If you’re one of those people still moaning about the death of the traditional hot hatches, well, here’s your chance to make a mark. Because in addition to a fully electric variant, Mini will also be introducing a petrol-powered John Cooper Works model, complete with a manual gearbox. And while it’s still not quite ready for an official launch just yet, the petrol JCW will be making its world premiere by taking part in the upcoming 24 Hours of Nürburgring race.
The official teaser photos do give us a good look at the upcoming Mini JCW, which will get additional variant-specific trims shared across both powertrain options, including the JCW logo-inspired front grille mesh, new corner air intakes on the front bumper, a more elaborate rear wing design, and a more aggressive rear bumper – although for the latter, the one you’re looking at here is likely a racecar-specific item.
While both the EV and ICE variants of the Mini JCW will share the majority of their looks, they will remain completely different cars underneath the metal. The all-new fully-electric Mini Cooper – which the JCW will be based on – is built on a completely brand-new platform developed together with China’s Great Wall Motors, while the petrol variant is technically a very heavy facelift of the outgoing model.
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Not much else has been said about the upcoming Mini JCW, aside from the fact that they’ll be making their official debut towards the end of the year. Rumours, however, have suggested that the petrol-powered variant will continue to be powered by a (potentially revised) 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, while the fully electric model will be front-wheel-drive only in an effort to conserve mass and maintain the signature Mini weight balance.
As for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring race, Mini will be fielding two cars this year: #317, the red and white car seen here, which will be competing in the SP 3T category with the Bulldog Racing team, and #474, a black coloured manual Mini JCW, which will enter the VT-2 category as part of the carmaker’s factory efforts.
Oh, and if you’re wondering what the ’37’ word mark is all about, it’s a nod to Mini’s historic win at the 1964 Rallye Monte Carlo. Be prepared to see a lot more of it on Mini’s upcoming marketing materials as they prepare to drum up their “rich motorsport tradition” ahead of the JCW’s launch.
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