Just take it in for a moment. That’s the Mini John Cooper Works you’re staring at, all 208bhp of it. Mini will unveil this steroidal version of the already beefy Cooper S at Geneva 2008 before opening the books in July, so get saving.

The Mini JCW extracts an extra 33bhp over the standard Cooper S by dumping the regular turbocharger and strapping on a bigger, twin-scroll unit. The air filter and exhaust get a tinkle too – the JCW’s twin central tailpipes have noticeably more girth, which should enhance the soundtrack.

Can do. Using a leaden right foot to coax the overboost function, which briefly summons an extra 14lb ft of torque over the standard 192lb ft, the JCW will sprint to 62mph in 6.5 seconds.

It’ll top out at 148mph, giving Mini the perfect opportunity to squeeze a couple more numbers onto the dinner plate-proportioned central speed – it now reads 160mph, ten more than lowlier versions.
And if it’s a pub stat you’re after, get this: the Mini JCW produces 132bhp per liter from its turbocharged 1.6. That’s a good one to bore Civic Type-R owners with.

The JCW debuts Mini’s Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) system, which allows the front wheels to spin slightly when you’re caning it, before handing over to the standard DSC if things get out of hand. They can both be fully switched off too, in which case you’re free to slide around to your heart’s content, aided only by the standard limited slip differential.

It’s all pretty standard upgrade stuff after that really. You know the drill; sportier 17-inch rims stretched over bigger, bright red brake calipers; suspension dropped by 10mm; stiffer springs; a few JCW badges and a more aggressive body kit. Expect a pair of deep bucket seats in the front as well.

A six-speed manual shifter is the only gearbox option and, as ever, power is driven through the front wheels.
The JCW Clubman is like phoning for Batman and getting Robin instead – it still has the utility belt and a cape, but it’s all a bit, well, embarrassing. The extra weight means it’s slightly slower to 62mph (6.8 seconds), and the length will blunt the handling ever so slightly. From our experience with the Clubman though, it might offer a better ride compared to the hatch. And if you must have that bit extra space and another door, there it is.

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It’s the new Mini. But you’ll have to be a real geek to spot the differences. If you really want to know it’s a bit longer, and the bonnet is a bit higher for crash and pedestrian protection regulations. Oh, and there’s a new engine nestling under the hood. Throw in a revised interior, some chassis tweaks and a few other details and it’s a ‘new’ car.

• So you’re basically saying it looks the same…

You can’t really blame Mini for keeping the styling so similar. After all demand has been so high the production line has been playing catch up since sales started in 2001. What has always been mildly embarrassing about the outgoing car though is its engine. Built in conjunction with Chrysler, in a deal that the ink dried on before arch rival Mercedes-Benz jumped into bed with the American firm, the 1.6 unit was never the Mini’s strong point. The new 1.6, naturally aspirated in the Cooper, and turbocharged, rather than supercharged, in the Cooper S is another shared effort - this time with the French PSA group.

• So is the new engine any good then?

That depends on your viewpoint. Some might complain that the new Mini has lost some of its character. If for character you read poor refinement then yes, it has, being far less raucous than the old unit. The throttle response is crisp, and although it’s got a turbo it’s rarely caught off boost. The twin-scroll turbocharger allows the 1.6-litre engine to deliver peak torque of 177lb ft between 1600 and 5000rpm. And there’s an overboost too, delivering 192lb ft when really charging hard. Peak power of 173bhp is delivered at 5500rpm. That’s more than the old Cooper S, allowing an improved 0-62mph time of 7.1 seconds, and better combined consumption and CO2 emissions figures of 40.9mpg and 164g/km respectively.

• Enough talk about consumption and emissions. Is it fun?

