Development of a successor to MINI’s 2006 limited-build JCW GP appears near complete, with these thinly disguised prototypes spotted recently near the Nürburgring.

Caught undergoing testing near the Nürburgring, the prototype has an aerodynamic body kit with new bumpers, a tailgate-mounted spoiler and a prominent rear diffuser. The model could also be equipped with a carbon fibre roof and carbon fibre mirror casings.

Engine specifications remain a mystery, but previous reports have suggested the car will use a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder with approximately 164 kW. Regardless of the final details, the production model will be unveiled in May at the Paul Ricard Circuit.

Meanwhile, some reports suggest that MINI may be preparing a range of GP models, and using the moniker as somewhat of an equivalent to parent company BMW’s ‘M’ brand. These reports are supported by the appearance of a prototype MINI Coupe wearing GP-style wheels in the background of the featured shots showing the Cooper GP prototype entering BMW’s Nürburg test centre.

Launched late last year, along with the larger Clubman model, the John Cooper Works (JCW) version of the MINI Convertible dispels any notion of being a hairdresser’s car. Having said that, an appointment with your hairdresser may be necessary as the JCW Convertible will literally blow your hair back.

The MINI JCW Convertible’s main attraction is, of course, the engine. A reworked version of the 1,6-litre twin-scroll turbocharged unit found in the MINI Cooper S Convertible is responsible for churning out 155 kW and 260 N.m of torque. JCW engineers have made a number of changes to achieve these figures, including improved air flow to the turbocharger, improved exhaust gas management for better turbo response at low engine speeds, as well as increased charge pressure from 0.9 to 1.3 bar. The result is a healthy torque curve between 1 850 – 5 600 rpm, with an additional 20 N.m ‘Overboost’ function available between 2 000 rpm and 5 300 rpm.

In the real world this means the MINI JCW Convertible doesn’t hang about. In-gear acceleration is impressive, even when using higher gears at lower speeds. With less weight to cart around (1 230 kg’s) compared to larger, similarly powered hot hatches, the MINI JCW Convertible rockets off the line and reaches 100 km/h in a claimed 6.9 seconds and has a top speed of 235 km/h. MINI claim the average fuel consumption to be 7.1 l/100km and CO2 emissions to 169 grams per kilometre. Thanks to the wide spread of torque this figure is not overly optimistic, as we were able to achieve 7.4 l/100km in the extra urban environment. It is optimistic to think that you’d be able to resist experiencing the MINI’s tantalising performance at any opportunity.

But as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility and so when you decide to bury your right foot, you’d better be able to keep up. Under full acceleration you’ll be single-handedly fighting fierce torque-steer as you snap through the gears. The short-wheelbase and sports suspension mean the car responds to every bump and imperfection in the road, following the camber and demanding focus to keep the car on your chosen line.

The JCW’s suspension is hard and not very forgiving. On pristine, smooth road surfaces the JCW is fantastic, with loads of grip exploitable via the accurate and quick steering. In fact, the JCW’s grip levels feel pretty much on par with the latest, and well sorted, Renault Clio RS, which sticks to the road like a gecko to a wall. As on the Coopers S, the ‘Sport’ button sharpens throttle response and firms up the steering, placing the MINI in ‘attack mode’. Pressing the ‘DTC’ button (Dynamic Traction Control) activates the electronic diff-lock on the front axle. This system limits slip from a drive wheel by applying the brakes appropriately, allowing you to floor the accelerator pedal out of corners without understeering off into the bushes. The DTC system does allow a smooth and controllable amount of wheelspin, with the DSC system still able to assist in avoiding potential disaster – beware the lift off oversteer though. The MINI JCW is fitted with a set of John Cooper Works emblazoned, red aluminium brake callipers, with 316 mm discs up front and 280 mm at the rear.

