More

    2021 Mini John Cooper Works GP review: An almost-grand finale

    Mini would really like you to suppose it is saved the most effective of its third-generation Hardtop fashions for final with this 2021 John Cooper Works GP. Limited to simply 3,000 models worldwide, the performance-focused GP sends the third-generation Mini Hardtop out in type, with aggressive bodywork, a extra highly effective engine and a reworked suspension making it essentially the most potent road-going Mini so far. Yet it is not fairly going out with a bang.

    LikePunchy turbo engineQuirky appears to be likeInherent exclusivity

    Don’t LikeNo guide transmissionSquishy Hankook tiresDisappointing exhaust notice

    Flashy however useful The very first thing you’ll be able to’t assist however discover concerning the limited-edition Mini GP are its further exterior touches. The entrance apron, lip spoiler and honking double-decker rear wing are unique to the GP. They’re all useful, too, offering further downforce over the usual John Cooper Works Hardtop. The carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic wheel arch panels sporting every automotive’s manufacturing quantity are additionally extra than simply for aesthetics, overlaying the broader observe and optimizing airflow across the sides.Combine all that with a Racing Gray Metallic paint job, contrasting Melting Silver Metallic roof and Chili Red accents, and the GP actually appears to be like like a hi-po Mini ought to. Sure, the rear wing and aspect panels could also be garish to some, however you will get away with a few over-the-top contact visible items on a Mini. And bear in mind, it is all useful.

    The hardcore theme continues inside. Like earlier Mini GPs, the rear seats are gone, to save lots of weight. There’s a crimson aluminum cross-brace behind the leather- and microfiber-trimmed sport seats. Without the again seats, there’s 33.4 cubic ft of cargo area, good for weekly grocery journeys — or a observe field, jack and spare tire for trekking out to open observe days. Other cabin modifications embrace a numbered sprint trim panel, GP-specific digital instrument cluster graphics and a Nappa-leather-wrapped steering wheel with substantial 3D-printed steel shift paddles.If you are hoping for gobs of infotainment and superior security know-how, the GP is not for you. The Mini Connected infotainment system runs on an 8.8-inch touchscreen with navigation with real-time visitors information, a six-speaker audio setup, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay, however not Android Auto. The heart display is not essentially the most aware of inputs, although, typically requiring a few faucets for instructions to register. 

    Power factors for charging telephones, nevertheless, are plentiful for a two-seater, with a USB-A, USB-C, 12-volt shops and a wi-fi charging pad on provide. As for security tech, there’s the federally mandated backup digital camera and that is it.

