What's all this about?

It's MINI revealing a hot petrol-powered model of its forthcoming Countryman, to go with the fairly rapid electric SE All4 it has already announced. This is the latest John Cooper Works (JCW) model, which is likely to be the last petrol-powered MINI Countryman JCW we'll get before the marque goes all-electric from 2030 onwards.

Is it more powerful than the electric one?

No, it isn't. The Countryman SE makes 313hp, whereas this JCW has 300hp and 400Nm from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot petrol; weirdly enough, they're also figures that aren't quite as impressive on paper as the preceding model, which had 306hp/450Nm following its 2021 update. Nevertheless, the new JCW can claim to be the fastest of its breed of Countryman, as it eclipses the electric SE's 5.6-second 0-62mph sprint with a quicker 5.4-second run. It's also capable of 155mph flat out, so it's more than quick enough for a MINI model.

Has it got chassis upgrades to cope with the power?

For sure. The JCW will use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which powers all four wheels - and the company says the All4 is set up to suit the JCW's power delivery. There's a set of high-performance brakes with Chili Red callipers, the suspension should get a sporty state of tune, and the tyres on a range of 19- and 20-inch aerodynamically optimised alloys are wider at 245mm, giving greater contact patches and enhanced grip. MINI has also made sure to enhance the one area the JCW will definitely have the edge on the SE, which is acoustics - its active exhaust has an exclusive JCW sound extension that is said to emit sports-car-like notes and it also enhances the engine's voice on start-up.

All sounds good, if you'll forgive the pun. How about the looks and interior?

Despite the Countryman JCW's blocky-looking appearance, it's actually quite an aerodynamic thing. The coefficient of drag for the vehicle is a relatively lowly 0.26, which is impressive. Model-specific details include 'JCW Signature Mode' LED lights front and rear, the high-gloss black radiator grille, vertical reflector bars in the lower, outer front air intakes, chunky bumpers and side sills, a contrast-colour 'floating' roof, quad exhaust exits - and the new JCW logo. It's said to have a more modern, clean-cut appearance now and it's finished in the red, black and white colours that hark back to Paddy Hopkirk's Monte Carlo Rally-winning Mini Cooper S of 1964.

Inside, you've got a cabin bisected by a horizontal line, above which are strong vertical details for the door handles and the air vents. The dashboard, made of recycled polyester, is finished in red and black, while - barring a row of toggle switches beneath it - the circular OLED touchscreen in the centre of the dash houses most of the major controls and displays. The assisted driving tech is ramped up with the optional Driving Assistant Professional package, while practicality is decent too - the rear bench slides forwards and backwards by up to 130mm, while with it folded away there's 1,450 litres of boot space available in the JCW Countryman. If you're using all the seats, expect 460 litres of cargo capacity.

Interestingly, prices for the JCW start at £41,520. That's less than the starting price for an electric Countryman, so this 300hp newcomer seems good value for the performance offered.