As with the Cooper S Convertible, the JCW’s body has been crash-optimised and reinforced to provide extra rigidity. With the roof up there is still a fair amount of chassis flex evident through the creeks and rattles of the folding roof. The low profile 17-inch run flat tyres and taught sports suspension don’t help in this regard, but fold down the canvas roof (in just 15 seconds) and the car transforms into a smooth operator, with any obvious signs of scuttle shake dissolved. The topless driving experience is similar to that of the Cooper S Convertible we tested a few months ago, but with the major difference being the sound from the sports exhaust. The ‘wooosh’ from the turbocharger and a raspy exhaust note resonate at the slightest touch of the accelerator, while the two large tail pipes emit crackles and pops each time you lift off the throttle. And, if you lift off the throttle at high revs in 2nd or 3rd gear, you’ll be rewarded with a satisfying backfire and a scowl from innocent bystanders.

It’s an eye-catching car, especially in bright red and easily stands out from more ‘standard’ MINI’s in the range, thanks to a sporty bodykit consisting of deep bumpers, gloss black accents around the grille and on the side mirrors, vented side skirts, exclusive 17-inch JCW wheels and large twin exhaust protruding beneath the rear bumper.

At R378 850, before selecting any options, the MINI JCW Convertible is not cheap. But you don’t buy the JCW Convertible for its practicality or fuel economy. You buy a MINI Cooper JCW Convertible for its head turning looks and sound, its involving drive and the heightened experience of it all with the roof off. Plus, you can rest assured knowing you can blow off any pretenders from robot-to-robot.

Fans of the Mini brand will soon get another vehicle to love, as Mini’s UK arm has confirmed that two new models, one of which is the Mini Coupe, will soon be headed to production. Both the Coupe and a yet-to-be-named model, both to be exhibited for the first time at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, will be built in the next few years.

“I think bringing these two new models to Oxford is a great sign to the Oxford area, to all the workers here at the plant, that the future for Mini and for this operation is very bright indeed,” Graham Biggs, corporate communications manager for BMW UK, told the BBC.

The news came along with plans to hire an additional 1 000 workers to help build the new models. Whether the second model will be the still-secretive Mini Roadster we got a peek at last week, or the nearly-finished Mini Crossover (or Crossman), is still not clear.

With its sleek looks and even smaller size, there’s no back seat in the Coupe concept, the new car certainly fits with the ‘Mini’ moniker.

Mini had previously said it would ultimately be the public and press reaction to the concept that would guide Mini’s plans on the matter, with its unveiling in Frankfurt and a possible U.S. showing at the Los Angeles Auto Show in December being the touchstones for that reaction. It seems the early reaction was so strong that Mini went ahead and made the decision to build it even before revealing it live.

Adding another pair of models to the Cooper/Convertible/Clubman range would move Mini closer to offering a full range of vehicles. Recent reports say the crossover won’t be coming until 2010 at the earliest, meaning both the Coupe and whichever model that comes with it, are still likely at least a year, and possibly as many as three years distant.

Adapted from MotorAuthority

It may be working on a crossover and toying with eco-friendly electric vehicles, but Mini hasn’t forgotten about its die-hard, speed-crazed enthusiasts. The Mini Coupe Concept, which debuts at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, is aimed squarely at this demographic.

Mini refers to the Coupe Concept as an “uncompromisingly sporting two-seater,” but we’d describe it as a John Cooper Works model wrapped in a stylish track suit. The Coupe Concept keeps most of the Mini’s styling and mechanicals intact, but tops it all off with a rakish fastback roof.

From some angles, the new roof resembles that of the original Audi TT, but designers have cleverly incorporated Mini’s trademark white roof and chunky pillars into the mix. Like the TT, the Coupe Concept is actually a hatchback, which opens to reveal a scant but usable 249-litres of storage.

No changes have been made to the powertrain, but the Mini, especially in John Cooper Works form, is already a hot hatch. The Coupe Concept uses the same turbocharged 1,6-litre inline 4-cyclinder found in the JCW models, which produces 155 kW and 260 N.m of torque, and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

For the time being, Mini’s tight-lipped on the subject of production, but given the stock powertrain and the sheer quantity of parts carried over from existing models, we’d say it’s quite likely to see the Coupe, or possibly a roadster variant, join the Mini portfolio in the near future.

Adapted from Automobile