MINI JCW GP2 selling fast

The second generation MINI John Cooper Works GP car, a fire-belching two-seater unveiled at the Paris motor show in September, has now been launched in Europe.

MINI has confirmed a small amount of the limited run vehicles have been secured for Australia, with 30 of the 2000 vehicles built for global markets coming here, and they're selling fast.

Available in one colour only, metallic grey, the car will be priced at $56,900 when it goes on sale in Australia around March of next year, says BMW Australia's Piers Scott, Head of Corporate Communications.

"We'll see it in Australia quarter one, possibly into quarter two 2013 and it will be identical to the Euro spec models. Not only that, there are no options. It's a one-spec only car."

That one spec involves seating strictly for two, as the rear seats have been completely removed to save weight. Around about $15,000 more than the Cooper S model, the MINI JCW GP2 three-door hatch, which rockets from 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds, is powered by an uprated version of the MINI's tried-and-tested 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine, making 160kW.

And if you want one you'll have to get your skates on. A Subaru BRZ-inspired online purchasing scheme is not being considered says Mr Scott, who suggested interested parties simply get down to a MINI dealer.

"[Limited run MINI models] get soaked up extremely quickly. I do believe we've got names against at least half of our current production allocation," he said.

"We would recommend people talk to their MINI dealer fairly smartly because on the experience of other limited edition minis we've done, they do not hang around along."

The previous MINI John Cooper Works GP model broke cover in 2005, was 40kg lighter than the Cooper S JCW and was producing around 160kW/245Nm. The newer GP2 weighs 1185kg and develops 160kW at 6000rpm and 280Nm of torque at 2000rpm, with a top speed of 242km/h.

The pumped-up MINI Cooper has burnt a trail around the infamous Nurburgring in just 8:23 about 20 seconds faster than its predecessor  and not far off the lap record for a front-wheel drive car set by the Renault Megane RS 265 at 8:08.

As well as the extra engine power and lower weight, MINI's fastest production car ever gets plenty of other performance mods tailored by JCW, including brand new adjustable coil-over suspension, a first for MINI. The tweakable springs allow drivers to lower the car's ground clearance by 20mm for race track purposes, for example.

Bigger, more powerful brakes and changes to the stability and traction control systems – with a new 'GP' mode – are also designed to the make the MINI GP2 faster. The car also rides on unique four-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels.