FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: MINI mulls hyper hatch

MINI has admitted it is mulling over the prospect of developing a hotter hatch to potentially take on the likes of the Honda Civic Type R, Ford Focus RS and the newly-launched Hyundai i30 N.

But despite the presentation of the wild JCW GP Concept at the Frankfurt motor show yesterday, the prospects of such a vehicle materialising into reality remain theoretical.

“Is there potential for a very steep positioning with a more powerful car? There probably is and that’s why we kick around ideas,” MINI senior vice president Sebastian Mackensen told Australian media in Frankfurt yesterday.

But Mackensen stressed a head-kicking Mini would have to have more than just a big power number.

“If you position it only as a car to show off in a very extroverted but at the same time cheap way then we say no. If it would also be the best driver then maybe yes.”

While the John Cooper Works concept previews a model likely to be released towards the end of the current generation’s model cycle in 2019, it is not expected to have true 200kW-plus hyper hatch abilities.

“It’s kind of a dream car from the John Cooper Works perspective,” Mackensen said of the concept.

“Let’s see what the reaction is, so far we have very nice reaction. We see what we can do with it.

“We could envision dreaming a bit further and that’s why we do the concept vehicle exercise. Let’s see what comes out of that, but yes we could also think about a little more beef.”

In the past MINI has been content to boast about its ‘go-kart’ handling but has never attempted to go toe-to-toe in the performance stakes with the best hot hatches via either its Cooper S or JCW models.

The current top-spec 170kW 2.0-litre turbocharged JCW three-door hatch accelerates from 0-100km/h in 6.3 sec, compared to low to mid fives in the real world for the 257kW Focus RS.

MINI has left itself open to speculation, however, because it is refusing to say what the powertrain of the JCW concept is, preferring to concentrate on the car’s wild exterior.

Mackensen said a MINI hyper hatch would benefit from the brand’s ownership by the BMW Group.

“We are part of a group which is great for us, because it offers us access to a lot of technology. Then we have to see what combinations of architecture and drivetrains make sense for MINI.

“It is a difficult one,” he added. “Do you want to put absolutely everything on the table where horsepower counts and zero to 100? That’s not what we have done so far, what we have done so far is create really nice cars.

“But there could be something on top of it, let’s put it this way. We kick around ideas.”

Mackensen stressed that whatever its final decision was on raising the ceiling on Mini sports performance capability, JCW would remain in the mix.

“John Cooper Works is essential for the Mini brand. It’s one part of where we came from.

“Do we believe in the future of John Cooper Works? Absolutely. This year we have again record sales for John Cooper Works.”

If Mini was to significantly boost power, all-wheel drive might become a possibility. Currently MINI’s ALL4 system is restricted to the Countryman and the Clubman.

“Right now it’s not an objective to go there,” Mackensen said. “It’s not planned right now.”

He also ruled out electrification forming part of a hyper hatch Mini JCW: “The discussion we have right now? No.

“But when e-mobility becomes more prominent I think we will have a great solution then as well. That’s not today and not tomorrow.”

MINI also showed the MINI Electric concept in Frankfurt, previewing a battery electric vehicle that will make it into production in 2019.