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NEWS
MINI launches new John Cooper Works GP model
A light-weight, two-seat hard-core hatch is about to become the fastest MINI production car of all timeThe second-generation of MINI’s John Cooper Works GP, the stripped-out three-door, will be on sale this year after making its debut at this month’s Paris Motor Show. But be fast, because MINI is only building 2000 of them for global consumption.
With 160kW of power from its 1.6-litre, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine, the front-wheel drive GP has reportedly lapped the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife in 8:23, making it a full 16 seconds quicker than the first edition. The result is a MINI that will sprint to 100km/h in 6.3 seconds and stretch its top speed out to 242km/h.
It comes with a far more sophisticated racing suspension than even the MINI Cooper JCW, and weighs 1160kg, though the EC kerb weight figure adds another 75kg to that, taking it to a very similar number to the standard JCW.
The engine’s had only a couple of tweaks, including a new twin-scroll turbocharger, sodium-filled valves and reinforced pistons. It mates to the standard six-speed manual transmission and punches through the front wheels.
17-inch wheels host a set of 215/40 R17 Kumho Ecsta sports semi-race tyres, while MINI allows an option of a standard set of 205/40 R17 tyres. It’s from here up that MINI claims to have done most of its work.
The standard MacPherson strut front end has had significant geometry changes and now boasts increased camber, reduced toe-in and a new, adjustable coil-over spring that can be adjusted by 20mm. That allows MINI owners to tune the car for different race tracks or conditions, and it has also tipped the front dampers upside down to increase its stiffness. It’s the same at the multi-link rear end, with added camber and reduced toe-in, both designed to add high-speed stability.
Inside the front wheels sit a race-bred set of six-piston calipers biting down onto 330mm x 25mm ventilated iron discs, while a solid 280mm disc does the work at the back. The skid control system has also been heavily revised to give better high-speed track capability. It won’t cut performance when things start sliding, but will do all of its work on the brakes. That includes an electronic diff that bites at the inside wheel to push the drive across the outside front wheel to help punch out of corners.
For all that, the GP doesn’t suffer much in economy, with MINI boasting a 7.1L/100km combined fuel economy figure and the emission of just 165 grams of CO2 per kilometre, though it’s doubtful the driving program of the standard fuel-consumption tests bear any relationship to how the GPs will be driven.
It’s the same theme inside, where a pair of thin Recaro seats sit just ahead of a large cross brace, while there is the option of race belts and the GP also gets its own gearshift and dashboard decorations.
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Written byMichael Taylor
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