Aside from the Countryman, BMW Malaysia has also
launched the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman – the sportiest version of the
British brand’s six-door hatchback/estate offering sits at the top of the local
Clubman lineup that has been on sale here since last year.
The JCW Clubman is also a
fairly pricey proposition, coming in at RM 328,888 on-the-road without insurance. Included is a
four-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and a four-year/60,000 km free service
package.
Power comes from the same 2.0 litre turbo
four-cylinder engine that produces 231 hp from 5,000 to 6,000 rpm and 350 Nm of
torque between 1,450 to 4,500 rpm, 39 hp and 70 Nm more than the Cooper S. An
eight-speed sport automatic gearbox and an All4 all-wheel drive system enables
the Clubman to go from zero to 100 km/h a shade quicker than the Countryman –
6.3 seconds – before hitting top whack at 238 km/h.
Under the skin, the JCW Clubman features sports
suspension that is 10 mm lower than standard, but it doesn’t come with the
Countryman’s adaptive dampers. What you do get, however, are Brembo brakes with
four-piston callipers which are painted red and feature the JCW logo.
The same exterior addenda that graces the Countryman
can also be found here – more aggressive front and rear bumpers, side skirts, a
large tailgate spoiler and a JCW exhaust system with twin exits, along with
Chilli Red bonnet and side stripes, roof and mirror caps. You’ll also find red
highlights on the grille and side scuttles, as well as 18-inch Course Spoke
alloy wheels.
Setting the JCW apart on the inside are sports
seats, a JCW multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters, a sportier
instrument cluster, JCW-badged side sills and stainless steel pedals. Local
cars are equipped with a chrome line trim package, anthracite headlining and
illuminated MINI Yours Fibre Alloy trim.
Standard equipment includes LED headlights with LED
daytime running lights and cornering lights, puddle lamps with the MINI logo,
Comfort Access keyless entry, auto lights and wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view
mirror, dual-zone auto climate control, cruise control and powered rear barn
doors with handsfree opening.
The kit list also includes the full Professional
navigation system with an 8.8-inch touchscreen and an iDrive-style controller
with touch input, plus a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up
display and a reverse camera. The car also comes with MINI Connected smartphone
connectivity as well as MINI Find Mate, which consists of Bluetooth tags that
can be attached to your belongings, enabling them to be tracked
