It was the perfect day. 6 pm on a dry sunny and quiet Sunday afternoon to be exact; the time I had chosen to take the fastest Mini ever produced on a brisk cross country test drive . Just me and this amazing car enjoying ourselves in the middle of Kent’s finest Countryside, the Italian Job CD blaring away in the background of course. Yep I’m sad. At times I paused for thought to appreciate the excellent Recaro seats, the piano black trim and anthracite roof, and red stitching of the leather.
The GP and I were surrounded by beautiful green fields, the law allowing us 60 mph to play with, and life couldn’t be better that very day ………. Until Michael Schumacher turned up. ‘Schumi’ pulled out from a side road to the right of me ahead, clearly on full throttle and rudely interrupting the Mini GP’s relaxed, brisk and even poetic pace.
Michael Schumacher (he wishes) took a long curious look at my ‘Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Grand Prix’ as he took advantage of his positional gain to ‘show me’ that he had the greatest driving skills and the fastest modified boy racer XR2 on the planet. He failed. Miserably. Embarrassingly in fact – for to the Mini GP his pace was merely a doddle, and this rather embarrassed and easily forgotten non-hero boy racer couldn’t even create an inch of gain on the Mini GP, so I soon backed off to prevent his ego endangering others. One thing I know for sure is that he will not be telling his mates about this in the pub. To the contrary, if I was him I’d be fondly reflecting on just how confident, safe and relaxed the Mini GP looked in his rear view mirror whilst he was trying so hard. He will also have been curious about what could possibly be under the bonnet of my Appollo 16.
Well engine-wise it’s a familiar recipe, a turbo charged 4 cylinder 1598 cc engine producing 215 bhp at a heady 6000 rpm and a hefty 206llb of torque, achieved between the 2000 and 5100 rpm mark. It’s all driven via the front wheels and interpreted through a sweet six speed manual gearbox. It’s a great engine, notably more powerful than the Cooper S, and even noticeably sprightlier than the car in the next tier of the Mini hierarchy – the standard Mini John Cooper Works. Credit for this must go to the substantial chassis and handling makeover given to this special Limited Edition motorcar.
Regular chassis components have been replaced by adjustable coilover suspension to achieve a ride height reduction of 20 mm, mated to high performance dampers that are stiffer longitudinally at the front. Extra grippy tyres are fitted to the 17 inch wheels, specially developed for this car by the Korean manufacturer Kumbo, and the addition of front and rear braces stiffen up the car somewhat – the latter replacing the rear seat, and at the least reminding you of the single purpose nature of the Mini ‘GP’.
And so to the Driving!
A Turbo charged two litre front wheel drive engine with 215 bhp, and pulling on only 1253 kg of weight means lots of power, and torque steer that needs reigning in like a wild horse. The steering’s a pleasure to use and the grip of this car is fantastic, period. It’s a genuine wolf in sheep’s clothing this – and shocks the hell out of you when you start pushing on, such is its sheer pace and tenacity– I didn’t realise it’s limits were so high. The ‘snap’ ‘crackle’ and ‘pop’ from the exhaust with Sport engaged is a bit artificial and probably just tuned for pure entertainment, but you’ll love it nonetheless, it just adds aural excitement to the adrenaline.
A Turbo charged two litre front wheel drive engine with 215 bhp, and pulling on only 1253 kg of weight means lots of power, and torque steer that needs reigning in like a wild horse. The steering’s a pleasure to use and the grip of this car is fantastic, period. It’s a genuine wolf in sheep’s clothing this – and shocks the hell out of you when you start pushing on, such is its sheer pace and tenacity– I didn’t realise it’s limits were so high. The ‘snap’ ‘crackle’ and ‘pop’ from the exhaust with Sport engaged is a bit artificial and probably just tuned for pure entertainment, but you’ll love it nonetheless, it just adds aural excitement to the adrenaline.
And that’s what driving a car like this is all about – fun and pure tactile feedback. But it’s also a very fast and serious motor car – maybe too much so to be exploited properly on our roads; you must take to the track experience with this car – then it’s got you for good.
At some point you will ask yourself if the 30k price tag is justified – well give it a good test drive first and find out. You need to get to know this car to fully appreciate it, and I really don’t understand how anyone could really buy it on the strength of a quick run around the block; It is the Mini Way of doing things at this level, and an investment in pure performance. Understand it that way philosophically, and this car is worth every penny. We have one day left with the car….I have to go and drive it again; it’s compelling. I wonder if Michael Caine is still looking for a driver?
Mini John Cooper Works GP
Price £28,790; 0-62mph 6.3sec; Top speed 150mph; Economy 40mpg; CO2 165g/km; Kerb weight 1235kg; Engine 4 cyls, 1598cc, turbocharged, petrol; Installation Front, transverse; Power 215bhp at 6000rpm; Torque 206lb ft (2000-5100rpm); Gearbox 6-spd manual
Likes: – crazy performance and character, quirky looks.
Dislikes: Silly sat nav after market accessory navigation system/no rear wiper/sometimes miss a rear seat for the odd third passenger for day to day use – rear seems bit of a waste of space really
Likes: – crazy performance and character, quirky looks.
Dislikes: Silly sat nav after market accessory navigation system/no rear wiper/sometimes miss a rear seat for the odd third passenger for day to day use – rear seems bit of a waste of space really
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