Mini plugs into racing heritage
Mini New Zealand is preparing to bolster its John Cooper Works model portfolio in the first quarter of this year with the launch of the first All-Electric John Cooper Works and All-Electric JCW Aceman variants.
The two models, which had their world premiere at the 2024 Paris Motor Show, have been honed for electric driving performance and include an aerodynamically enhanced design.
Both develop a maximum output of 190kW and 350Nm, with drive sent to the front wheels, and have a top speed of 200kph. The Mini three-door clocks the 0-100kph sprint in 5.9 seconds and the Aceman, pictured, achieves it in 6.4sec.
The high-voltage batteries carried by both models boasts 54.2kWh gross capacity, and delivers a WLTP-rated driving range of up to 371km for the three-door and up to 355km for the Aceman.
Alexander Brockhoff, general manager of Mini Australia and New Zealand, says: “We are thrilled to introduce these new additions to our line-up, bringing together the renowned road feel and engagement of John Cooper Works Mini models with the instantaneous power delivery and response of our fully electric offerings for maximum driving fun.”
Mini John Cooper Works is following a long racing tradition with the development of these new fully electric models.
More than six decades ago, John Cooper developed a sporty version of the classic Mini, which achieved considerable success on racetracks and rally courses.
The John Cooper Works treatment for fully electric Mini models includes an electric boost function for strong power delivery as the driver activates the go-kart mode by pressing the boost paddle on the sport steering wheel.
An additional 20kW of electric power is then available for overtaking manoeuvres and performance-boosting acceleration.
John Cooper Works-specific suspension settings maximise the go-kart feeling and ensure agile handling. High-performance, high-grip tyres are standard on both models.
The daytime running lights of the Mini LED headlights feature horizontal bars in JCW signature, while black side skirts, aeroblades at the level of the C-pillar and the accentuated rear spoiler optimise the aerodynamics.
On the inside, the driver and front passenger seats are upholstered in black vegan leather with multi-coloured knitted fabric at the shoulders and red accent stitching.
The high-resolution OLED display with a diameter of 240mm summarises all relevant vehicle data. Meanwhile, the driver and front passenger can access air conditioning, media, phone and navigation settings via the central instrument.
Pricing starts from $72,990.
