MINI John Cooper Works: Electric Power, Familiar Thrill

At the Hakka Ring test track in Toledo, MINI rolled out five models under the John Cooper Works banner, showcasing a familiar recipe: red and black livery, a sporty steering wheel, snug seats, and a liberal sprinkling of “go-kart feeling” slogans. The twist? That sensation is now available with electric drive.

The real news isn’t that MINI has gone electric—it’s that the JCW models finally have. The three-door MINI JCW Electric and five-door Aceman JCW deliver 258 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque, plus a temporary 20 kW boost function. WLTP range is rated at 371 and 355 kilometers, respectively. Aerodynamic tweaks have been added to improve airflow and, in theory, extend range without sacrificing character.

For those still drawn to engine noise and CO₂ emissions, there’s the 231-horsepower four-cylinder petrol JCW, also available as a Cabrio. Official 0–100 km/h times are 6.1 and 6.4 seconds, respectively. A minor update gets its own spotlight: a wider rear diffuser now houses a single, center-mounted exhaust tip—just like a “real” sports car.

The family-sized Countryman JCW remains the most powerful of the bunch: 300 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and a top speed of 250 km/h. Fuel consumption can reach 8.2 l/100 km, with CO₂ emissions up to 186 g/km. MINI claims it’s suited for any terrain, though that says more about lifestyle aspirations than actual off-road chops. A more meaningful upgrade is level 2 autonomous driving for highways.

For 2025, the MINI John Cooper Works line doesn’t reinvent anything—it simply offers more of the same. More performance, more attitude, and now, that legendary kart-like feel—fully electric.