Mini teases John Cooper Works GP with ‘more than 300bhp’

Mini has given a glimpse of its upcoming John Cooper Works GP, ahead of the car’s reveal next year.

Set to produce “more than 300bhp” according to the manufacturer, the production model draws inspiration from the John Cooper Works GP Concept revealed at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.

It’ll be powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and, like previous GP models, will be built in a limited production run – only 3,000 units will be available worldwide.

Thomas Giuliani, vice president product and launch management for Mini, said: “The fastest Mini in our brand history – which now goes back 60 years – is an expression of pure racing passion.

“We are well aware of the enormous fascination exercised by the Mini John Cooper Works GP, not just from the euphoric reactions to the concept vehicle but also from past experience: after all, every one of its predecessors was completely sold out even before the official market launch.”

Though Mini hasn’t disclosed the full details surrounding the car, expect it to build on the current range-topping John Cooper Works. It’s fair to assume tuned suspension, larger brakes and a redesigned exterior with more aggressive aerodynamics will all feature.

Given the car’s power output, it’ll likely use a reworked version of the 2.0-litre petrol engine found in the standard JCW, though likely fitted with a larger turbocharger and intercooler system to produce more power. Expect a new exhaust system, too.

A variety of weight-saving measures over the regular JCW are likely to be implemented on the GP version too, helping it to shed some bulk over the standard car. Not only will this help performance figures, but also aid in cornering too.