MINI Australia has launched its new John Cooper Works (JCW) vary regionally, rolling the bevy of latest fashions out for journalists in Brisbane not too long ago. See the desk beneath for pricing.
Whereas drive impressions are on maintain till subsequent week, we got an up-close have a look at what the brand new fashions provide – together with, for the primary time, all-electric JCW choices.
The vary kicks off with up to date petrol runners, constructing on the success of the outgoing fashions, which begin with the JCW and JCW Convertible.
Each share the identical powertrain, which consists of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 170kW/380Nm, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission.
Manuals transmissions, nevertheless, are gone, with Mini Australia head of product and planning, James Orlov citing dwindling buyer demand for a 3rd pedal.
“With the tip of the earlier era, we had a spike as soon as we introduced there wasn’t going to be a handbook, which is unsurprising, however earlier than that we have been seeing within the realm of about three per cent (handbook consumers),” he stated.
Atop the JCW petrol vary is the Countryman ALL4, which is the model’s first full-size SUV, that includes a peppier 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 233kW/400Nm, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automated driving all 4 wheels.
The mannequin shares its platform with the BMW X1, and has grown in measurement at 4447mm lengthy, 1843mm broad, and 1645mm tall – placing it on the bigger finish of the small SUV section.
Nevertheless, as its dimensions have grown, so too has its household attraction.
“The Mini Countryman has grown in measurement and right here we will see clearly it’s grown into a better section, however out there to be the primary automotive within the family ,” stated Mini Australia basic supervisor, Alex Brockhoff.
“Beforehand we had prospects leaving the model as a result of we didn’t have a automotive that was large enough.”
Then, there’s the brand new electrical fashions, the primary of which to put on the sporty JCW badge.
The JCW E and JCW Aceman E at the moment are out there in Australia, with all the identical Cooper Works fruit as their petrol counterparts – except for adaptive dampers.
Each electrical JCW fashions are powered by a single motor producing peak outputs of 190kW/350Nm, despatched to the entrance wheels – giving them a 30kW increase over non-JCW variants.
With the additional energy comes an anticipated drop in driving vary, although.
Powered by the identical 54.2kWh battery as lesser variants, the JCW fashions can journey as much as 371km (three-door) and 355km (Aceman) earlier than plugging in. That is a drop of round 30km for the three-door and 50km for the Aceman.
In accordance with Mr Brockhoff, the model has seen a stronger begin to the yr than ever earlier than with 1817 registrations up to now – up 72 per cent on final yr – and a big share of these gross sales have been electrical fashions.
“We had the very best begin for the Mini vary, ever,” Mr Brockhoff stated.
“In Australia 36 per cent of the automobiles we’ve offered up to now this yr are electrical… so it’s a great combine.
“It’s crucial for us to have that energy of selection for the purchasers to decide on between petrol and electrical, and that’s now going to be the case for the Mini JCW vary as effectively.”
In accordance with Mr Orlov, the electrical fashions provide the identical go-kart-like thrills as their petrol-powered counterparts.
“They each share that type of wheel-in-each-corner, type of go-kart setting, that basically planted sq. feeling platform – they’re plenty of enjoyable,” he stated.
“We’ve additionally bought some enjoyable trickery we will do with the digital techniques, so if you put it into Go-Kart mode you’ll unlock that full energy. There’s an e-launch management, and a few increase mode settings and another trickery.”
You’ll have to attend for the drive evaluate to seek out out in the event that they’re as enjoyable as a petroleum JCW, although.
JCW Mini pricing*:
JCW Convertible – $64,990
JCW – $57,990
JCW Countryman All4 – $70,990
JCW E – $63,990
JCW Aceman E – $65,990
*excludes on-road prices
