They repeat the promise of the go-kart feeling almost like a mantra - even if there is little left over from the last generation. But if the Mini now starts as the John Cooper Works GP, the concept could work again.
Berlin (dpa-infocom) - Too playful, overpowered, far too expensive and on top of that outgrown its name - if you are looking for a reasonable small car, the Mini is out of place. But it didn't hurt the success of the small BMW branch from the United Kingdom.
On the contrary: The Mini has now established itself as a trend car for young, high-earners. And because in Oxford they know how willing customers are to open the cash register when they get something special for it, the British are now taking another step forward: if the three-door car is now available as a John Cooper Works GP, it will stand out even more out of the crowd of minis. If only because it is more powerful than ever and is also at the top of the price list with 45,000 euros.
A mini like never before
But then there is also a mini that has never existed before. Because not only the design with the huge red nostrils in the front, the carbon-fiber fender flares in the razor-look and the double spoiler on the rear is unique. But the engine also makes the difference: after all, there is a 2.0-liter turbo petrol engine under the hood that produces 225 kW / 306 hp. That is about 30 percent more than the previous top model and makes the GP the most powerful three-door car in model history that has ever been approved for road use. And even if the same engine is also available in the large Club and Countryman mini-models and in the BMW 1 Series, it still offers a special feature here: for the first and only time, it has to do with front-wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive.
What fears whimpering tires and lack of traction proves to be a surprisingly successful combination. Because with a tight chassis, a limited slip differential and very direct steering, as well as with massive rollers on the small rims and strong profiles, the British managed to get the set-up where the power actually arrives on the road and the Mini cleanly takes its course. You pass every curve with a lot of zest. And when your feet fly over the pedals, the eight-speed automatic changes gears like hammer blows and the steering divides the landscape with sharp cuts, then you know how Rauno Aaltonen in the Mini must have felt in his sensational victory at the Monte Carlo Rally . And then you also understand what the marketing department has been preaching about the go-kart feeling for years.
Uncompromising interior, sporty driving behavior
Almost a bit like the rally car back then, Mini has also uncompromisingly tailored the interior to sport. The seats in the first row therefore offer significantly more lateral support and those in the second row were simply sacrificed to an additional body strut. This brings more rigidity and saves weight like the absence of navigation and automatic climate control.
It's also sporty when driving. The most beautiful driving moments in the Mini can certainly be experienced on winding country roads through the mountains. But in the GP model, even the freeway becomes a dream route. Because Mini gives the racing dwarf free rein. Therefore, it not only accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in an impressive 5.2 seconds, but also breaks the 250 mark. As the first three-door car from Oxford, it reaches speeds of up to 265 km / h and flashes some 3-seaters from the fast lane.
Conclusion The pleasure has a high price.
Although the GP concept dramatically limits everyday benefits, it also offers a surprising argument for practitioners. Because without the back seat, the trunk volume increases to 612 liters, making the fastest and most powerful Mini ever a transport miracle. Of course, all these superlatives cannot justify the proud price. After all, the British charge around 50 percent more than the already expensive John Cooper Works. And a consumption of theoretically 7.3 liters (CO2 emissions 167 g / km) and practically twice as much is not exactly low either. But that doesn't seem to bother customers much. Although Mini has already increased the limited small series by 50 percent to 3000 copies compared to its predecessor, all have already been sold.
Datasheet: Mini John Cooper Works GP
| Motor and drive | Four-cylinder turbo gasoline direct injection |
| Displacement: | 1998 cc |
| Maximum power: | 225kW / 306 HP at 5000 - 6250 rpm |
| Max. Torque: | 450Nm at 1750 - 4500 rpm |
| Drive: | Front wheel drive |
| Transmission: | Eight-speed automatic transmission |
| mass and weight | |
| Length: | 3879 mm |
| Width: | 1762 mm |
| Height: | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase: | 2495 mm |
| Empty weight: | 1255 kg |
| Payload: | 250 kg |
| Trunk volume: | 612-816 liters |
| Driving data: | |
| Top speed: | 265 km / h |
| Acceleration 0-100 km / h: | 5.2 s |
| Average consumption: | 7.3 liters / 100 km |
| Range: | 550 km |
| CO2 emission: | 167 g / km |
| Fuel: | Super |
| Pollutant class: | Euro 6d temp |
| Energy efficiency class: | not specified |
| Costs: | |
| Basic price of the model series: | 17,700 euros |
| Base price of the John Cooper Works GP: | 45,000 euros |
| Type classes: | 16 HP / 24 VK / 27 TK |
| Motor vehicle tax: | 184 euros / year |
| Important standard equipment: | |
| Safety: | Six airbags, LED headlights, emergency braking and lane keeping assist |
| Comfort: | Digital instruments, central locking |
All data according to the manufacturer, GDV, Schwacke
