The fastest MINI ever arrives in Malaysia on its birthday to deliver highly emotional driving passion inspired by the brand’s legendary racing successes, limited to 10 units only.
Kuala Lumpur, 26th August 2020 – MINI, the most sophisticated compact premium automotive brand in Malaysia celebrated its birthday, introducing the New MINI John Cooper Works GP, the most powerful MINI GP ever built for a track-worthy go-kart feeling.
“In MINI’s 60 years of gracing both the racetrack and the streets, we continue to be revelled for our legendary racing success that took the industry by storm in 2006. Today, 14 years on, designers and engineers at MINI are paying tribute to the first MINI John Cooper Works GP once again with the successor – the fastest and most powerful MINI GP ever built. With only 10 units made available for MINIacs in Malaysia, we look forward to the New MINI John Cooper Works GP setting new benchmarks for performance in the premium compact car segment,” said Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.
The exclusive character of the New MINI John Cooper Works GP is uncompromisingly geared towards extreme driving pleasure. This is expressed in both the engine and the performance characteristics. An intense, purist race feeling is conveyed by what is by far the most powerful engine ever used in the compact premium car, suspension technology that is fine-tuned based on John Cooper Work’s comprehensive racing expertise and a body that is optimised in terms of lightweight construction, torsional stiffness and aerodynamics.
The New MINI John Cooper Works GP spearheads the MINI and John Cooper Works model range with a massive 306hp and 450Nm of maximum torque, pushing its racing genes to the extreme. With limited units available, this extraordinary two-seater comes with the most exclusive design feature and the most impressive technical package.
Embracing the MINI racing genes with a purist approach.
The MINI John Cooper Works GP is available exclusively in Racing Grey metallic, with the roof and exterior mirror caps finished in the contrasting Melting Silver metallic. The hexagonal radiator grille, the inserts in the lower air intake and the inside of the roof spoiler finished in high-gloss Chili Red leaves an aggressive impression for the MINI John Cooper Works GP. This is accentuated by the GP insignia stylised in Rosso Red metallic matte on the front and rear, the outer sides of the roof spoiler, foils above the side skirts and the door sill finishers.
This is contrasted by the black finish of the headlight and rear light surround, the central radiator grille, the door handles, the fuel filler flap, the inlay on the bonnet and the MINI logo at the front and rear of the vehicle. Likewise, the black inlays on the headlamps and the darkened Union Jack rear light units emphasise the uncompromising sporty flair of the New MINI John Cooper Works GP.
The New MINI John Cooper Works GP is fitted as standard with 18-inch lightweight forged wheels that weigh less than nine kilogrammes. The hub caps on the exclusive wheels bear the GP logo. The vehicle’s aerodynamic properties also include the large and strikingly flared wheel arch trims, manufactured through a special process and with a material combination used for the first time by the BMW Group. This consist of a thermoplastic substructure and an outer shell made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). The New MINI John Cooper Works GP is the BMW Group’s first production vehicle to feature an exposed matte CFRP coating. The individual numbering with the numbers “0001” to “3000” is applied to the surfaces of the front wheel arch panels by means of a newly developed paint transfer process.
Inside, the New MINI John Cooper Works GP is equipped with John Cooper Works sports seats in Leather Dinamica with silver side edges, red accentuation seams, a GP badge underneath the integrated headrests and red belt straps. The interior trim on the passenger side bears the numbering of the respective vehicles, produced individually for each one of the 3,000 units using 3D printing. The 3D printing process also developed the features on the model-specific John Cooper Works Leather Steering Wheel including the metal centre marking for the 12 o’clock position, as well as the shift paddles. In addition to the GP logo, a characteristic honeycomb structure can be seen on the paddle surfaces.
Colour accentuations are provided by the red GP logos on the floor mats, matching double stripes on the gear selector and the Chili Red painted aluminium cross-brace behind the seats. This serves as a shield to prevent luggage items from slipping forward in the event of sudden braking.
Impressive source of power.
The New MINI John Cooper Works GP comes with the most powerful engine ever fitted to a series-produced MINI 3-Door. The powerful two-litre, four-cylinder engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo, paired with the eight-speed Steptronic transmission with mechanical differential lock produces 306 hp and a peak torque of 450 Nm. This powerful car is capable of making the century sprint in just 5.2 seconds, and has a maximum speed of 265km/h. With a time of less than eight minutes at the Nürburgring, the New MINI John Cooper Works GP is significantly faster than its predecessor.
Model-specific modifications to the engine include a reinforced crankshaft with enlarged main bearing diameter, specific pistons, bushless connecting rods and a new torsional vibration damper with optimised cooling. The extreme performance is also achieved by a newly developed turbocharger integrated into the exhaust manifold and fitted with a divert-air valve that helps optimise response. The intake air duct has also been newly developed. Enlarged inlet and flow cross-sections and the increased volume of the noise damper ensure maximum dethrottling.
