2012 MINI Countryman JCW spy shots

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By Brett Davis | July 07th, 2011

To complete a full JCW range, MINI has just about finished on-road testing of the upcoming MINI Countryman John Cooper Works variant. Here we see a prototype version being pounded around Germany’s Nurburgring in near-production trim.

The sporty all-wheel drive wagon will feature usual revisions as seen on other JCW MINI variants. These include a tidy new bodykit with a new, more aggressive front bumper, matching side skirts and a new rear bumper incorporating a diffuser setup.

At first, early speculation pointed towards this Countryman JCW featuring the same 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the other JCW models. In those it produces 155kW of power and 280Nm of torque. Rumour has it though, this Countryman JCW will see slight hikes in overall power to counter the Countryman’s heavier weight. Reports say it could offer as much as 170kW from a similar engine layout.

Other nifty additions include sporty alloy wheels, uprated suspension for stiffer, more responsive drive characteristics, and bigger brakes hiding behind those large wheels. The car is also expected to feature a manual-only transmission and MINI’s ALL4 all-wheel drive system. These revisions should put the compact wagon up against the likes of the Subaru WRX hatch rather nicely.

According to reports, the 2012 MINI Countryman JCW will debut at either the Los Angles Auto Show in November, or the Detroit Auto Show in January next year.

We think the sporty model doesn’t shape up too bad. What do you think?

bob

See, now this I could get used to. Looks mean.

The Mini Coupe on the other hand….let’s not get into it.
Rex

Holy crap.
That actually looks fantastic.

Cam

We must be looking at different photos! OMG Holy Crap a hearse that looks like a mini!

CRS200

Nice, but unfortunately OVERPRICED!

bob

Yeah, I agree. All optioned up I can see this thing hitting in the $80k mark. For a Mini, that’s a little absurd, even if it is an SUV, or an attempt at an SUV.

Despite me saying that, I would still consider it =)

bob

What I’d also love to see is Mini putting in this potentially revised 170kW engine in the Cooper JCW.

What a peach that would be!

sammy

you can do that with a tune…

matt

I am considering getting one of these, but my research is showing a ton of repair issues with the 2011 (as well as part shortages and long waits to fix). Any mechanical or bug improvements planned for the 2012?
http://www.audipage.com Audipage

Mini is a tough competitor to the Audi A1 which is getting beaten because of it’s smaller range compared to that of Mini. Mini has constantly been evolving in lot of options and frames to stay smarter!! This model to looks like a chic car, sweet and sexy.

UMWHAT

looking like a chic car isn’t a good thing…

sweeeeet

Think he meant “chique”,not “chick”

Jo Blow

Ok.. A fully optioned Cooper S Countryman ALL4 is topping out at high $70s… This will most likely be $70-80k range… WRX is half that.
Hemisedan

Where do you get the $70 – $80K range from? I configured a loaded, by my views, Countryman All4 and it came to $35K. Now, are you telling me that the JCW option is $45K? Get real. On what I see here, I could definately see myself in one, only with two doors though, when my 2011 JCW runs out of warrantee.