The R56-spec Mini JCW GP caused quite a stir since its unveiling and because of its race-inspired dynamics, it's no wonder it's been coined as the ultimate Mini. Fast forward to the F56 era, this is what the JCW GP looks like.
This is the reborn Mini John Cooper Works GP, which is based on the F56 Mini hatchback and one of the DLC vehicles in Forza Horizon 5. Despite its added size, the ultimate version of the F56 Mini tries to stay true to its predecessor by delivering unheard performance no hot hatch dared to be as wild and as hot as this.
Unveiled at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, the F56 Mini John Cooper Works GP is by no means the most powerful and fastest Mini ever spawned. The 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine was boosted to 306hp of power and when mated to an 8-speed Steptronic transmission with mechanical differential lock, a far cry compared to its manual-equipped predecessor, it's capable of going 0-100kph in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 265kph. In addition, the JCW GP is packed with signature features such as lightweight forged wheels in exclusive format, unique aerodynamics, and a GP mode on the DSC, as well as other performance upgrades that made the F56 JCW GP capable of lapping the Nurburgring Nordschleife in under eight minutes. Up to 3,000 units were made.
The anticipation is what made my experience what is known to be the ultimate Mini in ages but despite the anticipation, there's something spartan about the F56 Mini JCW GP and that goes down to its mild and menacing dynamics. Put your floor down and it tends to pull some chaotic wheelspin starts and we all know that wheelspin kills speed. Aside from pulling some unavoidable wheelspin starts, this Mini is focused on too much grip, which is kinda painful to handle sharply through the bends. No matter how hard I corner, it always loves to understeer like crazy. It's like you're struggling to pull your mom while going to your favorite place.
Anyway, now that we got two generations of the Mini John Cooper Works GP, it's time to find out how much it has evolved, and to do that, let's conduct a dirty experiment somewhere near the Mayan ruins. Roll the tape.
And now the results...
JCW GP R56 - 1:41.902
JCW GP F56 - 1:37.231
What do you know? It took almost four seconds for the R56 JCW GP to evolve into the F56 JCW GP! Monstrous, I should say.
So, the F56 MINI JCW truly is the ultimate Mini ever made despite the drama involved. Sooner or later, it will go down in history as one of the all-time greats. All that motorsport pedigree Mini involved shaped this hatchback into the ultimate masterpiece you're seeing now.
Now, I was going to conclude this story but I have a dreamy idea. Since I've done experimenting with this Mini JCW GP on the dirt, how about I make things dirtier for the Mini JCW GP? Something dreamy...
Now that's what I'm talking about. Injecting a little "dreamy cute" image into this ultimate Mini. What can I say, it's a Mini after all and all good Minis deserve to have a cute image. Anyway, with the Mini JCW GP now packed with extra dreamy cuteness and some rather unnecessary upgrades, it's time to hit the dirt again but this time, with some added competition.
As one said, "motivation, energy, rise and shine, dreamy cute". Let's see if my dreamy cute JCW GP lives up to this catchphrase while getting itself dirty against the competition. Roll the tape.
It's a rough attempt but hey, we did it anyway!
What a way to end my little FH5 story about the F56 Mini JCW GP! Although I had a lot of struggling to handle this ultimate hot hatch, I am thankful that I got my dibs on this Mini, and with a little motivation, energy, rise and shine, it truly goes a long way. I had a lot of fun with it.
This is MINIMALISM at the top of the hot hatch food chain. Thank you, folks from Oxford!
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