2024 Mini Countryman John Cooper Works appears online
Mini’s new-generation Countryman John Cooper Works appears to have been given a power and torque cut in Europe – alongside a significant price increase.
The performance John Cooper Works version of the new-generation Mini Countryman has appeared on the car-maker’s German website, just days after the SUV was unveiled.
As first discovered by Mini specialist website MotoringFile, the 2024 Mini Countryman John Cooper Works (JCW) appeared online following the reveal of the ‘standard’ model, though without any fanfare.
According to Mini’s German website, the new Mini Countryman JCW will retain its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine – however peak outputs have dropped from 225kW/450Nm to 221kW/400Nm.
MotoringFile reports this is due to increasingly stringent emissions regulations in Europe, as well as the Countryman JCW dropping its eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission for a seven-speed dual-clutch, claimed to be capable of supporting less torque.
These specifications are identical to the European-delivered BMW X1 M35i xDrive – which shares its engine, transmission and all-wheel-drive system with the Mini – though Australia and US-bound examples of the BMW SUV are more powerful, at 233kW/400Nm.
Mini claims the Countryman JCW can achieve the zero to 100km/h sprint in 5.4 seconds – identical to the X1 M35i xDrive – while consuming 8.0-8.6L/100km on the European WLTP test cycle.
However, the new-generation model will likely go up in price if it comes to Australia, as it is priced from €60,120 plus on-road costs in Germany – equivalent to $100,000 locally.
For context, the current Mini Countryman JCW is priced between $68,625 and $75,946 – excluding on-road costs – in Australian showrooms.
The new Countryman’s German price is also just €4000 ($AU6670) less than a Porsche Cayman, and about €10,000 ($AU16,670) cheaper than the least-expensive Porsche Macan.
The new Mini Countryman JCW will enter production in Leipzig, Germany – alongside the BMW X1 and iX1, rather than from a former Volvo factory in the Netherlands – from March 2024, with Australian deliveries due to begin between July and September 2024.