New MINI Works a Treat

Since BMW launched the new MINI range in 2001, it's been an astonishingly successful amalgam of German and British influences, with the Oxford factory barely able to keep up with demand. The world debut here in Geneva of the MINI John Cooper Works range, marks the neat integration of yet another piece of classic motoring heritage into the MINI ecosystem.

So it seemed perfectly appropriate when Kay Segler, senior vice president for brand management, gave his presentation entirely in German, but peppered it liberally with verbatim English phrases. We learned that the new MINI John Cooper Works is a car that lets you put the "pedal to the metal," while MINI has reached a "all time high" thanks to its "unconventional character" - something we should help celebrate at MINI's "after-work party."

The new cars, offered in standard and Clubman form, are the first John Cooper specials to be produced in the factory rather than being modified afterwards. They demonstrate how Segler's team understands exactly how to get the best from these very special brands.

The MINI succeeds not because it is the biggest, or the most powerful, or the most extreme in any way, but because it is brimful of personality and fun. With its white-edged black hood and tailgate stripes, subtle body side extensions, new "John Cooper Works" badges, and checkered and carbon black seats, it's another distinct look for MINI. And there are all the personalization options that we've come to expect, from red suspension springs to Recaro seats to a bewildering range of color and upholstery choices.

The upgraded 1.6-liter engine has a twin scroll turbocharger with direct injection, and upgrades to various internal components. It produces 211 horsepower, whisking the car from 0-62 mph in 6.5 seconds. Performance is only marginally degraded in the Clubman. Economy remains nominally around 40 mpg, with CO2 emissions at 165 g/km.

There's a six-speed manual gearbox, with Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Traction Control, and an electronic differential lock. And for the enthusiast, there's a Sport button on the dashboard that will remap the throttle response for an even sportier response.

Segler was joined on stage by Rauno Aaltonen, the "Flying Finn" rally driver who piloted a classic Mini Cooper to victory in the 1963 Monte Carlo rally. John Cooper's decades-long association with the Mini became iconic. After working with his son Mike since before the launch of the new MINI, BMW finally acquired the brand rights in 2007, paving the way for the launch of the John Cooper Works cars.

The new cars go on sale on March 20th.