A street homologated racing car.
The initials JCW are recognized in the automotive world by any fan. The Mini JCW GP is a car that arouses passions, it is a legendary car only for true motor lovers. A model of very contained measures with an engine that develops great power in relation to weight. Something that added to its set-up ensures that whoever takes the controls enjoys a very sporty experience.
In its three generations, this model has been characterized by its sportiness and impressive agility. It is a small car, as we say, and with plenty of power to put reputed sports cars in trouble. It all started with the Mini John Cooper Works GP R53, a car that would arrive after the presentation of the new Mini, the R50, at the end of the year 2000. Some six years after the arrival of the first Mini of the new era, a version arrived that rescued the past in competition of the brand.
On the basis of the MINI Cooper S, the MINI John Cooper Works GP R53 was created. It was a model approved for the road with a much more racing character than the rest of the range. It had an engine capable of generating 215 hp at 7,100 rpm and 250 Nm of maximum torque at 4,600 rpm. To achieve this power of the 1.6-liter block, modifications were completed in the intercooler, in the exhaust system and in the engine control unit. All to achieve a power-to-weight ratio of 5.3 kg/hp.
In 2012 the fastest series production Mini to date arrived. It was presented at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, a car that again used a two-seater configuration and a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This heart was capable of generating 218 hp at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 260 Nm at 1,750 rpm. All in a car weighing only 1,160 kg.
It mounted coilover suspension that allowed the height to be modified by 20 millimeters, brakes with 330 mm front discs and specific 17-inch wheels. This new Mini JWC GP was taken to the legendary Nürburgring circuit where it achieved a time of 8:23 minutes, about 18 seconds faster than its predecessor. The 0-100 km / h did it in just 6.3 seconds.
And finally came the Mini JCW GP F56, the latest version to arrive in 2020. It was debuted at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show and featured the most powerful engine ever used in a Mini series production vehicle. It was the 2.0-liter four-cylinder with Mini TwinPower Turbo technology capable of generating 306 horsepower between 5,000 and 6,250 rpm and a torque of 450 Nm at 1,750 rpm.
With 75 hp more than its predecessor, the new Mini John Cooper Works GP accelerated from 0-100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds and claimed a top speed of 265 km/h. In his ride around the Nürburgring he managed to be almost 30 seconds faster than his direct predecessor. A legend forged in the past and remembered in each new generation.