MINI Countryman JCW spied at the 'Ring

Text: Eliott Farr / Photos: Automedia

06th July 2011

It’s a MINI double as John Cooper Works versions of the Countryman crossover and forthcoming MINI roadster were both spied undergoing testing at the Nurburgring.

The hottest variant of the family-friendly Countryman is expected to feature the same 1.6-litre petrol turbo from the hatch; delivering 208bhp and 280 Nm of torque to all four wheels, and launching the car from 0-62mph in around 7.0 seconds.

At the front, the hot Countryman is marked out by a chunky bodykit comprising an aggressive chin spoiler and vented side-skirts, giving the model with a more purposeful stance. The sporty theme continues at the rear with the inclusion of large twin exhausts and a subtle diffuser.

The huge alloy wheels are a similar design to the MINI GP edition, and conceal a set of bigger brakes and are wrapped in seriously low profile tyres. There's no official word yet on price, but expect to pay around £24,000 for the flagship car. 

Joining it at the ‘Ring was a lightly disguised prototype of the MINI Roadster JCW, a drop top version of the Coupe we drove last month.

Buyers can expect the Roadster to match or even better the hatch’s 0-62mph-sprint time of 6.5 seconds when it goes on sale in late 2012, with styling that closely matches the 2009 concept car.