John Cooper Works Brings the Most Powerful Mini Ever to India, We Get the First Look

Understandably, the Mini needs no introduction. It’s one of those British cult figures like the Beatles, London’s double-decker bus, or Paul Smith. 

From its humble beginnings as an affordable family car in 1959, it has now evolved into a luxury lifestyle ‘Mini’ movement, closely associated with the milieus of design, art, and culture, a status symbol for many. A quick history lesson reveals John Cooper’s vision to create the British Motor Corporation, which brought the Mini Cooper to us as we know it today. 

Cut to 2025, when we are about to get behind the wheels of the most powerful Mini ever built. And as it turns out, John Cooper Works (JCW) puts its stamp on the Mini’s hugely popular compact SUV, the Countryman. 

Standing in the middle of the track at Buddh International Circuit, with the Formula 1 stands looming over us, we are the first in the country to get a glimpse of the brand new Mini John Cooper Works Countryman All4, released in India in an undisclosed number of units. 

The Farnborough-based automotive racing arm of Mini, John Cooper Works, puts its badge on the existing Countryman, giving it a major performance boost.

Up close and personal with the SUV, there’s that unmistakable JWC culture shining through. We see some design cues that characterise it as a JCW signature. You have a special JWC All4 badging on the side as well as an emblem on the front grille. Design-wise, the iconic British Racing Green colour variant sees a beautiful contrast using the colour ‘Chilli Red’. This Chilli Red is seen on the roof and on the mirrors as well as on two sporty bonnet stripes, adding a nice pop of colour. You also see the red on the brake calipers, which have the words JWC embossed. The aerodynamic silhouette, with the colour scheme, the new 19-inch JCW wheels, and the quad exhausts, make this car look incredibly nifty on the outside. 

On the inside, you get John Cooper Works sporty seats, a red and black netted fabric dashboard, a custom steering wheel with a fabric lower spoke, and Mini’s iconic round display at the centre. It’s a sports car interior, through and through.

We get into the car to take a couple of laps around the circuit to test out its 0-100 kmph sprint at 5.4 seconds. Featuring a 2.0 litre, four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine and boasting a power of 300 HP and a torque of 400 Nm, this handles the track with effortless ease. It caps a top speed of 250 kmph (Boost mode is a must-try for those who like that extra thrill).

Our favourite cabin feature would have to be the JCW mode on the round central screen, which, in large letters, displays the power and torque in real time as you drive, truly enhancing the experience. 

We must make a special mention of the panel of beautifully designed toggle switches at the centre, to start/stop the car, select the gears, and activate the parking brake. Such a delight to use indeed! 

RR Verdict: Mini fans there are aplenty. But when a Countryman gets slapped on with a John Cooper Works badge, there’s that undeniable bespoke racing DNA in the drive experience. In a sea of compact SUVs, we do see takers for this one among those who want to be part of a larger heritage story, those who love the thrill of a performative car, and those who love great design. It’s not about just the drive but the ‘culture’ behind the drive. So chic!