Summarize

Meet Mini’s most powerful production cars yet – it’s newly tweaked hot John Cooper Works Countryman and Clubman estate have been subjected to a significant 55kW upgrade to 225kW and by a whopping 100Nm to 450Nm to improve 0-100km/h acceleration by a handy 1.5 seconds to 4.9 seconds in both cars.

Top end is now limited to 250km/h, all thanks to a completely redesigned engine that benefits crankshaft modifications, a new vibration damper and optimised cooling to improve response and boost output, while a louder sports exhaust and a petrol particulate filter are also new.

Both cars’ eight-speed automatic gearboxes now benefit greater internal efficiency to allow the engine to pull lower revs in higher gears, while a new mechanical differential lock and recalibrated stability control ensure improved traction in all conditions.

Suspension also benefits enhancements with optional adaptive dampers and a lowered ride height for the ALL4 wheel drive twins, while styling tweaks include larger air intakes, aero-optimised roof spoilers and mirror caps. Expect the new JCWs early in the second half.