MINI’s JCW E EV Model Leaked in China, More Power Is Coming

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by Carl Malek | September 17, 2024

Mini is preparing to go all-electric and the quest for electrification is even extending to the performance-oriented JCW lineup. Not much was known about what the company had planned but thanks to a newly leaked patent image we get a glimpse of the production version of the JCW EV model.

Newly leaked images from the Chinese patent office reveal the JCW EV will share alot of traits with the ICE-powered model

Mini was supposed to unveil the new John Cooper Works (JCW) model in October at the 2024 Paris Auto Show with the model being the first JCW in history to offer ICE and EV powertrains. The company did a good job hiding the details from prying eyes and not much was known about it.

However, that’s changed thanks to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) which not only published an image of the new model but also revealed some key technical details that show the company is not fooling around when it comes to giving buyers the best of both worlds in the performance car segment.

JCW is the best of both worlds

The patent also confirmed that the JCW will be the most pwoerful EV in the Cooper lineup.

The biggest headline here is the EV powertrain with the Chinese patent confirming that the JCW E will produce 255 hp which is noticeably more than the base Cooper E’s 181 hp and is also more than the Cooper SE’s 215 hp. All of this newfound power does come at the cost of weight with the EV components making the JCW E heavier than some of its rivals. Buyers that don’t want the EV will be pleased to hear that a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will continue to be offered with the engine being a tweaked version of the one used in the Cooper S model.

The exterior styling of the JCW E builds on what we have seen from JCW models of the past with the model getting reworked front and rear bumpers and a racier body kit along with a new rear diffuser and side skirts. SLick 18-inch wheels are also part of the package and Mini designers splashed some JCW badges in to round out the look. It will be interesting to see how the new styling looks when paired with other colors but look for it to still make a bold impression in urban traffic and on a weekend track day.

What’s next for MINI?

In addition to the JCW EV, MINI is also expanding its EV presence in other ways with the recent unveiling of the Aceman being one recent example.

In addition to the revamped JCW lineup, the brand is also preparing to expand its presence in the EV market. The Mini Aceman will join the Cooper E and the bigger Countryman SE as the third model in Mini’s EV lineup with the Aceman serving as a stylish alternative to the Cooper and the Countryman which the brand hopes will help win over a larger percentage of young buyers.

In addition to the arrival of the Aceman, Mini is also focusing on ramping up the ability of its assembly plants to produce electric vehicles with MINI’s plant in Oxford, England preparing to begin EV-only production by 2030 with MINI and BMW already in the early stages of preparing the plant for this transformation.