We’ve known for a while now that a souped-up John Cooper Works (JCW) version of the fully electric Mini Cooper SE is coming soon. In fact, the company even ran a prototype of the car up the Goodwood hill back in July. While the car is evidently not quite ready for primetime yet, an early filing on China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) website has now given us a first look at the electric hot hatch – such is life when you build a global car in China, I guess.
As you’d expect, the all-new 2024 MINI John Cooper Works E will come with a whole bunch of exterior tweaks to match its feisty character, including variant-exclusive bumpers and rear diffuser extensions, JCW-specific roof spoiler, and a boat load of blacked out elements, including the entire rear hatch trim piece that also incorporates the JCW chequered flag designs.
Wheels are still 18-inches in size, but of course with a different, sportier design on the JCW. Behind them, you’ll find new JCW-branded red brake calipers, because how else would you know that it’s a performance vehicle?
Interestingly, the JCW variant of the electric hatch is also ever so slightly longer, which should be due to the difference in bumper designs rather than actual dimension changes. What’s more significant is perhaps the 1,670 kg kerb weight, which is 10 kg lower than the standard SE.
But the highlight of the JCW E is, of course, its performance. And according to the governmental listing, the souped up hot hatch will pack an uprated 190 kW (259 hp) motor on the front axle, which is some 40 hp more than the 218 hp of the standard 2024 Mini Cooper SE.
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With the improved performance and lower weight, the upcoming MINI Cooper JCW E’s power-to-weight ratio – at least according on the China-specific car – will come in at a pretty respectable 155 hp per tonne. It’s not as good as the old petrol-powered JCW, mind you, but it will still outperform the older car… given that the standard SE already matches its 6.7 seconds century sprint time.
Battery specifications weren’t included in the listing, but it’s likely still powered by the same 54.2 kWh battery pack as the Cooper SE, although range is probably taking a hit here due to its extra performance.
Aside from the Cooper, the government regulatory filing also revealed a JCW variant for the MINI Aceman. It’s been given the same exact stylistic treatment as the Cooper JCW E, and it’s also got the same 259 hp motor up front as well. But expect it to be a little slower than the Cooper since, well, it’s a little bigger and heavier too. The Aceman JCW tips the scale at 1,768 hp.
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