MINI has given its high-performance John Cooper Works hatchback a small round of updates, bringing it into line with the rest of the recently-revised range.
231hp 2.0-litre turbo
The engine stays the same, so it's the familiar 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol, as used in the standard Cooper S model. The power figure of 231hp and the torque rating of 320Nm are unchanged, as is the 0-100km/h time of 6.3 seconds (with the six-speed manual gearbox) or 6.1 seconds (with the optional eight-speed 'Steptronic' automatic 'box).
There is a new exhaust, though, a stainless steel sports system with 85mm twin pipes sticking out the back, which MINI says "accompanies the fast-track manoeuvres with an emotionally powerful sound." There are also big brakes, with four-pot calipers, from Brembo, and standard 17-inch, or optional 18-inch, alloys.
The optional adaptive suspension has also been updated, with both software tweaks and a new valve in the dampers which smoothes out pressure peaks within the damper when driving over minor bumps. MINI also says that the adaptive dampers have 10 per cent higher pressure than previously.
New lights and grille
Other changes are largely cosmetic. There are new LED headlights (which are oddly reminiscent of BMW's classic 'Angel Eye' LED lights from the late 1990s) and a new grille, which cuts further down into the bumper. That grille also gets a distinctive red crossbar, and there are other new air intakes scattered around the front end of the car. Around the back, there's a new bumper with a diffuser, which MINI claims does indeed help to optimise the airflow under the car.
Inside, there are liberal splashings of piano-black trim, as well as new seats in a mix of leather and Dinamica fake suede, finished in a 'Carbon Black' colour. For your exterior colour, you can choose from Chili Red, Rebel Green (available exclusively for the John Cooper Works) or the new Island Blue metallic, along with contrast-colour roof options too.
New infotainment and instruments
New options include steering wheel heating; lane departure warning included in the Driving Assistant; and the Stop & Go function for Active Cruise Control. Park Distance Control (PDC) has also been added to the standard equipment list.
The infotainment and instruments have been upgraded too - there's a new 8.8-inch screen in the centre of the dash (still a square screen in a round hole, which never looks right to us), which uses a new operating system that MINI claims is more intuitive. There's also a new multi-function digital instrument display, which replaces the old mixed analogue/digital instrument pack. In "Lounge" mode, the display surfaces appear in relaxing shades of blue and turquoise. Switching to "Sport" mode causes the screen backgrounds to glow in red and anthracite.