MINI has introduced a performance version of the Countryman, and it's the most expensive MINI yet.
MINI claims that the new John Cooper Works Countryman "combines racing passion on the road with extreme driving fun on rough terrain." The question is: does the car live up to this rather bold statement?
Under the bonnet you get the standard JCW 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine which develops 218bhp and 221lb-ft of torque. 0-62mph takes 7.0 seconds which, while good, is a long way off the 6.5 seconds of the Hatch JCW.
The power is sent to all four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox or an optional automatic six-speed auto. The torque is split between the front and rear axles by an electromagnetic diff, and you get DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) and EDLC (Electronic Differential Lock Control) as standard.
You can instantly tell the JCW Countryman from its more humble siblings thanks to its huge bodykit and John Cooper Works logos on the radiator grille and bootlid. On the inside, you get sports seats, a sports steering wheel, and a dark speedometer and rev counter. We know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but when it comes to the looks of the JCW Countryman... er... well, we're sure it's mother loves it very much.
Oh yes, and the small matter of the price. It's £28,595. Which is a lot for a MINI, especially when you consider that for an extra £100 you could have a base-spec Range Rover Evoque (albeit one without 4WD).
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