Oh yes. The Mini might be more refined, and a tiny bit more spacious but it still remains highly enjoyable. The steering is precise, if not exactly loaded with feel, the long-throw six-speed gearshift is crisp, and the handling is as sharp as ever. Sure, there’s understeer on offer if you’re overly keen on corner entry and brutal with the accelerator, but you really need to be trying to provoke it. Keep things clean and tidy and the Cooper S is a rewarding, involving drive. Overall, it’s undeniably a more mature feeling car, with refinement and comfort that’s quite a step up from its predecessor.

• Comfort? Refinement? Has the Mini sold out?

Don’t worry, it’s still enjoyable, just in a slightly different way. What’s impressive is the way that the Mini is now a car that you’d happily tackle a long boring drive in, as well as a backroad blast. The suspension is far better judged, the standard set up on the Cooper S giving it real fluidity and poise, and a very nicely balanced ride. There’s a bit more body roll, but it’s a far more rounded car as a result.

If that all sounds too soft for you then Mini also offers a Sport Chassis. It brings thicker anti-roll bars and stiffer dampers and springs. It’ll be quicker around a track, but compromised on the M25. It’s just one of a huge number of options that will allow you to personalise your Mini.

• Verdict

Some might bemoan the slight loss of character with this new car, but it’s a well-judged new model. It’s a fair bit more refined, but still a hoot when the mood takes you. So it’s bound to appeal to existing, and inevitably aging, early adopters of the original New Mini, while still enough fun to attract new buyers. That it looks much the same is no bad thing, as sales haven’t exactly been a problem with the outgoing models.
In many ways it’s like when Porsche reinvent the 911. There will always be doubters, but ultimately they’re always won round.

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A new Mini Cooper? Doesn't look that new. It really is a new car – every body panel has changed, new engine and new interior too – although it looks familiar and CAR Online has already tested the new Mini Mk2 in hot Cooper S form.

Mini's owner BMW says the Mini is a bit like a Porsche 911 – it’s a classic shape and you just can't muck around with that. So it's a new car that looks just like the old one. It's a bit longer than the outgoing Cooper (by 60mm), though height and width are identical. The key change is the engine. Goodbye to the old Chrysler four-cylinder droner – neither fast nor frugal, and always the car's weak link – and in its place comes a new BMW/Peugeot joint venture engine built in Hams Hall, not so far from the Mini factory in Oxford.

• So does it drive just like the old one?

No. And this is a good news/bad news story. The new engine is quieter as well as more powerful and economical, and the Cooper now gets a six-speed 'box and taller ratios. So it's a more relaxing drive, better able to whisk along the motorway in reasonable comfort.

The downside is that some of the outgoing Mini's verve has been lost. The longer gearing (to help give better fuel consumption) blunts some of the hyperactivity that has always been a hallmark of the Cooper. At times, the car feels downright slothful. Also, the new electric steering, though quick-geared, lacks the feel and sharpness of the old hydraulic rack-and-pinion set up.
Mind you, the Cooper's still enjoyable to drive, helped by the terrific driving position and good handling.

• OK, not quite so much fun – but how about all the sensible things?

The latest Cooper is even better made, and feels a more premium vehicle, than its predecessor. The cabin is well-finished, the vast central speed is even bigger and the quirky toggle switches remain. Some of the new switchgear is plasticly though, and not in keeping with the Mini's premium price and positioning. As always the Mini's really just a two-seater: the back seat is for kids only, and the boot's tiny too.

Prices have only increased modestly, and standard equipment, equally, remains modest. Many of the features you’d expect in a £12,995 small car are options, including manual air conditioning (an extra £660). The vast options list enables buyers to personalize their cars, one of the secrets of the car's brilliant marketing.

• Verdict

Cute, desirable, well-made and fun to drive, the Cooper has nonetheless lost a little of its bro. It just isn't the zestful little beast that its predecessor was. Those after a premium, distinctive, well-made little hatch will be delighted. But those who want a special driving experience may not be quite so thrilled.

Keen drivers now really need to save up and pay extra for the substantially more entertaining Cooper S.

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