The latest generation of petrol direct injection is also conducive to spontaneous power development. The new multi-hole injectors, arranged centrally between the valves, can cope with an increased flow rate, transporting the fuel into the combustion chambers at an injection pressure of up to 350 bar. The MINI TwinPower Turbo technology also includes VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control and Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing.
The New MINI John Cooper Works GP features a model-specific engine oil sump with increased volume and distinctive geometry. This ensures a reliable oil supply at all times, even during extremely sporty driving involving high levels of longitudinal and lateral acceleration.
Meanwhile, the latest generation of the transmission features increased internal efficiency and an extended spread. The torque converter clutch, which is closed immediately after set-off, ensures a direct engine link and a spontaneous driving feel. A new transmission control system enables a particularly sporty shifting strategy, with sharper brake downshifts and direct multiple downshifts during forceful acceleration.
Increased engine speed level, direct feedback on shift commands and a further increase in shift dynamics are also noticeable in automatic sports mode (DS transmission mode). The acoustic comfort is optimised by a newly developed torsion damper. The eight-speed Steptronic transmission is operated via a model-specific electronic gear selector switch. Manual intervention in gear selection is also possible using the standard shift paddles on the steering wheel.
Model-specific suspension set-up, DSC with GP Mode.
In the course of an intensive testing programme on the Nürburgring Nordschleife and other racetracks, the New MINI John Cooper Works GP was precisely tuned to the car’s extremely high engine output. The model-specific versions of the single-joint sprint strut for the front wheels and the multilink rear axle were also optimised with regards to component stiffness. The track widths were increased, and the body lowered by 10 millimetres compared to the MINI John Cooper Works to increase agility.
The suspension also features specially tuned suspension springs and adapted auxiliary springs, dampers and stabilisers. Newly designed swivel bearings enable increased camber levels on the front and rear wheels to increase the potential for transmitting lateral forces during dynamic cornering. Stabiliser bearings on the front and rear axles with particularly high preload optimise roll support during spontaneous steering movements.
The precise handling characteristics of the New MINI John Cooper Works GP are enhanced by stiffer rubber bearings in the support bearings of the front and rear axles. The four wishbones on the rear axle are fitted on the outside with clearance-free metal ball sleeve joints instead of rubber mounts, while on the inside there are highly rigid rubber mounts. The strut in the engine compartment is bolted directly to the support bearings of the front axle.
Advanced infotainment systems.
The MINI Visual Boost comes as a standard with Navigation System in the New MINI John Cooper Works GP, displaying model-specific information on the 8.8-inch screen in the central instrument panel. The standard trim also includes a black panel digital instrument cluster on the steering column. The high-resolution 5-inch colour screen shows the road speed both numerically and on a scale, as well as model-specific display including temporary feedback and permanent display after activation of the GP mode.
This MINI Visual Boost can be operated via the intuitive touchscreen, the MINI controller or the Voice Control. Owners can also connect their iPhone wirelessly to the vehicle and use the MINI Visual Boost to access numerous features on the phone with Apple CarPlay. Wireless Charging is also available to ensure mobile phones are always charged. The New MINI John Cooper Works GP is also equipped with MINI Connected that features Intelligent Emergency Call, MINI TeleServices and Remote Services.
The New MINI John Cooper Works GP is available exclusively in Racing Grey metallic and in limited units at selected authorised MINI dealerships nationwide. Booking of the most powerful MINI will be available from 26th August 2020.
MINI Roadside Assistance.
The New MINI John Cooper Works GP is covered by MINI Malaysia’s 5 Years Roadside Assistance programme, available for all new MINI vehicles with a comprehensive list of services that include a 24-Hour, 365-days-a-year Accident and Help on the Phone and On the Spot Hotline, Free Towing Services and when needed (over 200KM from residential home), Replacement Vehicle, Seamless Mobility, Accommodation, Mobility Services Solutions as well as Repatriation services.
The MINI Roadside Assistance programme can be accessed by contacting 1800-88-8808.
MINI Service Online.
Making a service appointment has never been easier. The new online service programme will now allow customers to schedule their service needs directly at their preferred MINI Authorised Dealerships via https://service.mini.my/
MINI Financing.
With the Balloon Financing from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, ownership of the New MINI John Cooper Works GP starts from RM 4,184.00 per month (based on estimates of 80% loan on a five-year tenure).
The Recommended retail price of the New MINI John Cooper Works GP with Sales Tax Exemption* (on the road for personal registration, without insurance) is:
New MINI John Cooper Works GP: RM 377,470.90*
More information on the New MINI John Cooper Works GP can be found at www.mini.my.
