There are only two options if you want proper hot hatches in India. In terms of the price tag, the Mercedes-AMG A45S ranks at the top at Rs. 1 Crore! But for those who don’t have that kind of money, they can get the hot hatch which doesn’t cost nearly as much i.e. Mini Cooper JCW. And we would like to show you a version which brings a bit more flavour to the table thanks to all the mods. Allow us to convince you why you should spend your hard-earned money on building the English pocket rocket!
Styling is a touchy subject but one could easily agree that Mini JCW is one of the products which can balance the aggression of a boy racer with a smooth silhouette similar to the Mini’s of the classic times. The DNA is visible amid all the changes which increase the size of concerns of safety for both pedestrians as well as drivers. This particular JCW has some changes which enhance the look. For starters, it has paint correction done courtesy of Mkraft which makes the paint appear much better. In addition, it has several front grille components finished in carbon fibre as well as rear components finished in the same sporty shade. A lot of chrome bits are also darkened which adds to the aggressiveness of the previously cute styling. Not to mention, the rear diffuser matched with carbon fibre JCW exhaust tips screams racecar.
But the day may end if kept talking about stylistic improvements, let’s move to aspects one should note like the performance underneath the hood. The Mini Cooper JCW comes with the BMW sourced B48 which is a 2.0 litre 4 cylinder twin scroll turbo engine which in its stage 2 form produces 276hp and 400 Nm of torque. This is possible thanks to Aventuri Carbon Fibre Intake, Armytrix Downpipe and CTS intercooler. If the statistics weren’t impressing you, the sound of this thing would surely make a statement!
Mini effectively pioneered the hot hatch segment. Whilst they weren’t made to go fast, their low chassis, wide wheels as well as short length made them perfect to hug corners at higher speeds. That formula was refined by John Cooper who started putting bigger engines into the Cooper and the rest, as they always say, was history. The Mini JCW is already a competent performer with ample power throughout the band but this tune completely transforms the characteristics into a neck-snapping drama queen. This power rush is amplified due to the smaller form factor of the British hatchback. The pulls are fun with small bits of torque steer adding to the drama. The interesting part about torque steer is that it’s minimized due to the heaviness of the steering wheel which stabilizes the Mini, unlike some other tuner cars.
Speaking of tunability, the BMW-sourced B48 engine is renowned for making more than 400whp in stage 3 format. But in India, the support for the block remains lower as compared to the rest of the world hence, making the price for parts more expensive. A car of that calibre would need a lot more cooling in a hot and humid climate like India.
In terms of practicality, the Mini JCW is quite low as compared to the competition because it is a 3-door and there isn’t enough space. Not to mention, only the young backs can deal with the harsh suspension which makes the car better in the corners but extremely cumbersome on a day-to-day basis.
But, if you can digest the high pricing and some impracticality, the Mini becomes a very appealing option in today’s market. It will be loved by many as it does not exude the “high-class” vibe of a BMW or Mercedes which may bring unwanted attention. It is good enough to be better than a VW/Skoda but not as good as a rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive German Sedan/Hatchback. It is a car which one would need to carefully think about before buying as pure numbers wouldn’t do the talking. But, if you watched Mr Bean or videos where the Minis are doing crazy things overseas and have an attachment for it, the Mini JCW is the hot hatch to buy.
