MINI John Cooper Works 'Challenge' Spy Shots - 'GP' Successor?

13 July 2011 | 0 comments MINI John Cooper Works Challenge

Our spy photographers have spotted a tweaked MINI Cooper S John Cooper Works undergoing testing. Is it a road going ‘Challenge’ model and successor to the limited edition ‘GP’?

We can’t be sure. But there are some obvious differences to the standard MINI JCW model. This MINI — BMW’s reinvention of the iconic British brand — has a different front bumper with bigger air intakes. It also sports a big diffuser at the rear, resembling that seen on the ‘Challenge’ one-make racing cars.

So could it be a limited edition, range topping JCW model in the same vein as the limited run ‘GP’ model of the previous shape MINI Cooper S? Maybe. Or perhaps just a redesign of the body kit for the standard JCW.

We have fertile imaginations here at Gmotors Towers though, so let’s run with the former idea. We could envisage such a car as a limited run model, again (the ‘GP’ was limited to just 2,000 cars), and available for just the three door hatch and the two door MINI Coupé — in other words, it won’t become a range topper for the Countryman SUV and everything else.

Power? 220bhp at a guess. Which would give it a top speed of around 150mph and a 0-60mph time around or below six seconds. Price? the standard MINI JCW is £22,330 (roughly what the ‘GP’ cost) so expect this to come in at around £25,000. Not the most expensive MINI, as that honour goes to the MINI Inspired by Goodwood.