The Mini John Cooper Works GP Inspired Edition is another limited edition model for hot hatch enthusiasts, exclusive to Southeast Asia
SINGAPORE
If you’re one of the many that wanted to but failed to get your hands on one of the very limited Mini John Cooper Works GP cars in Singapore, here’s a second chance. Well, sort of anyway.
Mini Asia has just announced the launch of the Mini John Cooper Works GP Inspired Edition in Singapore. The bombastically long official name basically explains that this is essentially a Mini John Cooper Works 3-door hatchback, fully jazzed up with JCW add-ons for something close to the Works GP car, but not entirely there. You can have one for S$199,888 with COE right now.
Interesting thing is, Head of Mini Asia, Kidd Yam, explains that this variant was actually kitted and designed in Singapore for sale throughout Southeast Asia, feeding into the well-known trend of drivers in the region going the full-tilt with visual modifications to their cars.
Only this time, Mini sells you the car already packed to the gills with official option parts.
It’s also officially a limited edition variant, so while not as rare as the Works GP, the Inspired Edition will also have a ‘sold-out’ badge stuck on the catalog eventually.
It does get a punchy 2.0-litre turbo engine puts out a not-too-shabby 231 horsepower, and 0 to 100km/h sprint time is officially rated at 6.1 seconds. Power is sent to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission,plus the car gets adaptive sports suspension and a sports exhaust system.
It comes in only a single body colour option: Racing Grey metallic for the body and the contrast colour Melting Silver metallic for the roof. Visual and aerodynamic touches include a John Cooper Works rear spoiler and mirror caps. A black engine bonnet scoop, black door handles and black fuel lid are all shared with the original Works GP car.
18-inch lightweight forged wheels in the John Cooper Works Cup Spoke design, Piano Black headlight surrounds, a black Mini logo on the bonnet and tailgate serve as additional highlights.
“GP Inspired” lettering distinguishes the MINI John Cooper Works GP Inspired Edition from the car that it draws inspiration from. This can be found on the two side doors, as well as on the air inlet trim and the C-pillar of the hatchback.
The car’s John Cooper Works leather steering wheel is covered in Walknappa Leather, with red stitching and a 3D printed metal centre marking for the 12 o’clock position.
What’s of note is that considering how the transport and environment ministries are all rushing headlong to embrace the new future with electric vehicles, we think that cars like this one could well be the last of the traditional, petrol burning, high performance hot hatches before a wave of change sweeps in.
If you’re one of the many that still hanker about wanting cars to sound actually loud and sporty, and not zoom about quietly like spaceships, then better get in quick before they all go extinct, which appears to be sooner rather than later at the moment.
