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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.
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.
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