MINI Countryman JCW revealed

MINI Countryman John Cooper Works is official

The MINI Countryman John Cooper Works has been revealed ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

We had MINI teasing with a glimpse of the MINI Countryman JCW playing in the snow back in December, with a few bits of camouflage tape obscuring the money shot. And now we learn that just about all the camouflage was covering were the thumping great stripes the Countryman JCW sports.

The most powerful MINI in the range with 215bhp, the MINI Countryman JCW can also be had with an automatic gearbox, can get to 62mph in 7.0 seconds, average 39.2mpg and emit 167g/km. Decent enough figures from the MINI that’s not a exactly mini.

That six-speed auto ‘box is an option – the Countryman JCW gets a six-speed manual as standard – and if specced performance stays the same but economy and emissions suffer a bit, down to 35.2mpg and up to 187g/km.

The Countryman JCW keeps the ALL4 AWD system – even with the auto ‘box – which sends all the power to the front wheels under normal driving conditions but can, if things start to slip, send up to 50 per cent to the back wheels.

Under the skin the Countryman JCW gets the full JCW treatment with better brakes, tweaked suspension and electric steering. The suspension drops by 10mm and the DSC gets a Dynamic Traction Control mode.

The usual JCW body kit gets bolted on to the Countryman and there’s a set of 18″ twin-spoke alloys. There are seven paint colours on offer and you can have a contrasting colour for the roof and door mirrors, and matching stripes up the middle of your nice new Countryman JCW if you wish.

The interior of the Countryman JCW get the John Cooper treatment too with sports seats with red contrast stitching, piano black trim, optional Chilli Red trim elements and trim stripes round the door panels and centre console. You also get a sports steering wheel.

The MINI Countryman John Cooper Works will debut at Geneva and go on sale in the UK in the autumn from £27,800.