2021 Mini Countryman John Cooper Works announced for Australia
The 2021 Mini Countryman John Cooper Works has been announced for Australia, bringing a fresh look and new tech.
The sporty Mini SUV now comes with LED headlight and rear tail-lights – complete with its signature Union Jack design – as standard across the Countryman range. Daytime running lights, indicators, and fog lights are also LED.
A new 5.0-inch digital instrument cluster sits in front of the driver in the updated Countryman, while an 8.8-inch centrally-located infotainment screen provides access to the sound system and optional Navigation Plus package.
The infotainment screen can integrate with Amazon Alexa, the virtual AI assistant, as well as connecting with Mini's Intelligent Emergency service. Intelligent Emergency telephones a specially-trained customer service agent if you're involved in an emergency situation.
Any Mini adorned with a John Cooper Works (JCW) badge indicates this is the sportiest incarnation of the model, with revised suspension, steering, and recalibrated stability control.
The performance end of the top-shelf Countryman is unchanged, with the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder again sending 225kW/450Nm to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Countryman JCW's 2.0-litre turbo engine is the same powertrain found in the BMW M135i and M235i coupe, and propels the Mini Countryman JCW from zero to 100km/h in 5.1 seconds.
A new sports exhaust system with 95mm tailpipes gives the Countryman JCW a unique engine note.
Trivia: A manual transmission had been offered at no cost, earlier in this generation's life cycle, but that option disappeared in 2018. BMW Group Australia tells us that not a single one of the Countryman JCW's buyers had requested a manual.
For the record, a total of 1529 Countryman JCWs have been sold in Australia in this current generation.
The 2021 Mini Countryman JCW will arrive in Australia towards the end of 2020, with pricing yet to be announced. The current model launched from $56,900 before on-road costs, back in 2017. A power upgrade, in October last year, bumped its price by a hefty hop to $65,900 before on-road costs.