Giant Slayer
Fun to drive but it all really comes down to forking out an extra $31,200 over the Cooper S
Loves corners, high performance engine 
Pricey, torque steer The ultimate Mini is one of the most sizzling hot hatches in present time
By Hadi Soedarsono
WE HAVE ALWAYS liked the Mini Cooper S. As a range-topper in the line-up, it’s by far the most fun Mini to drive, with a powerful engine and a sweet chassis to match.
The current-generation Cooper S is even better. It has an all-new turbocharged four-pot that gives it an extra 12bhp, while the revised platform has made it not only a better handler than it predecessor, but also one with an improved refinement.
So when Mini launched the John Cooper Works edition, we asked ourselves how much better can it get? Is it worth the $31,200 premium over the Cooper S?
With the John Cooper Works (JCW) name now brought in-house by BMW, JCW is like what the M branding is to BMW. It’s reserved for the sportiest model in the range.
Compared to the Cooper S, the JCW has additional 36bhp. It has a modified exhaust system, strengthened engine internals and uprated gearbox to cope with the bigger turbocharger, and a set of Brembo brakes to ensure it can stop as well as it goes.
The other highlight is the electronic limited-slip differential (LSD). While the JCW comes standard with a host of high-tech electronic gadgetries like the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) for safety reasons, the electronic LSD has been designed to maximize traction when cornering.
The electronic LSD automatically comes to play when the DSC is deactivated, which by the way also implicates that the JCW is at its sportiest setting. The “Sport” button near the gear lever allows power delivery to be more linear and at the same time sharpens the steering response.
In “Sport” mode and with the DSC turned off, the JCW gobbles up corners with great enthusiasm. You can’t be sloppy with the throttle though, as the front end is prone to wander off its intended path when the right foot gives it too much gas.
The same goes to when you accelerate hard on a straight line. There’s a noticeable amount of torque steer, which requires the driver to constantly adjust his or her steering input in order for the car to go straight.
We like the JCW more when it’s in normal mode. It’s still super-fast and nimble, but somewhat more manageable especially in the wet. It does lose some of its edginess which admittedly takes away a fair bit of driving excitement. But it just makes the JCW easier to live with for daily commuting in various conditions.
The JCW is notably a different animal from the Cooper S. It’s simply more wild in every performance aspect, enhancing the overall driving experience by a couple of notches.
However, with the $31,200 price difference over the Cooper S we feel it’s on the pricey side. And it’s not so much about the spec list. As a matter of fact, all the extras in the JCW feels just about fair for the additional cost that you have to cough up.
Our gripe with the JCW is its performance. Although better than the Cooper S, the difference in performance doesn’t quite meet our expectations. We have anticipated it to be more sorted than what it is especially with all the fancy and expensive mods on board.
NEED TO KNOW
Mini John Cooper Works
ENGINE TYPE 1,598cc, 16V in-line 4
MAX POWER 211bhp at 6,000rpm
MAX TORQUE 260Nm at 1,850-5,600rpm
280Nm at 2,000-5,300rpm (overboost)
GEARBOX 6-speed manual
TOP SPEED 238km/h
0-100KM/H 6.5 seconds
PRICE $159,000 with COE
WARRANTY 3 years/90,000km
CONTACT Trans Eurokars
TELEPHONE 6473-3777
