With tyre diameter increased by 30 mm to 710 mm and 400 Nm on tap, the all-wheel drive MINI John Cooper Works Countryman has been a given a design tweak to make it look as good as it is quick.

“The MINI John Cooper Works Countryman embodies a unique combination of style, power and a sense of adventure. With its powerful 300 hp engine and sporty design, it is the perfect companion for anyone looking for something special”, says Stefanie Wurst, head of the MINI brand.

The new design sees an upright and minimalist silhouette with the logo also been redesigned with a modern, clearcut look. For the first time, the logo is being used on the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman in the classic black, red, and white colour scheme.

The new design gives the crossover a drag coefficient of just 0,26,  and this helps the engine, which generates 221 kW, to accelerate the car from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5,4 seconds and to a top speed of 250 km/h.

The standard all-wheel drive system is coupled to a high-performance braking system with brake calipers in Chili Red colour, while optimised pistons, connecting rods and engine mounts extract maximum power from the 2,0-litre turbo engine.

The tyre diameter, which has been increased by 30 mm, is now 710 mm and the increased tyre width of 245 mm enhances the typical MINI go-kart feeling. Aerodynamically optimised 19-inch and 20-inch wheels are exclusive to JCW.

The new MINI JCW Countryman features 12 ultrasonic sensors and four surround-view cameras in total that support the driver assistance systems and enable partially automated Level 2 driving in the Driving Assistant Professional option package.

In the interior, the cockpit is divided into an upper and lower section, with vertical door handles and air vents in the upper area. The dashboard is made of a two-tone textile made from recycled polyester.

With the rear seat folded down, even bulky items can be easily transported in the 460 litre to 1 450 litre luggage compartment.

Colin Windell – proudly ALL THINGS MOTORING