggressive Go-Kart Mode.

Driving Impressions

The Mini Australia team split up the range, allowing us to test the electric models on an autocross-style skid-pan course, while the petrol runners would be punted around a tarmac loop.

For this reason, it was difficult to directly compare the electric and non-electric models, but it did give us a taste-test of the range and we came away suitably impressed.

On the enormous skidpan, the Mini Australia team had set up an autocross course that would take around 25 seconds to complete on our first outing.

After a few additional runs, opting mostly for the peppier JCW E over the larger Aceman E, we were able to get the time down to 21 seconds. The fastest time set on the day was 19 seconds, set by photographer Christian Brunelli, who is a certified speed demon.

Both electric runners jetted off the line with enthusiasm, but with a wet surface wheel slip was present and we weren't able to put all of the instant torque to use.

In a front-driven format, this amount of power and torque is about perfect. Any more and torque steer and wheelspin would probably ruin the balance of the agile models.

Under hard braking, while introducing steering angle, the front does push (bearing in mind the surface was wet) and the vehicles do feel heavy.

The JCW E for context weighs 1650kg, up from the petrol model’s dainty 1330kg curb weight. You feel it.

Over at the road loop, the petrol JCW models, in particular the three-door ‘Cooper’ models are hard to fault. A JCW is a fairly niche choice when it comes to hot hatches, and the driving experience is suitably unique.

Surprisingly, the convertible proved to be the most exciting drive on the fast road-style loop offering more noise and wind-in-your-hair engagement with nature, without a discernible increase in body roll as is often the case in pillarless convertibles.

Turn in under brakes and the JCW models – including the all-wheel drive Countryman – rotate with enthusiasm and, unless you’re too liberal with the accelerator, understeer remains minimal.

These JCW models feature a neutral, albeit playful chassis which, coupled with incredibly sharp steering and relatively low curb weights, makes for an exciting drive at the limit.

The focus on go-kart-style handling, rather than inflated power outputs, makes the JCW a super-fun hot-hatch option for around town. The SUV models offer a more practical solution, while ever-so-slightly watering down the fun factor.

Our pick? A convertible three-door JCW, because how many hot hatches can go topless?

Unless your budget allows you to jump up into a Porsche Cayman (at nearly three times the price), you’ll be hard-pressed finding a drop-top performer as tack-sharp as the JCW.

 We just wish there was the option of a third pedal.