Currently reading: Mini John Cooper Works GP hatchback on the cards

The hardcore hatch featured in the first two generations of Mini under BMW ownership – and it's likely to do so again

Mini is set to launch a hardcore John Cooper Works GP version of its current three-door hatchback.

A JCW GP has featured in the first two generations of the Mini under BMW ownership, and company boss Peter Schwarzenbauer has confirmed the model is likely to appear again.

“The John Cooper Works GP is an important part of the Mini brand,” he said. “It has worked well for us in the past and I don’t see why it wouldn’t again in the future.”

The previous, 2013 JCW GP had a stripped-out cabin that replaced the rear seats with a thick strut brace, adjustable coil-over suspension, a significant boost in power and braking performance and a more hardcore chassis tune.

Expect a similar recipe for the new model, but it’s unlikely to be seen until closer to the end of the decade.

The JCW GP has always acted as a run-out model, and the current three-door hatch will be in production until at least 2020. 

Read our review of the second-generation Mini GP

Read: electric Mini to launch in 2019

Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

Add a comment…