    The GP’s know-how hand consists of the Mini Connected infotainment system, however not a lot in superior security tech.
    Jon Wong/Roadshow
    A borrowed coronary heartWhile the common JCW Hardtop’s 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 pumps out 228 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, the GP will get the two.0-liter powerplant discovered within the JCW Clubman and JCW Countryman. This higher engine has upgraded pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft and extra enhance for a complete of 301 hp and 331 pound-feet of torque. With the eight-speed computerized transmission, the GP will hit 60 mph in 5 seconds, besting the 5.9-second run of a base JCW Hardtop.Oh, and also you learn that proper: The GP has an computerized transmission. Unlike its predecessors, the newest GP does not route energy to its entrance wheels by means of a guide transmission, and one is not accessible, both. To driving purists — to not point out the 46% of Mini JCW Hardtop clients who buy manuals — the slush field is a colossal letdown, however mandatory from a enterprise standpoint. Mini did not have a guide transmission in its components bin able to dealing with the output of this engine, and the fee in growing and certifying one for a limited-production run would not fly with the bean-counters.So, for a GP to occur with this engine, it needed to be paired with an Aisin-sourced computerized. To Mini’s credit score, the corporate did a good job giving it sportier shift programming — one thing I appreciated whereas blitzing round GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Michigan. Activating Sport mode and leaving the transmission in absolutely computerized mode has the gearbox holding onto gears all the best way to redline earlier than ripping off {smooth}, fast upshifts. These aren’t dual-clutch-quick gear-changes, however fairly good for a torque-converter computerized. Manual mode options responsive upshifts by means of the paddles, with only a millisecond delay when downshifting.A turbo I4 with 301 horses is sweet, however it’s solely accessible with an computerized transmission.
    Jon Wong/Roadshow
    The engine is powerful, delivering constant pull all through the rev vary with peak torque accessible between 1,750 and 4,000 rpm. The GP quickly pulls out of corners and barrels down straights. Cracking 125 mph down GingerMan’s again straight is straightforward, and feels super-fast on this little automotive. The one grievance I’ve concerning the engine is the exhaust notice, which has a high-pitch drone at wide-open-throttle. It’s not annoying, however merely not ear-pleasing.Track strikesAs at all times, energy is nothing with out management and the Mini GP has a reasonably darn good deal with on dynamics. Additional underbody bracing and a entrance strut tower bar stiffen the chassis, whereas the suspension includes a 1.4-inch entrance and 0.9-inch rear wider observe, uprated springs, dampers, antiroll bars, elevated wheel camber and a 0.4-inch decrease trip peak. The complete bundle rides on slick-looking 18-inch solid wheels wrapped with Hankook Ventus S1 Evo Z tires.All that seems like a recipe for riot round a observe, however the Mini’s Hankook tires show to be a limiting issue. Turn-in is barely muted and thru gradual corners understeer rears its ugly head because the entrance tires howl making an attempt to hold on for pricey life. For slower, sharp complexes, getting the rear to rotate may be executed for those who chuck it in laborious, which is promising. After three brief periods round GingerMan, the indicators of rollover on the entrance tires are evident, and a looming 150-mile return journey again to metro Detroit means I’m pressured to take it straightforward across the 2.2-mile highway course.With higher tires, the GP shall be even higher round GingerMan Raceway.
    Jon Wong/Roadshow
    That’s a disgrace, too. The GP’s steering is pretty direct and communicative even with these tires. Side-to-side weight transfers are good, stability management tuning is superb and the brakes keep sturdy with pedal journey solely getting a contact longer on the finish of a day of lapping. If fitted with tires with extra sturdy sidewalls, there’s little doubt that the GP will shine a lot brighter round a observe and possibly excel on an autocross course.Street survivalAway from the observe, this potent Mini is a tough rider. Given the GP’s mission in life, I anticipate that larger ruts and potholes are going to be felt within the cabin. The brakes are fascinating, with very gentle engagement on the prime of the pedal stroke earlier than abruptly clamping down. This makes it troublesome to cease easily from decrease speeds inflicting me to apologize to a few passengers on a number of events for less-than-smooth stops.The drivetrain is quite economical given its output, with the EPA estimating that the two.0T will return 24 miles per gallon within the metropolis and 30 mpg on the freeway. In blended driving, I noticed gasoline financial system within the excessive 20s, and when cruising on the freeway out to the GingerMan, I simply exceeded the EPA’s freeway estimates, returning over 35 mpg.Ride high quality is not nice on highway, however gasoline effectivity is spectacular contemplating the GP’s output.
    Jon Wong/Roadshow
    The finest it may beIs the 2021 Mini John Cooper Works GP actually the most effective third-generation Hardtop? Yes and no. Yes, for those who’re taking a look at it from a numbers standpoint. It’s essentially the most highly effective manufacturing Hardtop so far, hits 60 mph in 5 seconds, and clocked in a sub-8-minute lap time round Germany’s Nurburgring Nordschleife, beating the second-generation GP by practically 30 seconds.On the opposite hand, it is lacking a guide transmission, which actually takes away from the driver-engagement issue. While it’s entertaining to drive on observe and twisty roads, it is not what I’d name a blast. It’s been greater than a decade for the reason that first-gen GP got here out, and I nonetheless bear in mind driving that automotive, grinning ear-to-ear, working the guide and feeling like an integral a part of the expertise. I do not suppose I’ll bear in mind this automotive half as fondly — if in any respect — 10 years from now.If you need to put a brand new GP in your storage, it will value you $45,750, together with $850 for vacation spot. You will not want to fret about choices as a result of there are no, however you may need to run to your Mini supplier proper now. Of the 3,000 models, solely round 500 have been earmarked for the US, and a Mini spokesperson tells us many have already been spoken for. Personally, I’d in all probability skip the Mini and scope out a Honda Civic Type R as an alternative, or simply troll Craigslist for a clear first-gen GP.

    Recent Articles

    Chromebooks are about to change in a massive way

    Beyond the Alphabet(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Beyond the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world each in...

    Open Roads Review – Quick Trip

    I as soon as learn in a really profound article...

    Foldable Phones in 2024: What to Expect From Samsung, Google and Others

    Last 12 months marked a big second for the foldable cellphone trade. Newcomers Google and OnePlus launched their first bendable telephones. Motorola and Samsung...

    Horizon Forbidden West PC: best settings, VRAM, DLSS, | Digital Trends

    PlayStation Studios More than two years after its launch on PS5, Horizon Forbidden West is now accessible on PC. The authentic recreation, Horizon Zero Dawn, has change into...

    How much RAM do you need in a laptop? Here’s how to figure it out

    Determining the specs for a new laptop (or a laptop computer improve) could be a delicate balancing act. You wish to spend sufficient so...

    Related Stories

    Stay on op - Ge the daily news in your inbox