What's all this about?
It's about more power.
More power? For whom?
For the John Cooper Works versions of the MINI Electric hatchback and the new MINI Aceman crossover.
Oh, thank heavens. I thought you meant more power for the government...
No, this is much more fun. Both of these upgraded electric models now develop up to 258hp - well, they do as long as you remember to pull the 'Boost' lever behind the steering wheel, which gives you maximum power for a ten-second burst.
Only ten seconds, eh?
Are there many places you can hold the accelerator down all the way for a full ten seconds? Anyway, in spite of the power and the 340Nm of torque, the MINI John Cooper Works hatchback still has reasonable range of 251 miles, while the Aceman can officially manage 243 miles on a charge.
How long does charging take?
It's not too bad. Both models can charge at up to 11kW on AC power, and at up to 95kW on DC fast chargers, so a 10-80 per cent charge should take only 30 minutes.
OK, now what about performance?
Well, pull that Boost lever and the hatchback will hit 62mph from rest in 5.9 seconds, while the Aceman will be only slightly behind at 6.4 seconds. Both are limited to a top speed of 124mph.
Any other changes?
Both cars get sportier suspension and stickier tyres, and both get new John Cooper Works alloy wheels, in 18-inch diameter for the hatchback, and 19 inches for the Aceman.
What about the styling?
Both get lots of red-and-black trim details on the outside, along with the distinctive John Cooper Works badge, which is meant to represent a chequered flag - a nod to the Formula One and rallying heritage of the Cooper name.
And inside?
More red and black, for the stitched fabric dashboard and for the bucket seats, and the big round 9.5-inch OLED touchscreen gives you access to the car's driving modes which include Vivid, Core, Green, Timeless, Balance, Go Kart and Personal settings.
How much for all this John Cooper-ness?
The MINI Electric John Cooper Works hatchback starts from £38,420, while the Aceman John Cooper Works will start from £40,220. You can order yours from the end of this month, but you'll be waiting until April next year to take delivery.
Neil Briscoe - 14 Oct 2024
