FRONTRUNNER.

Suddenly we feel the thrust. At 1600 rpm, we hear a brief hissing – then the turbo forces air into the combustion chambers, the two-litre/fourcylinder engine unleashes its 306 hp/225 kW performance, and with a powerful surge, the MINI Clubman John Cooper Works ALL4 accelerates onto the track. The car is here at the BMW race track in Aschheim near Munich for a test; I am here to experience the most powerful engine in the history of the MINI in action – and also to discover for myself how well the powerhouse suits this variant of the Clubman and the MINI Countryman JCW. “We were looking not only to improve on the previous model’s output, but also to get the maximum out of this engine,” says Thomas Kazenwadel, the project manager in charge of MINI John Cooper Works drive systems. Clearly, they succeeded, because 450 Nm at speeds of over 1750 rpm now make for smooth acceleration in all gears plus the 306 hp/225 kW for the necessary extra push at high revolutions per minute. This allows the Clubman JCW to climb to the 100-kilometres-an-hour mark in 4.9 seconds, and the electronic speed limitation only kicks in at 250 km/h.

To be able to coax so much power from a mere two-litre engine, Kazenwadel’s team had to optimise the engine’s pistons, connecting rods and bearings. A further-developed, twin-powered exhaust gas turbocharger with an absolute manifold pressure of between 2.3 and 2.5 boosts the engine, and the engineers also dethrottled the air intake to the combustion chamber to give the four-cylinder engine as much air as possible for maximum performance. “We didn’t just want to increase the performance, we wanted to improve the driver’s experience when cornering. Agility is a well-known characteristic of every MINI, but a JCW has to go one better,” says the 56-year-old engineer with the calm, relaxed manner. He should know; he and his team spent four years working on this engine, so it’s very close to his heart.

The developers adapted the chassis to match the extra power. The action of engine, chassis, damper and spring mountings is significantly tighter, and the chassis has been lowered ten millimetres and reinforced. JCW drivers can feel the difference in their very first corner. “You get an even more agile and direct response than in a Cooper S, for instance,” says Kazenwadel. “The handling on country roads can be addictive!” In my head, I’m already cruising around Tuscany. It’s the engine’s tremendous power that makes it so special. The automatic eight-speed Steptronic sports transmission reinforces and channels that power, as do the drive shafts, and there’s enormous traction in each of its speeds. What’s more, this is the first MINI to feature a mechanical Torsen locking differential. It improves the car’s hold on the road when taking a fast corner and, in combination with the engine, transmission and chassis, makes for an even more dynamic driving experience.

The MINI Clubman JCW responds instantly to commands from accelerator and steering wheel and distributes its power through the ALL4 all-wheel drive system. A high-performance brake system guarantees vigorous deceleration. Its hallmark: brake callipers painted hot Chili Red. The sound made by the JCW’s distinctive exhaust flap system is also immediately recognisable. “It’s typically JCW – robust and authentic, but not over the top or obtrusive,” Kazenwadel stresses. The fastest model of them all naturally also has the look to match the Clubman’s sporty personality: a red roof with a distinctive JCW spoiler, red wing-mirror caps, a radiator grille in racing design and extra air inlets. “The design of the other engine variants is pretty cool – but we made the JCW even sharper,” says interior designer Thomas Wu. What that means in terms of the interior is, for instance: distinctive two-colour sports seats with integrated headrests, a JCW badge in the sporty leather steering wheel, contrasting red stitching and a dark roof liner.