Say Hello to the Latest Mini Cooper: A Fresh Take on an Icon

As of April 2025, the new Mini John Cooper Works launched in South Africa. This model is offered exclusively in the 3-door hatchback configuration, with no current plans for a full-fat JCW version of the 5-door hatchback. This specific model is positioned above the Cooper S 3-Door and below the fully electric Cooper SE 3-Door in Mini’s lineup. 

With their latest arrival, we decided to dive into what’s new with the John Cooper Works, performance and power, features, and pricing. 

What you need to know about the new Mini Cooper

Exterior

At the front, you'll be greeted by Mini's sharp, striking waterproof stripes over the bonnet, adding a sportier edge for urban drivers looking to enhance their style on the move. You’ll also notice that the rear bumper features a diffuser styled in JCW colours to boost aerodynamics, while the rear spoiler wing, available in either roof colour or black, exerts pressure to keep your Cooper grounded throughout the drive.

Mini has opted for LED headlights, maintaining their signature shape without compromising on style. The front and rear also feature customisable welcome and goodbye greetings, which can be done using the JCW light signature and animation.

Interior

Inside, Mini delivers on comfort and performance with JCW sports seats designed to offer firm support for dynamic driving. These seats are expected to come standard in black synthetic leather, featuring red accent stitching and multi-coloured knitted fabric at the shoulders for added flair.

The JCW sports steering wheel adds a unique touch with a textile lower spoke, complementing the dashboard’s “knitted surface” for a modern, textured look. A high-resolution OLED display, which also serves as the instrument cluster, is centrally positioned above Mini’s signature “toggle” bar, combining style with functionality.

Performance and Power

MINI has no plans to produce a full-fledged JCW version of the F65-series 5-door hatchback. As a result, the most powerful version of the MINI hatchback will be available exclusively in the 3-door format, with the JCW variant also expected to join the F67-series convertible lineup at a later stage.

To recap, the F66-series MINI John Cooper Works is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that produces 170 kW and 380 Nm of torque. These figures represent an increase of 20 kW and 80 Nm over the Cooper S model.

Thanks to this power boost, the MINI JCW can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.1 seconds, which is half a second quicker than the Cooper S, and it reaches a top speed of 250 km/h—an improvement of 8 km/h. The JCW comes equipped with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (complete with shift paddles), and it boasts a fuel economy of 6.8 L/100 km.

Overview

In addition, the latest MINI Cooper model (JCW) electric car and its derivative, the Aceman, have not yet been confirmed for the South African market. The MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) lineup offers exceptional performance, featuring powerful TwinPower Turbo engines, high speeds, and responsive sports suspension for those who want to make every drive exciting.

Whether you’re behind the wheel of the classic JCW hatchback or the more spacious Countryman, the performance specs deliver on the promise of enhanced power, efficiency, and superior handling, all wrapped up in MINI’s iconic sporty design.

As of the time of publication, the MINI John Cooper Works is priced from R735,500.