DETROIT – The new ’15 Mini John Cooper Works Hardtop makes its world premiere at the North American International Auto Show here featuring the most powerful engine ever installed in a Mini production model.
The 2.0L turbo makes 228 hp and 236 lb.-ft. (320 Nm) of torque and enables the car to hit 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. Those kind of numbers won’t make it a threat to a Dodge Hellcat anytime soon, but it promises to significantly juice up Mini’s fun factor.
WardsAuto editors had a blast testing Mini’s base 1.5L 3-cyl. which makes just 134 hp and 162 lb.-ft. of torque and named it to our 2015 Ward’s 10 Best Engines list.
Mini says the engine is specially tuned for high performance on the track and on the road and is the first John Cooper Works model to be built on the front-wheel drive global architecture it shares with the BMW Group.
The engine features BMW’s latest-generation twin-scroll turbocharger technology and also features a sport exhaust, refined suspension technology and model-specific design features that optimize the car's aerodynamic features, but also guarantee a fun and efficient ride, Mini says.
The car will be priced at $30,600 plus $850 destination and handing in the U.S. It goes on sale in the spring.
